House Bill No. by Representative Turner amends existing law regarding the authority to set and adjust tuition and mandatory fees for public postsecondary education institutions in Louisiana. The bill transfers the power to determine these amounts from the management boards to the individual institutions themselves. It allows institutions to establish differential tuition for various programs, including graduate, professional, and high-cost undergraduate programs. Additionally, the bill reduces the limit on tuition and fee increases from ten percent over two years to ten percent over one year, while also permitting institutions to lower tuition and fees without limitation.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that public postsecondary education institutions must provide adequate notice to students regarding tuition and fee amounts and establish criteria for financial hardship waivers. Institutions are required to report annually to various legislative committees on the implementation of tuition and fee changes, with the stipulation that failure to submit the report on time may lead to a suspension of any pending tuition or fee increases by the Board of Regents. This legislative change aims to enhance the autonomy of educational institutions in managing their financial structures while ensuring transparency and support for students facing financial challenges.

Statutes affected:
HB1084 Original: 17:3351(A)(5)