Bill > H4060

This bill establishes a special commission to investigate and propose solutions for reducing the high costs of college textbooks. The commission will examine various aspects of the textbook industry, including the availability of lower-cost options like softcover, one-color, and digital texts, as well as the effective use of e-textbooks and open-source materials. It will also look into the impact of frequent new editions on costs and explore ways to encourage colleges to implement buy-back and book swap programs, offering incentives for schools that do. Furthermore, the commission aims to improve information access for students and faculty to allow for better comparison of available textbooks. The commission will be comprised of 19 members, including legislative leaders, the commissioner of higher education, representatives from various higher education institutions and organizations, members of the textbook publishing industry, book store representatives, faculty members, college librarians, and a student trustee. This commission is tasked with reporting its findings and any proposed legislation to the state legislature by December 31, 2017.