RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 619 (SB 446) 2016 Regular Session Hewitt
Present constitution provides for the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Bd. of
Regents, including the requirement that it formulate and make timely revision of a master
plan for postsecondary education. Requires that, as a minimum, such plan include a formula
for equitable distribution of funds to postsecondary education institutions. Also requires the
board to submit its budget recommendations for postsecondary education institutions and
recommend priorities for capital construction and improvements.
Prior law required the board to establish a mission for each public postsecondary education
system and each institution within each system and requires that each such mission
statement:
(1)Be included in and form the basis of the master plan.
(2)Include a description of the following:
(a)The intended role and scope of each system and institution.
(b)Its public service contribution.
(c)Its academic and research goals.
(d)Its contribution toward, and proper role in, the collective goals of public
postsecondary education of diversity, access, and excellence.
New law requires the Bd. of Regents to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's
present postsecondary education system and recommend the optimal delivery of
postsecondary education in the future that will meet the needs of the state's citizens and
industries while maximizing the state's resources. Provides that the review shall be of the
state as a whole and of its workforce development areas ("regions"). Requires the board to
provide a report on findings and recommendations to the House and Senate committees on
education not later than 45 days prior to the start of the 2017 R.S. Requires that the report
include the following:
(1)A description of assets, including:
(a)The role, scope, and mission of each public postsecondary education
institution.
(b)Academic and nonacademic programs excluding continuing education
courses but including program enrollment and completion data for the last
five years and academic discipline cost per full-time equivalent student for
current year.
(c)Current centers of excellence.
(d)A list of each facility and all immovable property owned or leased by the
state's public postsecondary institutions, including a description of each
facility containing specified information.
(e)Certain institutional data.
(2)A description of needs to meet educational demand. Provides that educational
demand shall be determined according to specified considerations.
(3)A description of gaps (needs that exceed assets or assets that exceed needs).
(4)Recommendations on how to close such gaps, including whether certain actions are
needed and anticipated savings or costs associated with each.
(5)A description of barriers. (6)An executive summary of recommendations to ensure the state's public
postsecondary education system is operating in a manner that best meets the
educational demand of the state and each region.
New law requires the Dept. of Economic Development, the La. Workforce Commission, and
each public postsecondary institution, management board, and system to fully cooperate with
Regents and provide data and assistance as requested.
New law is effective upon signature of the governor (June 17, 2016) except that repeal of
prior law is repealed on July 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 17:3140; repeals R.S. 17:3140)