Jindal signs bill to loosen rules on La. colleges, move UNO

Louisiana’s public colleges will have freedom from contracting, purchasing and budgeting rules required of other state agencies, if the colleges meet certain performance benchmarks. Despite initial concerns that such autonomy could threaten accountability standards, the bill won easy legislative passage. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed it into law today at LSU, surrounded by lawmakers, university leaders and business executives who pushed the measure. LSU estimates it can save $52 million over five years with the changes. Schools will reach different levels of freedom depending on their performance: base level, intermediate level and high level. More autonomy is allowed at each level. The final decision-making rests with the governor’s Division of Administration after the state’s higher education board decides whether performance benchmarks were hit. Jindal also signed a bill to move the University of New Orleans out of the LSU System and into the University of Louisiana System.