HB1464 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 09065 NHT 29256 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1464

Introduced 2/21/2007, by Rep. Sandra M. Pihos

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Higher Education Textbook Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, in collaboration with affiliated bookstores and student and faculty representatives, to adopt rules requiring that affiliated bookstores (1) provide students the option of purchasing materials that are unbundled when possible, disclose to faculty and staff the costs to students of purchasing materials, and disclose publicly how new editions vary from previous editions; (2) actively promote and publicize book buy-back programs; and (3) disclose retail costs for course materials on a per course basis to faculty and staff and make this information publicly available. Requires faculty and staff members to consider the least costly practices in assigning course materials, such as adopting the least expensive edition available when educational content is comparable, as determined by the faculty or staff member, and working closely with publishers and affiliated bookstores to create bundles and packages if they deliver cost savings to students.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 Higher Education Textbook Act.

Section 5. Findings; intent. (a) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Textbooks are an essential part of a comprehensive and high-quality postsecondary education. The availability and affordability of textbooks directly impacts the quality and affordability of postsecondary education.

(2) Often the bundling of textbooks, workbooks, CD-ROMs, and other course-related materials is unnecessary since many students do not use all of the materials included and may realize cost savings if materials are also offered independently one from the other.

(3) Many faculty and staff select materials uninformed of the retail costs and differences between versions.

(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to give students more choices for purchasing educational materials and to encourage faculty and staff to work closely with bookstores and publishers to implement the least costly option, without sacrificing educational content, and to provide maximum cost savings to students.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Bundled" means a group of objects joined together by packaging or required to be purchased as an indivisible unit.

"Materials" means any supplies or texts required or recommended by faculty or staff for a given course.

Section 15. Bookstore requirements. The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, in collaboration with affiliated bookstores and student and faculty representatives, shall adopt rules requiring that affiliated bookstores do all of the following:

(1) Provide students the option of purchasing materials that are unbundled when possible, disclose to faculty and staff the costs to students of purchasing materials, and disclose publicly how new editions vary from previous editions.

(2) Actively promote and publicize book buy-back programs.

(3) Disclose retail costs for course materials on a per course basis to faculty and staff and make this information publicly available.

Section 20. Faculty requirements. Faculty and staff members shall consider the least costly practices in assigning course materials, such as adopting the least expensive edition available when educational content is comparable, as determined by the faculty or staff member, and working closely with publishers and affiliated bookstores to create bundles and packages if they deliver cost savings to students.