Without debate Tuesday, senators approved legislation that says the LSU Board of Supervisors needs the backing of the Senate Finance Committee to privatize the hospitals.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Senate is requiring that LSU get legislative approval before turning over the management of its hospitals to private operators.
Without debate Tuesday, senators approved legislation that says the LSU Board of Supervisors needs the backing of the Senate Finance Committee to privatize the hospitals.
There was no discussion of the resolution before it was adopted without objection.
Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration hadn't intended to submit the lease agreements to lawmakers for approval, saying it wasn't required under the law. The attorney general's office agreed with that determination.
Jindal is seeking to privatize all but one of LSU's 10 hospitals as a way to cut costs.
Agreements for a half dozen hospitals, including one with Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, are currently being negotiated.