University tuition cap slated to die in senate
PHOENIX - A legislative plan to cap tuition at Arizona's three universities appears to have died in a Senate committee, although the proposal's primary backer still refuses to throw in the towel.
Rep. Mike Gardner, R-Tempe, said Thursday that his plan to limit tuition hikes is slated to die in the state Senate.
But Gardner said he plans to resuscitate the plan, which would restrict the Arizona Board of Regents' tuition setting power by attaching it to another piece of legislation - House bill 2338.
Gardner said there is still a possibility that University of Arizona students will see significantly smaller increases in tuition.
"It could happen, but I don't want to play my cards too soon," Gardner said.
The legislation would limit hikes to the rate of inflation, plus 1 percent. That number amounts to an annual tuition increase of no more than 3.56 percent.
The Arizona Board of Regents, in comparison, raised tuition 4.7 percent last November.
UA officials have opposed the bill since its introduction in January. Greg Fahey, the university's state lobbyist, said it hampers the Regents by setting limitations on their powers.
"We're opposed to it because the Board of Regents were appointed to carry out certain duties," he said. "If you've got a Board, why don't you let them do their job - in this case setting tuition."
The proposal, which was approved by the full House on a 40-19 vote, was assigned to the Senate Education Committee March 9.
But Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, the committee's chairman, decided not to hear the bill before last Friday's deadline.
Gardner's other proposal, HB 2657, would require the Regents to hold at least one public meeting dealing with tuition prior to approving any increases. In addition, it would force the Regents to conduct a roll call vote on all final decisions concerning tuition.
If Gardner adds his tuition cap onto HB 2657, the new bill would not have to go before Huppenthal again. Instead, a special conference committee would hear the plan.
The next step would include obtaining the approval of the full Senate, which Gardner said he thinks he has already accomplished.
Other organizations, including the Arizona Students' Association, have expressed their support for the proposal.
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