HLS 17RS-944 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 184
BY REPRESENTATIVE ABRAHAM
FUNDS/FUNDING: Creates the Louisiana Jobs Now Fund for the purpose of funding
postsecondary education degree and certificate production in high-demand fields
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:3138.7, relative to special treasury funds; to establish the Louisiana Jobs
3 Now Fund as a special fund in the state treasury; to provide for deposits into the
4 fund; to provide for uses of the fund; to provide for an effective date; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3138.7 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง3138.7. Louisiana Jobs Now Fund
9 A.(1) The Louisiana Jobs Now Fund, hereinafter referred to in this Section
10 as the "fund", is hereby created within the state treasury as a special fund for the
11 purpose of funding degree and certificate production in high-demand fields through
12 programs offered by Louisiana's public postsecondary education institutions to meet
13 the state's current and future workforce needs.
14 (2) The state treasurer is authorized and directed to annually transfer thirty
15 four million dollars from the state general fund into the fund.
16 (3) Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the
17 general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be credited
18 to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the
19 fiscal year shall remain in the fund.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 17RS-944 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 184
1 B.(1) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the postsecondary
2 education management boards to be distributed to and used by postsecondary
3 education institutions in accordance with the distribution methodology to be
4 developed as provided for in this Section.
5 (2) The funds distributed pursuant to this Section shall be used by the
6 institution towards degree production at public four-year universities in science,
7 technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs and towards degree and
8 certificate production at public two-year, community, and technical colleges in fields
9 required for four-star or five-star jobs, as defined by the Louisiana Workforce
10 Commission's Louisiana Star Jobs program or its successors.
11 (3) Any funds distributed to an institution that remains unexpended or
12 unobligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be available for use in the subsequent
13 fiscal year by an institution pursuant to their implementation plan.
14 (4)(a) Funding shall be distributed by the postsecondary education
15 management boards only upon the certification by the postsecondary education
16 management board on behalf of the receiving public postsecondary education
17 institution that a match of no less than twenty percent of the amount of funding to
18 be distributed has been guaranteed by a private entity. The certification shall detail
19 the type of private match to be provided, which may include, but is not limited to:
20 cash; in-kind donations of technology, personnel, construction materials, facility
21 modification, or tangible property; internships; scholarships; sponsorship of staff
22 or faculty; or faculty endowment.
23 (b) In any fiscal year that the total appropriated funds from the sum of the
24 state general fund and dedicated funds for higher education are below the
25 appropriated funding in the prior fiscal year, the postsecondary education
26 management boards may, at their discretion, delay or waive requirements as set forth
27 in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
28 C. The methodology for distribution of funds shall be as follows:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 17RS-944 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 184
1 (1) Fifty percent of funds shall be distributed to public four-year universities
2 based on each institution's prior year degree production in science, technology,
3 engineering, and math (STEM) programs.
4 (2) Fifty percent of funds shall be distributed to public two-year, community,
5 and technical colleges based on each institution's prior year degree and certificate
6 production in fields required for four-star or five-star jobs, as defined by the
7 Louisiana Workforce Commission's Louisiana Star Jobs program or its successors.
8 (3) The four postsecondary education system presidents shall annually
9 review and approve the distribution methodology, the list of degree and certificate
10 programs upon which the distribution is based, and the final distribution amounts.
11 D. The postsecondary education management boards shall provide annual
12 reporting to the Senate Committee on Education, Senate Committee on Finance, the
13 House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Appropriations. Such
14 reports shall include the distribution methodology, the list of degree and certificate
15 programs upon which the distribution is based, and the final distribution amounts.
16 E. The fund is in addition to, and separate from, any monies appropriated or
17 allocated to any postsecondary education management board. Allocations from this
18 fund shall not be included in the Board of Regents' funding formula calculation, nor
19 shall it supplant any state general fund allocations provided to institutions. The
20 availability of the fund shall not in any way substitute, limit, or otherwise affect the
21 allocation of any funds otherwise available to those institutions under state or federal
22 laws.
23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2017.
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 184 Original 2017 Regular Session Abraham
Abstract: Creates the La. Jobs Now Fund and directs the treasury to annually transfer $34
million to the fund.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 17RS-944 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 184
Proposed law creates the La. Jobs Now Fund (the fund) for the purpose of funding degree
and certificate production in high-demand fields through programs offered by La.'s public
postsecondary education institutions to meet the state's current and future workforce needs.
The state treasurer is required to annually transfer $34 million from the state general fund
into the fund.
Proposed law requires monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the postsecondary
education management boards to be distributed to and used by postsecondary education
institutions towards degree production at public four-year universities in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) programs and towards degree and certificate production at
public two-year, community, and technical colleges in fields required for four-star or five-
star jobs, as defined by the La. Workforce Commission's La. Star Jobs program or its
successors.
Proposed law provides for the methodology for distribution of funds as follows:
(1)50% percent to public four-year universities based on each institution's prior year
degree production in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.
(2)50% to public two-year, community, and technical colleges based on each
institution's prior year degree and certificate production in fields required for four-
star or five-star jobs, as defined by the La. Workforce Commission's La. Star Jobs
program or its successors.
Proposed law requires the postsecondary education management boards to provide annual
reporting to certain legislative committees.
Effective July 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 17:3138.7)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.