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More Textbook Bills Pop Up in Seven States
01/19/07
State legislatures in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, and Washington have filed more new bills affecting textbook adoptions and sales. Lawmakers are watching the actions of other states on textbook affordability and sometimes introduce bills with similar provisions. Connecticut
House Bill 5145 would require any store selling textbooks to students enrolled at public institutions to offer bundle components for sale separately. The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement.
Florida
HB 289 is modeled after 10 textbook-related bills introduced in Arkansas earlier this month, but is not identical to the Arkansas measures.
The bill exempts textbooks from sales taxes; prohibits state employees from accepting inducements to adopt certain textbooks; bans the sale of complimentary copies; requires public institutions to "notify" students of required textbooks (including the ISBNs) at least 15 days before classes or when instructors submit book orders; mandates that adoptions be made early enough to confirm availability of books and acquire used copies; and places limits on adoption of bundles and new editions.
HB 289 also requires the State Board of Education and Board of Governors to adopt policies regarding textbook affordability and asks the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a study of textbook costs and institutions' purchasing practices.
The bill will be assigned to a committee when the legislature convenes in March.
Massachusetts
House Docket 3674 requires publishers to furnish a product list, wholesale prices, and estimated time the products will remain on the market. The bill also calls for making bundle components available for sale separately.
The bill has not yet been assigned a permanent bill number or committee.
Mississippi
Senate Bill 2864 requires publishers to disclose the wholesale prices of textbooks to faculty, and also spell out the revisions that have been made in new editions. Custom textbooks and special editions would be exempt from the requirement. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Universities and Colleges.
New York
New York has reintroduced another old bill under a new number. Assembly Bill 1518 requires institutions to provide all textbook retailers with the same booklist information upon request.
This bill has been considered by both the Senate and House under various bill numbers and by different committees since 1987, and has never gotten out of committee. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.
Oregon
SB 365 is similar to Massachusetts HD 3674 and requires publishers to provide "to a prospective purchaser of the publisher's products" a list of those products with wholesale prices and the length of time the publisher plans to keep each product on the market. The list must be posted in a public area of the publisher's web site.
The bill, which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and General Government, also mandates that publishers offer the option of selling bundle components separately.
Washington state
HB 1224 and SB 5183 (identical bills) would amend a law passed in 2006 requiring the boards of state and regional universities to develop policies on textbook bundling, promoting buyback, disclosing book costs to faculty, and encouraging faculty to consider price in selecting course materials. The amendment would place the same requirements on the community college districts.
HB 1224 has been referred to the House Committee on Higher Education, which has scheduled a public hearing for Jan. 22. SB 5183, referred to the Senate Committee on Higher Education, will have a hearing on Jan. 24.
For summaries and updates on state legislation, go to State Bills 2007 at www.nacs.org/news/statebills.asp
—Cindy Ruckman
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