Meningococcal vaccinations and a tuition-free education for those in foster care were some of the major legislation for college students passed by the Legislature this session.
While first-time incoming freshmen will be required to have a meningococcal vaccine, a bill that would pay for those in foster care to go to college doesn't have any money to back it up.
The Legislature ended its session Monday evening. At the close of the session many bills, including the capital outlay and appropriations budgets, still required the signature of the governor.
About $62 million in state general funds was budgeted for the University of Louisiana. Ray Authement, UL president, did not return a call for comment Monday.
This year was the first in recent history that higher education did not have to battle to cover increases in mandated costs like rising insurance and other benefits. The budget also included about $31 million to cover at least a 5 percent increases for faculty.
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Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com