Loading chat...

GA HB977

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/10/2016

Primary Sponsor

Matthew Ramsey

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2015-2016 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Annual tuition and student fee increases at University System of Georgia institutions would be capped at the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, with increases never falling below zero (no forced decreases)
  • The Georgia Student Finance Commission must publish and certify the applicable inflation rate to the Board of Regents and each institution's governing board by April 1 each year
  • Separate cap calculations apply for two-year and four-year institutions: schools charging at or below the system average may increase by a dollar amount tied to inflation times the average, while those above the average are limited to a percentage increase equal to the inflation rate
  • Student fees approved directly by the student body to which they apply are exempt from the caps
  • The tuition cap requirements may be waived for any institution if both the Senate Higher Education Committee and the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee approve by majority vote before July 1, for reasons including recession, declining state appropriations, or institutional consolidation
  • The Act's effective date of January 1, 2017, was contingent on ratification of a corresponding constitutional amendment at the November 2016 general election; without ratification, the Act would automatically repeal

Legislative Description

Postsecondary education; yearly tuition and student fee increases within the university system; limit

Last Action

House Second Readers

2/16/2016

Full Bill Text

No bill text available