H-3579.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2424

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Jacobsen, Wood, Wineberry, R. Fisher and Anderson

 

Read first time 01/16/92.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.Requiring textbook and course materials publishers to make materials available in computer-based format for students with print disabilities.


     AN ACT Relating to higher education; and adding new sections to chapter 28B.10 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

     When purchasing or ordering textbooks and other course materials, personnel at institutions of higher education shall, through contract, require the publishers of those textbooks and course materials to fulfill the following requirements:

     (1) Make the textbooks and course materials available in a computer-based format for students with print disabilities enrolled at the institution;

     (2) Provide the textbooks and course materials to students with print disabilities at no greater amount than is charged for the printed textbook and course materials;

     (3) Ensure that the computer format provided to students with print disabilities complies with guideline standards established for machine readable documents for persons with print disabilities; and

     (4) Provide the computer-formatted textbook and course materials to students with print disabilities at the same time that the printed copies are available to other students at the institution.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

     Unless otherwise permitted by the publisher, the computer format of textbooks and course materials provided under section 1 of this act shall be used solely for the purpose of making the textbooks and course materials accessible to students with print disabilities.