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 777 Original 2020 Regular Session LaCombe
Abstract: Exempts graduate students who are teaching or research assistants from the payment of
all mandatory fees except for tuition.
Present law provides that each public postsecondary education management board shall have the
authority to determine the fees paid by students. Proposed law provides that notwithstanding present
law, a graduate student who serves as a teaching assistant or research assistant shall be exempt from
payment of all mandatory fees imposed in accordance with present law except for tuition.
Proposed law exempts such graduate students from all of the following specific fees imposed in
accordance with present law:
1. Technology fee (all campuses) (R.S. 17:3351.1)
2. Academic excellence fee (LSU System, Univ. of La. System, & La. Community and
Technical Colleges System) (R.S. 17:3351.3, 3351.9, 3351.10)
3. Facilities use and maintenance fee at the Univ. of New Orleans (R.S. 17:3351.7)
4. Facilities use and maintenance fee at Southern Univ. at New Orleans (R.S. 17:3351.8)
5. Professional program fee at LSU (MBA program) (R.S. 17:3351.12)
6. Digital media program fee at LSU (R.S. 17:3351.18)
7. Building use fee (all campuses) (R.S. 17:3351.19)
8. Mandatory fees (all campuses) (R.S. 17:3351.20)
Proposed law further requires each public postsecondary education management board to adopt a
policy providing that such graduate students are exempt from the payment of all mandatory fees
except for tuition.
(Amends R.S. 17:3351(A)(5)(a); Adds R.S. 17:3351.1(D), 3351.3(E), 3351.7(E), 3351.8(E),
3351.9(D), 3351.10(D), 3351.12(D), 3351.18(D), 3351.19(E), 3351.20(G), and 3351.21)