Louisiana 2019 2019 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR102 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 19RS-490	ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 102
BY REPRESENTATIVE GLOVER
HIGHER ED/BD REGENTS:  Requests that the Bd. of Regents provide for an updated
study and report relative to the issues addressed in the 2012 report by Eva Klein and
Associates pertaining to postsecondary education in the Shreveport-Bossier region
1	A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Board of Regents to provide for an updated study and report relative
3 to the issues addressed in the 2012 report by Eva Klein and Associates, Achieving
4 a Comprehensive Public University in Shreveport-Bossier: Analysis of Alternative
5 Strategies, and issue a status report to the House Committee on Education and the
6 Senate Committee on Education not later than 90 days prior to the beginning of the
7 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature.
8 WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana provides,
9relative to public institutions of postsecondary education, that it is a power, duty, and
10responsibility of the Board of Regents to approve a proposed degree program, department
11of instruction, division, or similar subdivision; Article VIII, Section 5(D)(3)(a) of the
12constitution further provides that it is a power, duty, and responsibility of the Board of
13Regents to study the need for and feasibility of creating a new institution of postsecondary
14education, which includes establishing a branch of such an institution; and
15 WHEREAS, the Board of Regents, along with several community organizations, co-
16sponsored a study conducted in 2011-2012 by Eva Klein and Associates, the objective of
17which, in part, was to identify options for a more comprehensive public university in
18Shreveport-Bossier, including a possible consolidation of institutions; and
19 WHEREAS, the report issued in February of 2012 as the result of the study made
20several recommendations relative to postsecondary education in the region, one of which
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HCR NO. 102
1was the consolidation of Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana State University at
2Shreveport into a single institution operating as Louisiana Tech University with two
3campuses, one in Ruston and one in Shreveport; and
4 WHEREAS, this recommended merger was formally endorsed by the Board of
5Regents in the spring of 2012, and related legislation was filed in the 2012 Regular Session
6of the Legislature in the form of House Bill No. 964, which ultimately did not pass; and
7 WHEREAS, it has been more than seven years since the issuance of the report, and
8there is ongoing debate as to the possible consolidation of these institutions; therefore, it is
9appropriate that the Board of Regents take the necessary measures to provide for an updated
10study of this matter and other issues related to postsecondary education in the Shreveport-
11Bossier region.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
13urge and request the Board of Regents to provide for an updated study and accompanying
14report relative to the issues addressed in the 2012 report by Eva Klein and Associates,
15Achieving a Comprehensive Public University in Shreveport-Bossier: Analysis of Alternative
16Strategies, and issue a status report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate
17Committee on Education not later than 90 days prior to the beginning of the 2020 Regular
18Session of the Legislature.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
20to the chairman of the Board of Regents and the commissioner of higher education.
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)]
HCR 102 Original 2019 Regular Session	Glover
Requests that the Bd. of Regents provide for an updated study and report on the issues
addressed in the 2012 report by Eva Klein and Associates, Achieving a Comprehensive
Public University in Shreveport-Bossier: Analysis of Alternative Strategies, and issue a
status report to the House and Senate education committees by 90 days prior to the
beginning of the 2020 RS.
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