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2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 403
BY SENATOR FESI
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. Provides for gubernatorial appointment of the chairs of the
Boards of Supervisors of each system and officers of higher education. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:1456, 1833(B), 1853(B), 1873(A) and (B), 3123(B), and
3 3123.1(A) and (B), relative to gubernatorial appointment; to provide for appointment
4 of the chairs of the Board of Supervisors of each system and officers of higher
5 education; to provide relative to the term of the chairman; to provide for duties of the
6 chairman; to provide for the appointment of the Commissioner of higher education;
7 and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 17:1456, 1833(B), 1853(B), 1873(A) and (B), 3123(B), and
10 3123.1(A) and (B) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §1456. Officers and employees of the board
12 Effective beginning August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
13 governor shall appoint the chairman of the board. At its first regular meeting in
14 the third quarter of each calendar year the board shall elect from its voting
15 membership a chairman and a vice-chairman, who shall also be chairman-elect, and
16 may elect such other officers as it may deem necessary. Each officer shall serve for
17 a term of one year or until his successor is duly elected, qualified and inducted into
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1 office.
2 The chairman shall preside over all meetings of the board, and shall appoint
3 the members of all committees. In the absence of the chairman, his duties shall be
4 performed by the chairman-elect vice-chairman.
5 * * *
6 §1833. Domicile, organization, and meetings of board
7 * * *
8 B. Effective beginning August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
9 governor shall appoint the chairman of the board. The members of the board
10 shall elect from among their number a president and a vice-president and such other
11 officers as they deem necessary, whose terms shall be as fixed by the board.
12 * * *
13 §1853. Domicile, organization, and meetings of board
14 * * *
15 B. Effective beginning August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
16 governor shall appoint the chairman of the board. The members of the board
17 shall elect from among their number a chairman and a vice-chairman and such other
18 officers as they deem necessary, whose terms shall be as fixed by the board.
19 * * *
20 §1873. Officers and employees of the board
21 A.(1) Effective beginning August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
22 governor shall appoint the chairman of the board.
23 (2) Except as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, The the board
24 shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman, who shall also be
25 chairman-elect, and may elect such other officers as it may deem necessary. Each
26 officer shall serve for a term of one year or until his successor is duly elected,
27 qualified, and inducted into office.
28 B. The chairman shall preside over all meetings of the board, and shall
29 appoint the members of all committees. In the absence of the chairman, his duties
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1 shall be performed by the chairman-elect vice chairman.
2 * * *
3 §3123. Domicile, organization, and meetings of board; rules
4 * * *
5 B. Effective beginning August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
6 governor shall appoint the chairman of the board. The members of the board
7 shall elect from among their number a chairman and a vice-chairman and such other
8 officers as they deem necessary, whose terms shall be as fixed by the board.
9 * * *
10 §3123.1. Commissioner of higher education; appointment; qualifications; powers,
11 duties and functions; compensation
12 A. The Board of Regents shall appoint Notwithstanding any other
13 provision of law, no later than sixty days after taking office, the governor shall
14 appoint a commissioner of higher education to administer and implement board
15 programs and policies and who shall possess such qualifications and have such other
16 powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities as established by the board or as
17 provided by law.
18 B. The commissioner of higher education shall be appointed by a two-thirds
19 vote of the total membership of the Board of Regents and shall be subject to
20 confirmation by the Senate.
21 * * *
22 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
23 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
24 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
25 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
26 effective on the day following such approval.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Frances Aucoin.
DIGEST
SB 403 Original 2024 Regular Session Fesi
Present law (R.S. 17:1456) provides that the Louisiana State University Board of
Supervisors must elect a chairman from its voting membership.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint the chairman of the Louisiana State
University Board of Supervisors.
Present law (R.S. 17:1833) provides that the members of the University of Louisiana Board
of Supervisors must elect a chairman from their numbers.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint the chairman of the University of
Louisiana Board of Supervisors.
Present law (R.S. 17:1853) provides that the members of the Southern University Board of
Supervisors must elect a chairman from their numbers.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint the chairman of the Southern University
Board of Supervisors.
Present law (R.S. 17:1873) provides that the Community and Technical Colleges Board of
Supervisors must elect a chairman from its membership.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint the chairman of the Community and
Technical Colleges Board of Supervisors.
Present law (R.S. 17:3123) provides that the Board of Regents must elect a chairman from
its membership.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint the chairman of the Board of Regents.
Present law (R.S. 17:3123.1) provides that the Board of Regents must appoint a
commissioner of higher education.
Proposed law provides for the governor to appoint a commissioner of higher education
within 60 days of taking office.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:1456, 1833(B), 1853(B), 1873(A) and (B), 3123(B), and 3123.1(A) and
(B))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.