University students are now one step closer to paying 5 percent more in their tuition costs.
The State House of Representatives voted on House Bill 734 on Monday for the second time, passing it with an 83-18 vote.
The bill will give the governing boards of each public university system in the state the authority to increase their schools’ tuitions by 3 to 5 percent.
LSU’s main campus is expected to raise tuition the full 5 percent if the bill is passed.
Rep. Donald Trahan, R-Lafayette, said during the House floor debate on the bill that tuition has not increase in three years.
“This tuition bill calls for modest inflation increases,” Trahan said. When [hurricanes Katrina and Rita] came, we decided not to pass it, but this brings it back.”
Trahan said the most important deciding factor on this bill is the burden it might create on the students.
“Depending on the institution, it could be less than $100, but it varies from [each] institution,” Trahan said. “LSU, the highest increase, would be $117.”
Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Labadieville, said universities and colleges are now in a position to reach the Southern Regional Education Board average.
“We need to stand up and be counted for our universities so they are able to support themselves,” Harrison said.
Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, supported the bill and said he knows the importance revenues have on higher education institutions.
Hollis said Louisiana made “great strides” on providing appropriations to public universities and colleges, and the institutions count on a balance between tuition and appropriations.
“Our system is the lowest in the South in tuition and about fourth- or fifth-lowest in the nation,” Downs said. “We need this to be competitive. They all need reasonable revenues.”
LSU System President John Lombardi has long been in favor of the tuition increase.
“Unless we’re able to get our tuition to be more or less near the average of most of our competitors, we won’t have the resources to build the kind of institution all the students, faculty and the state itself wants,” Lombardi said.
Lombardi said Gov. Bobby Jindal has clearly indicated the state will fund the TOPS cost of a tuition increase.
“We have to have the tuition increase. Otherwise we’re not going to be able to get the quality that we want,” Lombardi said.
The bill was first voted on by the House on June 2, but failed to pass – receiving less than the necessary two-thirds vote.
The bill is now headed to the Senate.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]