Reduces the cost of textbooks and course materials for students of institutions of higher education by requiring every institution of higher education to adopt policies that allow the use of innovative pricing techniques and payment options for textbooks, supplemental materials, and other course materials or textbooks.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5914
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN, SIMOTAS, DICKENS, VANEL, D'URSO, ARROYO,
RAMOS, SANTABARBARA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LUPARDO, PICHAR-
DO, RICHARDSON, RODRIGUEZ, SIMON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to reducing the cost of
textbooks for students of institutions of higher education
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 725 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 725. Reduction of cost of textbooks and course materials. 1. Every
4 institution of higher education as defined in this article is authorized
5 to adopt policies that allow the use of innovative pricing techniques
6 and payment options for textbooks, supplemental materials, and other
7 course materials or textbooks in accordance with 34 CFR 668.164(c)(2).
8 2. Policies adopted pursuant to subdivision one of this section may
9 include, but are not limited to, bulk pricing arrangements that enable
10 students to purchase textbooks or other instructional materials that are
11 delivered: (a) digitally; (b) through technology that is required to be
12 used within a course; or (c) in print format.
13 3. Innovative pricing techniques and payment options adopted pursuant
14 to this section shall include an opt-out provision for students.
15 4. Innovative pricing techniques and payment options adopted pursuant
16 to this section shall be adopted only if there is documented evidence
17 that the proposed options would result in the textbooks or other
18 instructional materials being made available to students at below
19 competitive market rates.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04944-01-9
