Two bills are awaiting a thumbs up from the state Legislature that could raise tuition and fees on campus.
If passed, the two bills could raise the price of college by about $285 a semester.
House Bil 677, introduced by Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, would give the LSU Board of Supervisors the authority to increase the University’s Operational Fee.
If this bill passes, the Board could give the go-ahead to increase the Operational Fee from $80 for the 2007-2008 school year to $250.
The bill was on the April 22 agenda on the House Education Committee, but Smith deferred the bill.
Smith told The Daily Reveille in an April 24 interview that the System asked her to remove the bill from the agenda.
She said they are waiting for more support, and she does not plan to reintroduce it to the committee until she hears word from System officials.
The bill will become effective immediately after it is signed.
Another bill, House Bill 734, introduced by Rep. Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, would give managing boards of Louisiana colleges and universities the authority to increase tuition for their students up to 5 percent.
The bill was first referred to the House Education Committee. The Education Committee unanimously passed the bill April 22 with a 16-0 vote.
The bill was recommitted to the House Appropriations Committee.
Janis Batchelor, Appropriations Committee secretary, said she does not know when the bill will be on their next agenda.
She said as soon as they determine their agenda, it will be posted on the state House of Representatives’ Web site.
If the bill is passed in the Appropriations Committee, it will then be sent to the full House where it will need a two-thirds vote before it can be sent to the Senate.
If the tuition is increased, the Legislature is required to increase TOPS to cover the cost.
Another bill that could impact the cost of college for students is House Bill 755.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, is a constitutional amendment to remove legislative oversight of tuition and fees.
The bill was sent to the House Governmental Affairs Committee, but Tucker deferred the bill.
The Daily Reveille was unable to contact Tucker before press deadline.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected].