Louisiana House Bill HB299

Louisiana 2013 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/8/13
• Refer: 4/8/13
• Report Pass: 5/14/13
• Engrossed: 5/22/13
• Refer: 5/23/13
• Report Pass: 5/30/13
• Enrolled: 6/3/13
• Chaptered: 6/14/13
• Passed: 6/14/13

Caption

Changes the reporting date for submitting the postsecondary education funding formula to the legislature

Impact

The passage of HB 299 is expected to streamline the process for submitting funding recommendations, potentially leading to improvements in financial planning for higher education in the state. By extending the deadline, the bill allows the Board of Regents to conduct more thorough analyses before reporting to the legislature. This approach could result in enhanced allocation of resources and support for institutions based on updated data, which is critical for budgeting purposes.

Summary

House Bill 299 modifies certain provisions related to the funding formula for postsecondary education institutions in Louisiana. Specifically, it changes the deadline for the Board of Regents to report this funding formula to specified legislative committees from March 15 to March 31 each year. This adjustment aims to give the Board of Regents additional time to finalize and present a more accurate and comprehensive funding formula for educational institutions, ensuring that budgetary recommendations are timely and reflect current conditions accurately.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB 299 appears to be positive, as it seeks to improve the procedural aspects of how funding is reported to the legislature. Legislative members seem to recognize the benefits of having a more thorough funding formula and the importance of providing adequate time for its development, reflecting a collaborative effort toward enhancing educational financing in Louisiana.

Contention

While the discussions around HB 299 have not indicated significant contention, there is an implicit concern regarding the balance between timely funding versus thorough preparation. Some stakeholders may prefer stricter timelines to ensure that educational institutions have funds available as early as possible, while others support the delay for the sake of accuracy and improved fiscal management. Nevertheless, the bill passed the Senate with unanimous support, suggesting broad agreement on its necessity.