The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 67 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Appel
Present constitution, relative to public postsecondary education governance:
(1)Establishes the Board of Regents to plan, coordinate, and have budgetary responsibility for
all public postsecondary education.
(2)Creates the Board of Supervisors for the University of La. System, the Board of Supervisors
of La. State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of
Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, all having
supervision and management responsibilities for "four-year" colleges and universities and
agricultural and other system programs.
(3)Creates and provides for the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges,
which is the management board for all programs of public postsecondary vocational-
technical training, and, as provided by law, institutions of higher education which offer
associate degrees but not baccalaureate degrees.
Present constitution specifies the powers of the Board of Regents. Provides that powers of
management over public institutions of postsecondary education not specifically vested by the
constitution in the Board of Regents are reserved to the management boards as to the institutions
under the control of each.
Proposed constitutional amendment abolishes the Board of Regents and all four postsecondary
management boards and creates the Board of Trustees for Postsecondary Education (Board of
Trustees). Provides that the Board of Trustees shall have the powers of the Board of Regents to plan,
coordinate, and have budgetary responsibility for all public postsecondary education and shall also
have the management and supervision authority of the management boards.
Present constitution provides that the Board of Regents is comprised of two members from each
congressional district and remaining members from the state at large, all appointed by the governor,
subject to Senate confirmation, for staggered six-year terms. Provides that the board should be
representative of the state's population by race and gender to ensure diversity. Proposed
constitutional amendment retains these provisions applicable to the Board of Trustees.
Present constitution authorizes the legislature to provide for one student member to serve on the
Board of Regents for one term of one year and to have the rights of other board members. Proposed
constitutional amendment retains these provisions applicable to the Board of Trustees.
Proposed constitutional amendment otherwise generally provides that the Board of Trustees exercises the powers and duties of the abolished Board of Regents, including authority:
(1)To revise or eliminate an existing degree program, department of instruction, division, or
similar subdivision.
(2)To approve, disapprove, or modify a proposed degree program, department of instruction,
division, or similar subdivision.
(3)To study the need for and feasibility of creating a new institution of postsecondary education,
establishing a branch of an institution, converting an institution that does not grant degrees
to one that does, and converting an institution that grants degrees of lower rank than a
baccalaureate degree to one that offers such degrees, or merging any institution of
postsecondary education into another.
(4)To formulate and make timely revision of a master plan for postsecondary education which
as a minimum shall include a formula for equitable distribution of funds to the institutions
of postsecondary education.
(5)To require that each institution (instead of each management board) submit to it, at a time
it specifies, an annual budget proposal for its operational and capital needs. Requires the
board to submit its budget recommendations for all postsecondary education institutions and
recommend priorities for capital construction and improvements.
(6)To meet with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at least twice a year
to coordinate programs of public elementary, secondary, vocational-technical, career, and
higher education.
Present constitution provides that appropriations for the institutions of higher education be made to
their managing boards. Proposed constitutional amendment provides that appropriations for public
postsecondary education institutions and other public postsecondary education purposes be made to
and administered by the Board of Trustees.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution provisions for limitations of the
terms a member may serve, not more than 2-1/2 in three consecutive terms, and makes them
applicable to the Board of Trustees.
Present constitution authorizes the legislature to provide for operation and management of public
hospitals and their programs by the Board of Regents or a management board. Excepts from such
authority institutions and programs operated by a management board prior to Jan. 1, 1997. Proposed
constitutional amendment authorizes the legislature to provide for operation and management of
public hospitals by the Board of Trustees. Removes exception for institutions and programs operated
by a management board prior to Jan. 1, 1997.
Relative to implementation, proposed constitutional amendment provides that on the effective date
of the amendment (Jan. 1, 2018), the powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the abolished boards are transferred to the Board of Trustees. Requires the legislature to provide by law for the
implementation of the amendment and for the transfer of such powers, duties, functions, and
responsibilities. Further provides that the Board of Regents and the management boards shall take
such action prior to Jan. 1, 2018, as necessary to provide for implementation of the Board of Trustees
on that date. Requires the governor to appoint the initial members of the Board of Trustees not later
than March 1, 2017. Such members shall take actions as authorized by law to provide for
implementation of the Board of Trustees on Jan. 1, 2018.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held
Nov. 8, 2016.
Effective January 1, 2018, except transition provisions are effective January 1, 2017.
(Amends Const. Art. IV, Sec. 22(A), Art. VII, Sec.10.1(C)(1) and (3) and (D)(1)(intro para) and
10.4(B)(1), (3), and (4), and Art. VIII, Sec. 5 and 16; adds Const. Art. XIV, Sec. 41; repeals Const.
Art. VIII, Sec. 6, 7, 7.1, 8(B) and (D), and 12)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill
1. Makes technical changes.