Title: An act relating to cost savings on course materials for students at state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College.

Brief Description: Concerning cost savings on course materials for students at state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College.

Sponsors: House Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ormsby, Sells, Kenney, Cox, Buri, Fromhold, Hasegawa, Morrell, McCoy, Upthegrove, Ericks, Darneille, Rodne, Chase, Conway, Kessler, Dunn, Green and Lantz).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/24/06 [DP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Higher Education; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Rasmussen, Schoesler and Shin.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Carrell.

Staff: Stephanie Yurcisin (786-7438)

Background: There is concern, particularly among students at institutions of higher education, about the high costs of textbooks, workbooks, CD-ROMs, and other course related materials. A recent study by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that textbook prices have almost tripled from 1986 to 2004, in large part because of the increasing cost of developing the additional items that come with books, such as CD-ROMs and workbooks. The GAO study also found that, nationally, students at four-year schools spent, on average, $900 for books and supplies in 2003-2004, which was more than a quarter of the average cost of tuition and fees.

Summary of Bill: The Legislature finds that funding of course materials is often unnecessary, and that many faculty and staff select materials uninformed of the retail costs and differences between versions. The Legislature intends to give students more choice in purchasing and to encourage faculty and staff to work closely with bookstores and publishers to implement the least costly option without sacrificing educational content.

The boards of regents or trustees at the public baccalaureate institutions, in collaboration with the affiliated bookstores and student and faculty representatives, are directed to adopt rules requiring that affiliated bookstores provide students with the option of purchasing unbundled materials, disclose to faculty and staff the costs to students of purchasing the materials, and disclose publicly how new editions vary from previous editions. These rules must also require affiliated bookstores to actively promote and publicize book buyback programs, and disclose retail costs for course materials on a per course basis to faculty and staff, and make this information publicly available.
The rules adopted by the boards must also require faculty and staff to consider the least costly practices in assigning course materials, such as adopting the least expensive edition available when educational content is comparable as determined by faculty, and working closely with publishers and bookstores to create packages and bundles if they deliver cost savings to students.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.