AB884: Bill Text

LRB-3823/2

MDK&PG:jld:jf

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 884

February 26, 2008 - Introduced by Representatives Hixson, Parisi, Hilgenberg, Hebl, Soletski, Molepske, Sinicki, Sheridan, Pocan, Richards, Colon and Schneider, cosponsored by Senators Taylor, Lehman and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB884,1,2 An Act to create 36.11 (53) and 38.12 (14) of the statutes; relating to: University of Wisconsin System and technical college course materials.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill directs the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System (board) and each technical college district board (district board) to require certain bookstores to comply with certain requirements. Bookstores that are subject to the bill are those that are operated by the board or district board and those that are operated under a contract with the board or district board for the purpose of providing course materials to students. First, the bill requires the board to require that such a bookstore provide students with the option of purchasing a course material individually, rather than bundled together for purchase as part of a group of other course materials. The bill defines "course material" as any textbook or other item that a faculty or instructional academic staff member requires or recommends for use in a course. In addition, such a bookstore must disclose to faculty and instructional academic staff members the retail costs of course materials on a per course basis, as well as make such disclosures available to the public. Also, such a bookstore must disclose how new editions of course materials differ from previous editions and must implement, promote, and publicize course material buy-back programs.

The bill also requires the board and each district board to require faculty and instructional academic staff members to consider the least costly option in assigning course materials. Such consideration must include using the least expensive edition of a course material that is available, but only if the faculty or instructional academic staff member determines that the least expensive edition is educationally comparable to the most recent edition. In addition, the board and each district board must require faculty and instructional academic staff members to work with bookstores and publishers to package course materials in bundles that must be purchased as a group, but only if such packaging delivers cost savings to students.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB884, s. 1 Section 1. 36.11 (53) of the statutes is created to read:

AB884,2,2 36.11 (53) Bookstores and course materials. (a) In this subsection:

AB884,2,3 1. "Bookstore" means any of the following:

AB884,2,4 a. A bookstore operated by the board.

AB884,2,6 b. A bookstore operated under a contract with the board for the purpose of providing course materials to students.

AB884,2,8 2. "Course material" means any textbook or other item that a faculty or instructional academic staff member requires or recommends for use in a course.

AB884,2,9 (b) The board shall require that each bookstore does all of the following:

AB884,2,12 1. Provides students with the option, when possible, of purchasing a course material individually, rather than bundled together for purchase as part of a group of other course materials.

AB884,2,15 2. Discloses to faculty and instructional academic staff members the retail costs of course materials on a per course basis and makes such disclosures available to the public.

AB884,2,17 3. Discloses publicly how new editions of course materials differ from prior editions.

AB884,2,18 4. Implements, promotes, and publicizes course material buy-back programs.

AB884,3,2 (c) The board shall require each faculty and instructional academic staff member to do all the following:

AB884,3,6 1. Consider the least costly option in assigning course materials, including using the least expensive edition of a course material that is available if the faculty or instructional academic staff member determines that such edition has educational content that is comparable to the most recent edition.

AB884,3,9 2. Work with bookstores and publishers to package course materials in bundles that must be purchased as a group, but only if such packaging delivers cost savings to students.

AB884, s. 2 Section 2. 38.12 (14) of the statutes is created to read:

AB884,3,11 38.12 (14) Bookstores and course materials. (a) In this subsection:

AB884,3,12 1. "Bookstore" means any of the following:

AB884,3,13 a. A bookstore operated by the district board.

AB884,3,15 b. A bookstore operated under a contract with the district board for the purpose of providing course materials to students.

AB884,3,17 2. "Course material" means any textbook or other item that a faculty or instructional staff member requires or recommends for use in a course.

AB884,3,18 (b) The district board shall require that each bookstore does all of the following:

AB884,3,21 1. Provides students with the option, when possible, of purchasing a course material individually, rather than bundled together for purchase as part of a group of other course materials.

AB884,3,23 2. Discloses to faculty and instructional staff members the retail costs of course materials on a per course basis and makes such disclosures available to the public.

AB884,3,25 3. Discloses publicly how new editions of course materials differ from prior editions.

AB884,4,1 4. Implements, promotes, and publicizes course material buy-back programs.

AB884,4,3 (c) The district board shall require each faculty and instructional staff member to do all the following:

AB884,4,7 1. Consider the least costly option in assigning course materials, including using the least expensive edition of a course material that is available if the faculty or instructional staff member determines that such edition has educational content that is comparable to the most recent edition.

AB884,4,10 2. Work with bookstores and publishers to package course materials in bundles that must be purchased as a group, but only if such packaging delivers cost savings to students.

AB884,4,11 (End)