DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 644 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session LaFleur
Abstract: Creates pilot programs to be administered by the Bd. of Regents and certain public
postsecondary education management boards to provide more affordable textbooks and
instructional materials to students.
Bd. of Regents
Proposed law requires the Bd. of Regents, in collaboration with the public postsecondary education
management boards, to create and implement Affordable Digital Textbook and Learning Materials
Pilot Programs.
Proposed law requires the Bd. of Regents to do the following:
(1)Issue a request for applications from all public postsecondary education management boards
for proposals for pilot programs.
(2)Prioritize proposed pilot programs that provide the most benefit to socially and economically
disadvantaged and historically underrepresented student populations.
(3)Award participating boards funds to replace existing commercial textbooks with open
educational resources.
(4)Enter into contracts with management boards administering pilot programs.
Public postsecondary education management boards
Proposed law requires interested public postsecondary education management boards to submit
proposals that:
(1)Demonstrate the anticipated number of students who would benefit from a pilot program,
the courses for which funds would be used, the textbooks currently being used in the
courses and what open educational resources would be used in the courses through a pilot
program, and the estimated average amount of savings per student.
(2)Propose either customizing course instruction to current open educational resources or
creating new courses. (3)Identify the faculty who would do such customization of instruction or creation of new
courses.
(Adds R.S. 17:3129.8; Repeals R.S. 17:3129.8)