BILL NUMBER: SB 48INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Alquist JANUARY 12,2009 An act relating to college textbooks. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 48, as introduced, Alquist. College textbooks: affordability and online textbooks. Existing law establishes the various segments of the public higher education system in the state. These segments include the University of California, which is administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, which is administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, which is administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law urges textbook publishers to take specified actions aimed at reducing the amounts that students pay for textbooks. Existing law requires the Trustees of the California State University and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and requests the Regents of the University of California, among other things, to work with the academic senates of each respective segment to encourage faculty to give consideration to the least costly practices in assigning textbooks, to encourage faculty to disclose to students how new editions of textbooks are different from previous editions and the cost to students for textbooks selected, to review procedures for faculty to inform college and university bookstores of textbook selections, and to encourage faculty to work closely with publishers and college and university bookstores in creating bundles and packages that are economically sound and deliver cost savings to students. Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to encourage private colleges and universities to work with their respective academic senates, and to encourage faculty to consider practices in selecting textbooks that will result in the lowest costs to students. Existing law requires textbook publishers, for textbooks published on or after January 1, 2010, to print a summary of the substantive content differences between the new edition and any prior addition on, or within, the cover of the textbook, as well as the copyright date of the previous edition. Existing law prohibits those responsible for choosing course materials and adopting textbooks at an institution of higher education from demanding or receiving anything of value for adopting specific course materials required for coursework instruction. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to the affordability of college textbooks and the promotion and use of online textbooks. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to the affordability of college textbooks and the promotion and use of online textbooks.