Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2488 by Brown, Fred (Relating to the sale of instructional materials and other merchandise to students of institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Under the bill, each institution of higher education would be required to furnish a list not later than 45 days before the start of each semester of each course to be offered by the institution including the name of the person teaching the course, a description of any instructional materials required or recommended for the course, and the anticipated enrollment in the course. If requested, an institution of higher education shall furnish not later than one business day after the date of the request, the list prepared by the institution and any information related to instructional materials for the institution that has been provided to a university-affiliated bookstore.
The new section would also require an institution to provide to a retailer or other provider of instructional materials or bookstore merchandise the same opportunity as an operator of a university-affiliated bookstore to participate in programs related to the dissemination or provision of instructional materials or bookstore merchandise for the institution (receive mailing lists or address labels of the student) or advertised in any publication or other mass media product of the institution. An institution is prohibited from charging a provider an amount greater than the amount charged to the operator of the university-affiliated bookstore for any activity. If an institution works with a university-affiliated bookstore to provide a method for the extension of credit or the ability of a student to charge or otherwise delay the payment of the cost of materials, the institution shall provide any person providing instructional materials with equal access and opportunity to use the same method of payment. Institutions of higher education would implement provisions of the bill within current resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
720 The University of Texas System Administration, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 758 Board of Regents, Texas State University System Central Office, 783 University of Houston System Administration