File No. 22

House of Representatives, March 15, 2006

The Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement reported through REP. WILLIS of the 64th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2006) All publishers of college textbooks shall provide prospective purchasers of their products who are members of the faculty of institutions of higher education a complete list of all of the publisher's products related to the subject matter, as requested by the member of faculty, wholesale prices of such products and estimated length of time that the publisher intends to keep the products on the market. The publisher shall provide the list to such prospective purchaser at the start of any sales interaction, whether it be in person, by phone or electronically. The publisher shall publish such information on any Internet web site such publisher operates. For purposes of this section, "products" means all versions of a textbook or set of textbooks in a subject area, including supplemental items, both when sold together or separately from a textbook.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2006) The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges shall develop policies governing the use of financial aid at stores on the campuses of the colleges under its jurisdiction that sell required textbooks for courses taught at the colleges. Such policies shall permit students to purchase such textbooks at such stores during the first week of the academic term using financial aid that the student has not yet received.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2006) The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System shall develop policies governing the use of financial aid at stores on the campuses of the universities under its jurisdiction that sell required textbooks for courses taught at the universities. Such policies shall permit students to purchase such textbooks at such stores during the first week of the academic term using financial aid the student has not yet received.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2006) The Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut shall develop policies governing the use of financial aid at stores on the campuses of the university under its jurisdiction that sell required textbooks for courses taught at the university. Such policies shall permit students to purchase such textbooks at such stores during the first week of the academic term using financial aid the student has not yet received.

The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

Adopting policies that would allow students to purchase textbooks during the first week of an academic term using financial aid that the students may not have yet received results in no fiscal impact to any of the constituent units of higher education. In some cases this is current practice and if not can be accommodated within the existing administrative structure without the need for additional resources.

The Out Years

There is no anticipated out-year fiscal impact.



OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5527

AN ACT CONCERNING TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires textbook publishers to provide faculty at colleges and universities in the state with certain information about their products. And it requires state public college and university boards of trustees to adopt policies that permit students to use their financial aid to purchase textbooks at campus bookstores before they receive the aid.

The bill requires a textbook publisher to provide college faculty who inquire about purchasing its products with the following information at the start of any personal, telephone, or electronic sales interaction: (1) a complete list of its products related to the subject the faculty member inquires about, (2) the products' wholesale price, and (3) how much longer the publisher intends to keep the products on the market. Under the bill, “products” means all versions of a textbook or set of textbooks in a subject area, including supplemental items (such as compact discs and workbooks) that may be packaged with a textbook or sold separately.

The bill requires the UConn, Connecticut State University, and Community-Technical College boards of trustees to adopt policies governing the use of financial aid at bookstores under their jurisdiction. The policies must allow students to purchase textbooks at these bookstores during the first week of an academic term using financial aid that the students may have not yet received .

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2006

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute