HR1080 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1080 LRB094 19999 NHT 57472 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Postsecondary education is increasingly an essential credential for success in the modern economy; and

WHEREAS, Affordability of a college degree is a growing concern to students, families, and State policymakers; and

WHEREAS, The cost of textbooks is a substantial and escalating burden for students; and

WHEREAS, Other states have undertaken legislative and administrative measures to curtail the rising expense of textbook purchases; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with the Illinois Community College Board and public universities and community colleges, shall conduct a thorough and comprehensive study of the cost and feasibility of implementing textbook rental programs at public universities and community colleges; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall explore the feasibility of various funding sources to establish a revolving fund to finance start-up costs for textbook rental programs at public universities and community colleges; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall examine measures considered or adopted in other states, including the unbundling of software or other supplementary materials from the sale of textbooks; the public listing of titles, prices, and ISBN numbers of required textbooks; and the disclosure of textbook costs to faculty; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall investigate the potential for technology to reduce textbook costs, including online book swaps, an electronic clearinghouse for the purchase of textbooks, and e-book alternatives to published textbooks; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall report its findings and recommendations to the chairpersons of the Higher Education and Higher Education Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives no later than August 1, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the chairperson of the Board of Higher Education, the chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board, and the president of each public university and community college in this State.