OKLAHOMA CITY –To help protect college students from being hit with a significant increase in tuition during one school year, state Rep. Steve Kouplen has filed legislation to limit the amount colleges and universities can increase college tuition.

House Bill 2792, by Kouplen, would limit any annual increase to college tuition and mandatory fees to the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the most recent complete year, as determined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Right now, colleges can increase their tuition on their own accord-it could be increased just 2 percent in one year or 20 percent as long as they remain under the cap,” said Kouplen, D-Beggs. “This is unfair for students who are already struggling financially in hopes to better themselves by receiving a higher education. Schools need to make sure they think about the students, and their financial well-being.”

Currently, Oklahoma’s comprehensive universities (OU/OSU) can raise tuition and mandatory fees as long as remains less than 105 percent of the combined average of all the schools in the Big 12 Conference. Regional universities and two-year colleges can raise tuition and mandatory fees as long as it remains less than 105 percent of similar state-supported institution surrounding states.

Under the bill, Kouplen said an annual increase to resident tuition and mandatory fees may exceed the rate of inflation only if approved by the Legislature.

House Bill 2792 was scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriation and Budget Sub-Committee-Education, February 9, 2010, but was removed from the agenda by the committee chair.