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BATON ROUGE — A House committee unanimously supported a bill Thursday that would let state universities continue to increase student fees at a time when they are facing tens of millions of dollars in cuts in state support and in costs from the COVID-19 shutdown.
The bill, by Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue, R-Houma, attempts to mitigate those impacts while also considering student concerns about rising fees.
The House passed another version of his bill last month, but the Senate surprisingly failed to act on it before the regular session ended June 1.
Zeringue’s original bill would have allowed colleges and universities to set their own fee levels until 2023. He adjusted it so that the ability to do so ends at the end of the 2021 school year.
Some legislators worried that families would be negatively impacted by rising fees during a pandemic, which has caused over 300,000 Louisianans to file for unemployment.
Despite a projected drop in tax revenues, the Legislature has largely been able to avoid major cuts in much of the state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, by relying on roughly $1 billion in federal aid related to the pandemic.
But lawmakers are planning to cut the higher education budget by at least $21 million, even as they move to suspend various taxes and fees to help businesses at a significant cost in lost tax revenues for the state.
Several university leaders supported Zeringue’s bill at a hearing Thursday. They said they are still trying to determine how to handle virus-related costs that far exceed what they are receiving under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.
The federal funds for each school were determined by the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants who were not enrolled in online classes before the virus forced students to switch to online classes exclusively. Half of the funds provided under the act must be allocated to students.
LSU Interim President Tom Galligan said LSU has lost about $43.4 million since mid-March, when most schools decided to send students home for the semester. The LSU system has only received about $27 million in federal money.
The Southern University System has faced about $4 million in losses related to the virus in the past few months, said Dr. Ray Belton, system president and chancellor, and he expects a loss of about $71 million in the next fiscal year. His system received about $39 million in relief money, he said.
The University of Louisiana System, which consists of nine schools, is projecting to lose $121 million in revenue next year because of the virus, said Jim Henderson, system president. The system received about $65 million in federal funds.
Technical and community colleges faced losses of about $3 million during the current fiscal year and expect to lose about $9 million in the next year, said Monty Sullivan, President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. They received about $41.3 million in federal funds.
“CARES Act funding is one-time money,” he said. “We have to acknowledge that the CARES Act money is buying us one thing: time.”
The switch to online classes cost schools millions, and some refunded students for housing and food costs, further hurting their funds.
During a freeze in state aid in 2018, LSU raised student fees about $282 a student, for a total of about $17 million, according to a report from The Advocate.
Before the virus hit, Gov. John Bel Edwards had proposed increasing state support for higher education by $25 million next year.
“As we were coming into this session, we had some really high hopes for higher education with the budget,” said Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Lake Charles. “Then COVID hit and we’re back to square one.”
If approved by the Senate and Edwards, Zeringue’s bill would take effect immediately in order to give schools flexibility before classes start in August.
Also in the House, another committee approved a bill that would set an 8% tax rate for fantasy sports betting in the parishes that legalized fantasy sports betting in 2018.
The bill by Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley, set the tax rate for a bill that allowed voters to decide whether their parish should allow fantasy sports betting. Forty-seven parishes voted to legalize it. Edwards signed a bill by Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, into law Thursday that outlines the rules and regulations for the betting.
The money from the tax would go to early childhood education, but Stefanski said he does not expect the state to make a significant amount of money from it. Louisiana could collect about $375,000 from the tax, according to the Associated Press.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, June 10
7:38 a.m. 800 block of Freret Street; Runaway juvenile.
8:13 a.m. 500 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
8:39 a.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Animal complaint.
9:07 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Vehicle theft.
9:32 a.m. 800 block of Onstead Street; Complaint.
9:38 a.m. 100 block of Railroad Avenue; Welfare concern.
9:44 a.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Complaint.
10:29 a.m. 700 block of Bush Street; Animal complaint.
10:49 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue ; Complaint.
12:04 p.m. 300 block of Aucoin Street; Animal complaint.
12:59 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
1:14 p.m. 100 block of South Railroad Avenue; Remove a subject.
1:20 p.m. U.S. 90 West before Martin Luther King Boulevard; Stalled vehicle.
2:11 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Stalled vehicle.
2:21 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:15 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Telephone harassment.
4:46 p.m. U.S. 90 Bridge West, Morgan City side; Accident.
6:06 p.m. 1600 block of La. 70; Complaint.
6:30 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Assistance.
6:40 p.m. Oak Street; Frequent patrols.
7:57 p.m. Second and Belanger streets; Traffic incident.
11:52 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Alarm.
Thursday, June 11
12:23 a.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Loud music.
3:56 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.

Given our new and presumably long-term emphasis on social distancing, the thought occurs that this might be a good time for the revival of drive-in movies.
They offered “movie going in a casual manner,” according to one industry promotion, and were quite the rage before regular theaters lured everyone inside with air conditioning.
“Just come as you are, don’t dress up,” an ad for one of them suggested. That was a big selling point for the outdoor screens. Some of you may remember that we once put on our Sunday best to go downtown to the movies, but that wasn’t necessary at the drive-ins.
