S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  7027

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 11, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. KELLNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Education

AN ACT to amend the  education  law,  in  relation  to  authorizing  the
  regents  of  the  university of the state of New York to create a task
  force to review of the issues of textbooks' cost and ways  to  enhance
  the  academic  role and delivery of course materials, ensuring student
  affordability through such approaches as used books, textbook rentals,
  custom materials, the use of open access textbooks, digital textbooks,
  print  on  demand  technologies,  and  through  greater  collaboration
  between faculty, publishers, college bookstores and libraries

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 725 to
read as follows:
  S 725. FORMATION OF TASK FORCE. 1.  THE REGENTS OF THE  UNIVERSITY  OF
THE  STATE OF NEW YORK ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY
TAKE ALL ACTIONS TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW THE  ISSUES  OF  TEXT-
BOOKS'  COST  AND DELIVERY METHODS. THE TASK FORCE WILL CONSIST OF THIR-
TEEN REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHALL BE SELECTED AMONG FACULTY  AND  REPRESEN-
TATIVES  FROM  THE  STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK, PRIVATE COLLEGES WITHIN NEW YORK  STATE,  AND  CAMPUS  BOOKSTORES.
APPOINTMENTS  TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AFTER CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  STATE
UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, PRIVATE COLLEGES
AND CAMPUS BOOKSTORES WITHIN NEW YORK STATE. REPRESENTATIVES SERVING  ON
THE TASK FORCE FROM THE COLLEGES SHALL INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL STAFF PERSON
KNOWLEDGEABLE  ABOUT TEXTBOOK INITIATIVES CURRENTLY BEING PURSUED BY THE
UNIVERSITY AND FACULTY MEMBERS. THE GOALS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE
TO ADVISE ON AND EXPLORE ISSUES OF COURSE  MATERIAL  COSTS  AND  WAY  TO
ENHANCE  THE  ACADEMIC  ROLE  AND SERVICES OF COLLEGE BOOKSTORES TO HELP
MAKE COURSE MATERIALS MORE AFFORDABLE THROUGH SUCH  APPROACHES  AS  USED

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10566-02-1
              

A. 7027                             2

BOOKS,  TEXTBOOK RENTALS, CUSTOM MATERIALS, THE USE OF OPEN ACCESS TEXT-
BOOKS, DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS, PRINT  ON  DEMAND  TECHNOLOGIES,  AND  THROUGH
GREATER COLLABORATION BETWEEN COLLEGE BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES.
  2.  THE  TASK FORCE SHALL REPORT NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2012 TO THE
BOARD OF REGENTS, THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, ON THEIR RECOMMENDA-
TIONS ON ENHANCING ACCESS TO TEXTBOOKS AND THEIR  COSTS  AND  METHOD  OF
DELIVERY, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  A.  SUPPORTING  EFFICIENT  USED BOOK, BUYBACK AND STUDENT PEER TO PEER
SALES;
  B. WAYS TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE TEXTBOOK RENTAL PROGRAMS;
  C. WAYS TO PROMOTE THE GREATER DEVELOPMENT, ADOPTION, DEPLOYMENT,  AND
USE  OF  OPEN  ACCESS  TEXTBOOKS  IN  BOTH DIGITAL AND PRINT FORMATS FOR
STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE WAYS;
  D. HOW TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF DIGITAL  TEXTBOOKS  AND
LEARNING OBJECTS FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS;
  E.  HOW  THE  USE  OF ADVANCE PRINT ON DEMAND TECHNOLOGIES CAN PROVIDE
STUDENTS MORE CHOICES AND LOWER THE COST OF COURSE MATERIALS;
  F. WAYS IN WHICH THE COST OF COMMERCIAL DIGITAL CONTENT COULD BE  MADE
MORE AFFORDABLE;
  G.  HOW  COLLABORATION BETWEEN TEXTBOOK PUBLISHERS, COLLEGE BOOKSTORES
AND LIBRARIES CAN INCREASE CONTENT CHOICES FOR FACULTY AND ENHANCE  COST
SAVINGS  FOR  STUDENTS, WHILE IMPROVING EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCING DUPLI-
CATION AT LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES THROUGH THE REVIEW OF PRIMARY  SOURCE
CONTENT  COLLECTIONS,  SUBSCRIPTIONS,  COURSE  PACKAGES, E-RESERVES, AND
COPYRIGHT;
  H. WHAT GUIDELINES SHOULD EXIST, IF ANY, FOR FACULTY WHO MAY  WISH  TO
EXPLORE  ALTERNATIVES  TO  TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOKS THROUGH THE USE OF OPEN
ACCESS, PRINT ON DEMAND, DIGITAL, AND OTHER CONTENT AND FORMATS;
  I. OTHER APPROACHES TO  MAKE  COURSE  MATERIALS  MORE  AFFORDABLE  FOR
STUDENTS; AND
  J.  AN  EVALUATION  OF  EACH RECOMMENDATION AS IT RELATES TO THE LEGAL
MANDATE OF PROVIDING FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO  STUDENTS  WITH  DISABILI-
TIES.
  3.  THE  TRUSTEES  SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUCH
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO  ENABLE  THE  ADVISORY
COMMITTEE TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.