HB 603

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to textbook affordability; creating s.
3	1004.09, F.S.; prohibiting certain actions of community
4	college or state university employees that relate to
5	student purchase of required textbooks; authorizing
6	receipt of certain instructional materials, compensation,
7	and training; requiring student notification of required
8	textbooks; requiring adoption of specified policies and
9	practices to minimize the cost of textbooks; providing an
10	effective date.
11
12	WHEREAS, textbooks are an essential part of a comprehensive
13	and high-quality postsecondary education, and
14	WHEREAS, the availability and affordability of textbooks
15	directly impact the quality and affordability of postsecondary
16	education, and
17	WHEREAS, the United States Government Accountability Office
18	recently reported that in the last two decades college textbook
19	prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation, and
20	WHEREAS, the United States Government Accountability Office
21	reported that, while many factors affect textbook pricing, the
22	increasing costs associated with developing instructional
23	supplements to accompany textbooks best explain price increases
24	in recent years, and
25	WHEREAS, the United States Government Accountability Office
26	reported that college textbook prices in the United States may
27	exceed prices in other countries because prices reflect market
28	conditions found in each country, such as the willingness and
29	ability of students to purchase the textbook, and
30	WHEREAS, the cost of textbooks is one component considered
31	in making federal and state-funded financial aid awards, and, as
32	such, escalating textbook prices can impact federal and state
33	spending, and
34	WHEREAS, state universities and community colleges should
35	consider the least costly practices in assigning textbooks when
36	such practices are educationally sound, NOW, THEREFORE,
37
38	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
39
40	Section 1.  Section 1004.09, Florida Statutes, is created
41	to read:
42	1004.09  Textbook affordability.--
43	(1)  No employee of a community college or state university
44	may demand or receive any payment, loan, subscription, advance,
45	deposit of money, service, or anything of value, present or
46	promised, in exchange for requiring students to purchase a
47	specific textbook for coursework or instruction.
48	(2)  An employee may receive:
49	(a)  Sample copies, instructor copies, or instructional
50	materials.
51	(b)  Royalties or other compensation from sales of
52	textbooks that include the instructor's own writing or work.
53	(c)  Honoraria for academic peer review of course
54	materials.
55	(d)  Fees associated with activities such as reviewing,
56	critiquing, or preparing support materials for textbooks
57	pursuant to guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education
58	or the Board of Governors.
59	(e)  Training in the use of course materials and learning
60	technologies.
61	(3)  Community colleges and state universities shall post
62	on their websites, as early as is feasible, but not less than 30
63	days prior to the first day of class for each term, a list of
64	each textbook required for each course offered at the
65	institution during the upcoming term. The posted list shall
66	include the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each
67	textbook along with other relevant information necessary to
68	identify the specific textbook or textbooks required for each
69	course. The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
70	shall include in the policies, procedures, and guidelines
71	adopted under subsection (4) certain limited exceptions to this
72	notification requirement for classes added after the
73	notification deadline.
74	(4)  By March 1, 2009, the State Board of Education and the
75	Board of Governors each shall adopt policies, procedures, and
76	guidelines for implementation by community colleges and state
77	universities, respectively, that further efforts to minimize the
78	cost of textbooks for students attending such institutions while
79	maintaining the quality of education and academic freedom. The
80	policies, procedures, and guidelines shall provide for the
81	following:
82	(a)  That textbook adoptions are made with sufficient lead
83	time to bookstores so as to confirm availability of the
84	requested materials and, where possible, ensure maximum
85	availability of used books.
86	(b)  That, in the textbook adoption process, the intent to
87	use all items ordered, particularly each individual item sold as
88	part of a bundled package, is confirmed by the course instructor
89	or the academic department offering the course before the
90	adoption is finalized.
91	(c)  That a course instructor or the academic department
92	offering the course determines, before a textbook is adopted,
93	the extent to which a new edition differs significantly and
94	substantively from earlier versions and the value of changing to
95	a new edition.
96	(d)  That the establishment of policies shall address the
97	availability of required textbooks to students otherwise unable
98	to afford the cost.
99	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.