SB0326 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 07710 NHT 27866 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0326

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 805/8.31 new

Creates the Textbook Consumer Information Act. Provides that when contacting prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose to the faculty member or, where applicable, the other entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at a public institution of higher education (i) the price at which the publisher would make the textbooks and supplementary learning materials available to a college bookstore and (ii) the history of revisions for such products. Provides that any faculty member or entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution must provide a written statement to the college bookstore placing an order for textbooks detailing all textbooks and supplementary learning materials required for each course, all textbooks and supplementary learning materials suggested for each course, and the earliest edition of any required textbook that may be purchased by a student for that course. Requires college bookstores to make available a listing of all textbooks and supplementary learning materials that are required for courses taught during each term, which shall include new and used textbook retail prices. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Textbook Consumer Information Act.

Section 5. Purpose. It is in the interest of the State of Illinois to reduce financial barriers and thereby increase access to higher education for all capable students. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that students have the timely and complete information that they need in order to make informed decisions when purchasing textbooks and other required or suggested materials to further their higher education goals.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"College bookstore" means a bookstore that offers textbooks and supplementary learning materials to students of an institution and that has a physical presence on or near the institution's campus.

"Institution" means a public institution of higher education that is included in the definition of "public institutions of higher education" under the Board of Higher Education Act.

Section 15. Requirements of textbook publishers. When contacting prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose the following to the faculty member or, where applicable, the other entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution:

(1) the price at which the publisher would make the textbooks and, if applicable, supplementary learning materials available to a college bookstore or bookstores; and

(2) the history of revisions for such products, if any. If supplemental items are available, the publisher's disclosure must include the supplements' prices if sold individually versus their prices if sold packaged with a textbook (i.e., bundled), where bundling is available.

Section 20. Requirements of faculty. Any faculty member or entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution must provide a written statement to the college bookstore or bookstores placing an order for textbooks, detailing all textbooks and supplementary learning materials required for each course, all textbooks and supplementary learning materials suggested for each course, and the earliest edition of any required textbook that may be purchased by a student for that course.

Nothing in this Act shall prohibit a faculty member from requiring the most recent edition of a textbook.

Section 25. Requirements of bookstores. All college bookstores must make available, with reasonable expediency after the information becomes available, a listing of all textbooks and supplementary learning materials that are required for courses taught during each term. The list shall include the title, author, and International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each textbook and the new and used textbook retail prices. The college bookstore shall publish the listing on its Internet website or, if no such website exists, must post the listing in a non-restricted area of the college bookstore.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.31 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.31 new)

Sec. 8.31. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by the Textbook Consumer Information Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.