BILL REQ. #:  S-4963.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/02/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to cost savings on course materials for students at state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Often the bundling of texts, workbooks, CD-ROMs, and other course related materials is unnecessary since many students do not use all of the materials included and may realize cost savings if materials are also offered independently one from the other; and
     (2) Many faculty and staff select materials uninformed of the retail costs and differences between versions.
     It is the intent of the legislature to give students more choices for purchasing educational materials and to encourage faculty and staff to work closely with bookstores and publishers to implement the least costly option without sacrificing educational content and to provide maximum cost savings to students.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The boards of regents of the state universities and the boards of trustees of the regional universities and The Evergreen State College, in collaboration with the affiliated bookstores and a student and faculty representative, shall adopt rules requiring that:
     (a) Affiliated bookstores:
     (i) Provide students the option of purchasing materials that are unbundled when possible, disclose to faculty and staff the costs to students of purchasing materials, and disclose publicly how new editions vary from previous editions;
     (ii) Actively promote and publicize book buy-back programs; and
     (iii) Disclose retail costs for course materials on a per course basis to faculty and staff and make this information publicly available; and
     (b) Faculty and staff members 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 the faculty, and working closely with publishers and local bookstores to create bundles and packages if they deliver cost savings to students.
     (2) As used in this section:
     (a) "Materials" means any supplies or texts required or recommended by faculty or staff for a given course.
     (b) "Bundled" means a group of objects joined together by packaging or required to be purchased as an indivisible unit.