HLS 16RS-1134 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 510
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAY MORRIS
HIGHER EDUCATION: (Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes the legislature to close
or merge postsecondary education institutions under certain circumstances
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to add Article VIII, Section 5(F) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to authorize the
3 legislature to provide for the closure or merger of public postsecondary education
4 institutions under certain circumstances; to provide for submission of the proposed
5 amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
6 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
7elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
8Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add
9Article VIII, Section 5(F) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
10 §5. Board of Regents
11 Section 5.
12 * * *
13 (F) Closure of Institutions. The legislature may by law provide for the
14 closure or merger with another institution of any public postsecondary education
15 institution if it determines that over any period of five consecutive years, less than
16 twelve percent of the students who enrolled at the institution as first-time freshmen
17 graduated from the institution within six years of initial enrollment. Any such law
18 shall provide for the allocation of the assets and liabilities of the institution, the
19 transfer of the students at the institution, the employment status of classified
20 employees of the institution, the disposition of property of the institution, the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1134 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 510
1 successor of the institution for purposes of any pending legal action, and any other
2 provision necessary for full dissolution of an institution.
3 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
4to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 8,
52016.
6 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
7there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
8to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
9follows:
10 Do you support an amendment to authorize the legislature to close or merge
11 into another institution any higher education institution with low graduation
12 rates? (Adds Article VIII, Section 5(F))
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 510 Original 2016 Regular Session Jay Morris
Abstract: Authorizes the legislature to close or merge higher education institutions with a
six-year graduation rate of less than 12%.
Present constitution creates the Bd. of Regents to plan, coordinate, and have budgetary
responsibility for all public postsecondary education. Grants the board specific powers
including the creation of new institutions and the elimination of programs.
Proposed constitutional amendment authorizes the legislature to provide for the closure or
merger with another institution of any institution that has a six-year graduation rate of less
than 12% over any five consecutive year period. Provides that any such law shall provide
for the allocation of the assets and liabilities, the transfer of the students, the employment
status of classified employees, the disposition of property, the successor of the institution for
purposes of any pending legal action, and any other provision necessary for full dissolution
of an institution.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 8, 2016.
(Adds Const. Art. VIII, §5(F))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.