Bill Text: CA AB1914 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Public postsecondary education: academic materials: textbooks: access codes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 261, Statutes of 2016. [AB1914 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1914-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1914 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 261
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 16, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 22, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 17, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla
FEBRUARY 11, 2016
An act to add Section 66407.5 to the Education Code, relating to
public postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1914, Bonilla. Public postsecondary education: academic
materials: textbooks: access codes.
Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets
forth the missions and functions of the segments of postsecondary
education in this state. The California State University, under the
administration of the Trustees of the California State University,
the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and the
University of California, under the administration of the Regents of
the University of California, constitute the 3 segments of public
postsecondary education in this state. Provisions of the Donahoe
Higher Education Act apply to the University of California only to
the extent that the regents act, by appropriate resolution, to make
those provisions applicable.
An existing chapter of the Donahoe Higher Education Act relates to
the use of academic materials and provides that a court of competent
jurisdiction is authorized to grant relief that is necessary to
enforce the provisions of this chapter, including through the
issuance of an injunction.
This bill would add to this chapter a provision that requires the
respective academic senates of campuses of the California State
University and the University of California, in collaboration with
students and campus administrators, to develop policies regarding
required academic materials in order to encourage efforts to reduce
redundancy in the delivery of academic materials, including, but not
necessarily limited to, textbooks, as defined, and access codes, as
defined. The bill would require that the policies adopted pursuant to
the bill include, but not necessarily be limited to, guidelines
prioritizing the use of ancillary and additional academic platforms
and materials, not including textbooks, already available to enrolled
students that are determined by faculty to serve the requirements of
a course of study at no additional cost to enrolled students on
their campuses or to the campus itself, a requirement that the cost
of academic materials from the current semester or quarter be
provided to faculty as specified, the establishment, in consultation
with the campus bookstore, of deadlines by the campus for a faculty
member or academic department to notify the campus bookstore of
required and recommended textbooks and other instructional materials,
as specified, and a determination, in consultation with the campus
bookstore, of approved descriptors to post next to academic materials
offered for sale at the campus bookstore, as specified.
The bill would require the campuses of the California State
University, and request the campuses of the University of California,
to submit the policies developed pursuant to the bill for their
respective campuses to the trustees and the regents, as appropriate,
for their review.
The bill would express the intent of the Legislature that the
faculty of the public postsecondary segments be encouraged to
continue their commitment to making academic materials affordable by
considering free or inexpensive options, including open access
options, in selecting academic materials to assign to their students.
In accordance with an existing provision of the Donahoe Higher
Education Act, no provision of this bill would apply to the
University of California except to the extent that the regents act,
by appropriate resolution, to make that provision applicable.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 66407.5 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
66407.5. (a) The respective academic senates of the campuses of
the California State University and the University of California, in
collaboration with students and campus administrators, shall develop
policies regarding required academic materials in order to encourage
efforts to reduce redundancy in the delivery of academic materials,
including, but not necessarily limited to, textbooks and access
codes. The policies adopted pursuant to this section shall include,
but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Guidelines prioritizing the use of ancillary and additional
academic platforms and materials, not including textbooks, already
available to enrolled students that are determined by faculty to
serve the requirements of a course of study at no additional cost to
enrolled students on their campuses or to the campus itself.
(2) A requirement that the cost of academic materials from the
current semester or quarter be provided to faculty members by the
campus bookstore when academic materials are being chosen for an
upcoming academic term, if available.
(3) The establishment, in consultation with the campus bookstore,
of deadlines by the campus for a faculty member or academic
department to notify the campus bookstore of required and recommended
textbooks and other instructional materials so that the bookstore
may verify availability, source, and lower cost options when
practicable, and provide this information to faculty for
consideration when exploring alternatives.
(4) A determination, in consultation with the campus bookstore, of
approved descriptors to post next to academic materials offered for
sale at the campus bookstore, including a requirement that the
bookstore clearly identify any recommended course materials that are
suggested by the bookstore but not by the faculty member who assigned
the materials.
(b) The campuses of the California State University shall, and the
campuses of the University of California are requested to, submit
the policies developed pursuant to subdivision (a) to the Trustees of
the California State University and the Regents of the University of
California, as appropriate, for their review.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the faculty of the
public postsecondary segments be encouraged to continue their
commitment to making academic materials affordable by considering
free or inexpensive options, including open access options, in
selecting academic materials to assign to their students.
(d) As used in this section:
(1) "Access code" means an identification number or password, or
both, that is used to gain access to digital content.
(2) "Textbook" has the same meaning as defined in Section 66406.7.
