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State Supreme Court To Rule On University Tuition Increases

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – Who has the authority to set fees and increase tuition at the state's universities? The Legislature or the state's Board of Governors.

That decision is now up to the Florida Supreme Court. The high court justices agreed Thursday to take an appeal of a lower court's decision. The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled the Legislature rather than Board of Governors has the authority.

Former Gov. and ex-U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and other challengers argue that authority should rest with the board. Their claim is based on a state constitutional amendment championed by Graham that created the board as an independent entity.

The Legislature had urged the justices not to take the appeal, arguing the lower court ruling was based on years of legal precedent.

The challengers said the constitutional issues are of such magnitude they need to be resolve by the Supreme Court.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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