File No. 375

Senate, April 3, 2017

The Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement reported through SEN. BYE of the 5th Dist. and SEN. LINARES of the 33rd Dist., Chairpersons of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING DIGITAL DISCOUNTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2018) The Office of Higher Education may assist the Board of Regents for Higher Education and The University of Connecticut in establishing guidelines that encourage public and independent institutions of higher education to implement programs that reduce the cost of textbooks and other educational resources for students.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

There is no cost associated with the Office of Higher Education assisting the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the University of Connecticut in establishing guidelines regarding programs that affect the cost of textbooks, as they have expertise in the topic area.

The Out Years

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

OLR Bill Analysis

sSB-948

AN ACT CONCERNING DIGITAL DISCOUNTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

SUMMARY

This bill allows the Office of Higher Education to help the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) and UConn establish guidelines that encourage public and private colleges and universities to implement programs that reduce the cost of textbooks and other educational resources for students. (BOR and UConn lack the authority to establish guidelines that private colleges and universities must follow.)

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2018

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute