Amended in Assembly April 10, 2014

Amended in Senate March 3, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 79

Introduced by Senator Galgiani

February 3, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 79—Relative to school and college textbooks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 79, as amended, Galgiani. School and college textbooks: recycled paper.

This measure would urge the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the University of California, the Chancellor of the California State University, and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to ensure that all persons in their respective jurisdictions responsible for the procurement of school or college textbooks are aware of the benefits of recycled paper and that they consider those benefits when purchasing textbooks for use in their respective institutions.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, The publication of the hundreds of thousands of
school and college textbooks annually used in California are
begin delete responsible for generating countless tons of paper waste; end delete begin insert made
from paper, a resource that is renewable, recyclable, and available
in high-recycled form for school and college textbooks; end insert and

begin delete

WHEREAS, Much of this paper waste is currently shipped
overseas; and

end delete begin insert

WHEREAS, In 2012, 65.1 percent of paper consumed in the United
States was recovered from recycling, contributing towards
California’s goal of achieving 75-percent collection for recycling.
A greater effort should now be made to use that recovered paper
in new, recycled products such as high-recycled textbook paper;
and

end insert

WHEREAS, New milling techniques can produce paper with
over 80 percent recycled content that meets rigorous national
standards for the quality and durability of textbooks; and

WHEREAS, High standards of textbook quality can be met
through the use of recycled paper at no additional expense to local
educational agencies and colleges; and

WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the public and the
environment to maximize the use of high-content recycled paper;
and

WHEREAS, Many of the school district and college employees
who are responsible for purchasing textbooks are aware of their
options with respect to using instructional materials that contain
recycled paper, but it would serve the public interest if there were
greater awareness of the benefits of the use of school and college
textbooks published with recycled paper; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges the Superintendent
of Public Instruction, the President of the University of California,
the Chancellor of the California State University, and the
Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to ensure that
all persons in their respective jurisdictions responsible for the
procurement of school or college textbooks are aware of the
benefits of recycled paper and that they consider those benefits
when purchasing textbooks for use in their respective institutions;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President of the University of California, the Chancellor of the
California State University, and the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges, and to the author for appropriate distribution.