BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 1045
AUTHOR: Alquist
AMENDED: April 5, 2010
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: April 21, 2010
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Kathleen Chavira
SUBJECT : College Electronic Textbooks
KEY POLICY ISSUE
Do publishers of electronic versions of textbook for
postsecondary education need to be encouraged to go beyond
the content available in a printed version?
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that the electronic version of any
textbook produced and offered for sale at the public
segments of higher education, or a private postsecondary
educational institution in the state, contain, at a
minimum , the same content as the printed version.
BACKGROUND
Current law established by SB 48 (Alquist, Chapter 161,
Statutes of 2009) requires that any individual, firm,
partnership, or corporation that offers textbooks for sale
at the University of California (UC), the California State
University (CSU), and the California Community Colleges
(CCC), or a private postsecondary educational institution
in the state make them available for sale in an electronic
format, as specified, by January 1, 2020. Additionally,
current law requires that the electronic version contain
the same content as the printed version. (Education Code
66410)
ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies that the electronic version of any
textbook produced by any individual, firm, partnership, or
SB 1045
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corporation that offers textbooks for sale at the UC, CSU,
and the CCC, or private educational institution in the
state contain, at a minimum , the same content as the
printed version.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, digital
textbooks are the future of the textbook market and
have the potential to significantly reduce costs,
increase options for students, and open up the market
for more competition. According to the author, this
minor change in existing law is necessary to encourage
the industry to place greater emphasis on digital
textbooks and to offer additional features, including,
but not limited to video clips, audio tracks and
hyperlinks.
2) Genesis of current law . Existing law requires that
textbook publishers make textbooks available in
electronic version by 2020. According to the author,
textbook prices are increasing at four times the rate
of inflation, creating higher hurdles for students to
jump in their pursuit of a college education. The
California Public Interest Research Group reports have
found that the average student spends nearly $1500 a
year on required textbooks. This amounts to over 20%
of tuition and fees at a four year public institution
and over 50% of tuition at a community college.
Requiring electronic textbook versions was intended to
reduce educational costs for students and ensure that
college graduates have the technological experience
and knowledge that the 21st century workplace
requires.
SUPPORT
California State Student Association
OPPOSITION
None received.
SB 1045
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