BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1053
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1053 (Steinberg and Alquist)
As Amended August 20, 2012
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :33-3
HIGHER EDUCATION 7-1 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Block, Achadjian, |Ayes:|Gatto, Blumenfield, |
| |Brownley, Fong, Galgiani, | |Bradford, |
| |Lara, Portantino | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |Hill, Cedillo, Mitchell, |
| | | |Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Establishes the California Digital Open Source Library
(CDOSL) to house digital open source textbooks and related materials.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the California State University (CSU) to administer the
CDOSL, in coordination with the University of California (UC) and the
California Community Colleges (CCC), to house the open source
materials while providing a web-based way for students, faculty, and
staff to find, adopt, utilize, or modify course materials for little
or no cost.
2)States legislative intent that the UC, CSU, and the CCC assist and
support faculty in choosing lower cost, more flexible and dynamic
textbook alternatives.
3)Makes the above operative only upon enactment of SB 1052 (Steinberg)
of this legislative session and only if funding is provided in the
Budget Act, another statute, and/or through federal or private funds.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the
CSU estimates annual costs of around $1.2 million, likely declining
after five years, to develop and operate the CDOSL, including
integration with CSU's existing digital library systems and coordination
SB 1053
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with UC and CCC, whose costs should be absorbable.
COMMENTS : According to the author, the cost of textbooks represents a
significant burden to students and families. This bill creates a
repository for digital open education resources developed as a result of
SB 1052 (Steinberg), for textbooks in strategically selected lower
division courses in public postsecondary education.
Open Education Resources (OERs) are educational materials such as
textbooks, research articles, videos, assessments, or simulations that
are either licensed under an open copyright license or are in the public
domain. OERs provide no-cost access and no-cost permission to revise,
reuse, remix, or redistribute the materials. According to a policy
brief by the Center for American Progress and EDUCAUSE, digital OERs
offer many advantages over traditional textbooks, by allowing students
and faculty to access textbooks and related materials for free online or
to purchase hardcopies that are more affordable than traditional
textbooks, enabling faculty to customize learning materials to suit
their course objectives, and providing students with a more flexible set
of tools that can contribute to a richer learning experience.
Analysis Prepared by : Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
FN: 0005080