81(R) SB 454 - Introduced version

TO:	Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education

FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB454 by Shapiro (Relating to measures to increase the affordability of textbooks used for courses at public institutions of higher education; authorizing a penalty.), As Introduced

SB 454 relates to measures to increase the affordability of textbooks used for courses at public institutions of higher education and authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating Board to impose a new penalty. The bill would amend Chapter 51, Education Code to require institutions to disseminate a course schedule 30 days prior to each semester along with a list of required and recommended textbooks including specific information about each textbook. The information would be required to be published in hard copy format as well as on the institution's Internet website.

The bill would also require publishers to provide certain information regarding considered textbooks to faculty members, including: prices; revisions; available alternative formats; and copyright dates. Textbook publishers that offer textbook bundles would be required to offer each individual item separately to bookstores and students. Administrative penalties could be imposed by the Higher Education Coordinating Board against a textbook publisher for violations, with any revenues to be used for textbook scholarships. The Act takes effect September 1, 2009 and applies beginning with the 2010 fall academic semester.

Agencies and institutions of higher education report there could be minimal costs associated with coordination, compilation, and dissemination of information required by the bill, as well as with the potential enforcement of imposed penalties.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 17, 2009