BILL NUMBER: SJR 2	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   Relative to college textbook affordability.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 2, as introduced, Liu. Postsecondary education: college
textbook affordability.
   This measure would commend the Congress and the President of the
United States for including the American Opportunity Tax Credit in
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 enabling
California to make college affordable for students. The measure would
express the intent of the Legislature to adopt similar higher
education tax credits when the state's economic conditions improve.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, The importance of improving access to and affordability
of postsecondary education is critical to the nation's future
economic well-being; and
   WHEREAS, The last several decades have shown growth in the
educational requirements of jobs. Reports have demonstrated that a
majority of the jobs in the fastest growing occupations require an
associate degree or higher level of postsecondary education and
training; and
   WHEREAS, Efforts to foster opportunities for developing a highly
skilled and educated workforce by reducing barriers that prevent
students from receiving a quality higher education are a critical
component of the nation's and California's economic recovery; and
   WHEREAS, A recent California State Auditor report has shown that
increases in textbook prices have significantly outpaced median
household income making it more likely that some students will forgo
or delay attending college because of the financial burden; and
   WHEREAS, For the 2007-08 academic year, the average textbook costs
as a percentage of student fees and textbooks was as high as 59
percent in California's system of public higher education; and
   WHEREAS, During the last several years, the soaring costs of
college textbook prices have become a barrier to student access to a
postsecondary education, with textbook costs increasing at twice the
rate of inflation followed by tuition increases; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Government Accounting Office found that
between December 1986 and December 2004, textbook prices nearly
tripled while tuition and fees increased by 240 percent; and
   WHEREAS, Given that nearly one-half of undergraduates nationwide
receive state and federal financial aid, efforts to make the overall
cost of attendance more affordable, including the cost of textbooks,
makes economic sense for California and the nation; and
   WHEREAS, Nationwide, students and their families spend billions of
dollars on new and used textbooks and, given that many students rely
on government financial aid, escalating textbook prices can impact
state and federal spending; and
   WHEREAS, Providing students and their families a means to lessen
the impact of the soaring costs of a college education through a
higher education tax credit will improve access to and the
affordability of a college education; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California
commends the Congress and the President of the United States for
including the American Opportunity Tax Credit in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 enabling California to make
college affordable for students by providing financial relief to
students and their families from the soaring costs of a college
education; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature calls for the State of California,
when the state's economic conditions improve, to adopt a similar
higher education tax credit measure that will support efforts to make
college more affordable for all California citizens; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
and to each Senator and Representative from California in the
Congress of the United States.