They featured “all the latest film releases,” ranging from top-rated movies to silly science fiction.
Cowboy shoot-’em-ups were standard fare, but advertisements for south Louisiana screens from the 1950s promote everything from “Magnificent Obsession” (Pelican Drive-In, Jennings, Phone 2010), to “The Song of Bernadette” (St. Mary Drive-In, Berwick, Children Under 12 Free at All Times), to “She Gods of Shark Reef” and “Night of the Blood Beast” (Trail Drive-in, just east of Crowley on the Old Spanish Trail).
I’m sorry I missed that double feature at the Trail, “She Gods of Shark Reef” offered “the colorful story of two devil-may-care American boys who are rescued from a hurricane caused shipwreck by a bevy of Polynesian beauties,” and the second film told “the harrowing story of a space pilot whose body is taken over by a monster from galaxy 27.”
Don’t bother to look for them on Netflix.
“The Steel Trap” starring Joseph Cotton was the featured attraction when The Claude opened just west of Eunice on Christmas Day 1952.
The drive-in was named for Claude Keller, founder of the Liberty theater chain, which also included the Queen and the K&M.
The Claude was typical of drive-ins across south Louisiana, with a 300-car capacity and a “spacious” concession stand that offered popcorn, peanuts, candy bars, hot dogs, soft drinks, and cigarettes.
The stand also offered “several rows of cushioned seats where movie-goers may sit to view the picture.”
When Robert and Frank deGraaw, owners of the Bob theater in downtown Abbeville, opened the 450-car Lafitte Drive-In just east of town, they had to deal, like everyone else, with one of the biggest summertime problems.
The deGraaws promised that their “family fun headquarters” would be fogged nightly. Most people still opted to burn an evil-smelling mosquito coil to keep the critters away.
The Yam, just west of Opelousas, and the Midway, between Opelousas and Washington, competed for business for several years until Yam owner E. R. Sellers bought out his rival and closed it in 1957.
The two opened within months of each other in 1950.
The Midway was built “in the rear of Dudley Briley’s tourist courts” and some of the cabins had a view of the screen. Briley and L. D. (TuTu) Guidry were its owners. It was “associated with the Rose and Lou-Ana theatres [in Opelousas], and the Pat in Lafayette.”
The Yam accommodated 450 cars on nine “tiered and graveled” ramps.”
Each car had “an individual speaker in a lighted plastic dome.”
Those speakers could also be a problem. When not in use they were hung on a metal pipe at car window height and connected by something like a telephone line to the projection tower.
The movie-goer would unhitch it from the post and hang the little metal box on the inside of the window.
It wasn’t the greatest sound system in the world, but it worked — until you forgot to put the speaker back on its perch at the end of the movie and tried to drive off with it.
It could really scratch up your car door when the box was jerked from the window, and it didn’t do the speaker much good either.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Losing a job can be devastating. Even in a strong market, companies can go out of business or reduce payroll. Being let go can initially tug at one’s pride, and after a layoff sets in, it may cause individuals to start worrying for their financial futures.
While many people can survive and may even enjoy a few weeks of rest and relaxation after a job loss, financial concerns may surface soon thereafter. A 2017 GOBankingRates survey found that more than half of American adults have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts. Financial planners typically advise people to have at least three month’s to eight month’s worth of earnings socked away for emergency situations like a medical issue or a job loss.
Even though the survey also found more than a quarter (27%) of respondents have $10,000 or more saved, that might not be enough to survive a job loss for six months or more.
These strategies can help professionals who recently found themselves out of work avoid financial difficulties.
—Get references. Leave on amicable terms and ask your former employer for a reference. You should not burn any bridges, as a good reference can be invaluable as you look for your next opportunity.
—Live off of cash reserves first. Before cashing in investments or retirement accounts, tap your emergency fund first. If you have any tangible assets, like an unused car or a boat sitting idle, sell these items for cash to tide you over.
—Contact your credit card company. Many companies have programs designed to help customers facing financial hardships. Reach out promptly to let them know you may be anticipating missed payments. It is better if you initiate contact rather than going into default. The same tactic can be used for mortgage or rent payments.
—Assess your budget carefully. You naturally will have to make concessions that impact finances, particularly as it pertains to spending. Cut back on non-necessities like dining out, gym memberships, streaming subscriptions and other luxuries. Avoid adding other new debt.
—Apply for aid benefits. There may be government benefits, such as low-cost healthcare or food subsidies, that can help you get through financial difficulties until you get back on your feet.
—Involve the entire family. It can be embarrassing to lose a job, but look to family for support. Children may not need to know every detail, but they can have a cursory awareness of family finances and understand they may have to cut back until mom or dad is working again.
—Prioritize saving. Lightning may not strike twice, but plan ahead for another job loss by prioritizing savings in the future.
A job loss can come as a shock. However, with level-headedness and smart planning, many people can avoid dire financial situations in the wake of a layoff.
For tips on how to save yourself from debt disaster, visit www.gobankingrates.com.