BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3607

By: Davis, Yvonne

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the cost of textbooks and other course materials make up a significant portion of education expenses for college students and that for most students these costs are out‑of-pocket as financial aid typically goes toward paying for the classes that require these materials. Concerns have been raised regarding the high cost to students of electronic textbooks and course materials required or recommended for core curriculum courses. C.S.H.B. 3607 seeks to address these concerns by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on methods to reduce those costs.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3607 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on methods to reduce the cost of electronic textbooks and course materials required or recommended for core curriculum courses. The bill requires the coordinating board, not later than December 31, 2020, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of each legislative standing committee with jurisdiction over higher education a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3607 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute postpones the deadline by which the coordinating board is required to submit the report from not later than December 1, 2020, to not later than December 31, 2020.