BILL NUMBER: SB 48	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alquist

                        JANUARY 12,2009

   An act relating to college textbooks.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 48, as introduced, Alquist. College textbooks: affordability
and online textbooks.
   Existing law establishes the various segments of the public higher
education system in the state. These segments include the University
of California, which is administered by the Regents of the
University of California, the California State University, which is
administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and
the California Community Colleges, which is administered by the Board
of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
   Existing law urges textbook publishers to take specified actions
aimed at reducing the amounts that students pay for textbooks.
Existing law requires the Trustees of the California State University
and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and
requests the Regents of the University of California, among other
things, to work with the academic senates of each respective segment
to encourage faculty to give consideration to the least costly
practices in assigning textbooks, to encourage faculty to disclose to
students how new editions of textbooks are different from previous
editions and the cost to students for textbooks selected, to review
procedures for faculty to inform college and university bookstores of
textbook selections, and to encourage faculty to work closely with
publishers and college and university bookstores in creating bundles
and packages that are economically sound and deliver cost savings to
students.
   Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to encourage
private colleges and universities to work with their respective
academic senates, and to encourage faculty to consider practices in
selecting textbooks that will result in the lowest costs to students.

   Existing law requires textbook publishers, for textbooks published
on or after January 1, 2010, to print a summary of the substantive
content differences between the new edition and any prior addition
on, or within, the cover of the textbook, as well as the copyright
date of the previous edition.
   Existing law prohibits those responsible for choosing course
materials and adopting textbooks at an institution of higher
education from demanding or receiving anything of value for adopting
specific course materials required for coursework instruction.
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation relating to the affordability of college textbooks and
the promotion and use of online textbooks.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation relating to the affordability of college textbooks and
the promotion and use of online textbooks.