Louisiana’s Legislative session ended Monday, leaving the University and its students with less funding and higher tuition fees.
House Bill 1, the state’s 2008-09 fiscal budget, reduced the University’s state-appropriated revenue by about $10 million.
The University received more than $242 million from the state this past year, and the version of the Bill that was sent to Gov. Bobby Jindal had appropriated a little less than $233 million.
House Bill 734 would give the governing boards of public higher education institutions the authority to increase tuition. The Bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
If the Bill becomes law, the LSU Board of Supervisors have to vote on the increase. Students should expect to see an additional $230 in their fee bills in the fall.
LSU System President John Lombardi expressed his support for the tuition increase several times.
In a June 6 interview, Lombardi said the University needs the increase to fulfill the needs and wants of its students, faculty and staff. He also said the increase is necessary to remain competitive among peer institutions.
The LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School will also have its tuition increased because of House BIll 1145.
The bill, which would give the Board authority to increase tuition, was passed in both the House and Senate and is now awaiting a signature from Jindal.
Based on Jindal’s track record, these bills may become law even without his signature.
With Jindal’s first legislative session coming to a close, he has allowed 90 bills to become law without his signature – the most by any Louisiana governor since 1990.
Former Gov. Mike Foster allowed 47 bills to become law without his signature during his eight years. Former Gov. Buddy Roemer let three bills go unsigned while former Govs. Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco only allowed one bill each to go unsigned, according to The Advocate.
House Bill 677, which would have increased the University’s operational fee, has not left the House since its inception. Neither has House Bill 199, which would allow permit holders to carry concealed weapons on higher education campuses.
Both bills have made it past their respective committees, but did not see a full vote from the House floor.
These bills are now considered dead after the state Legislature adjourned.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at jalcantara@lsureveille.com