Bill Text: NJ S1369 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes public institutions of higher education to establish textbook rental programs.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-06 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [S1369 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1369-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes public institutions of higher education to establish textbook rental programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning textbook rental programs at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. the cost of attending public institutions of higher education continues to increase and many New Jersey students and their families find it difficult to afford the textbooks that students are required to purchase for their courses;
b. textbooks provide an essential source of information and are necessary for ensuring academic success;
c. it is critical that each student has access to all required textbooks and a textbook rental program may help promote equity and opportunity for all students; and
d. textbook rental programs, funded by a small fee, may help provide a viable economic alternative to the high costs of purchasing textbooks by saving students thousands of dollars over their college careers.
2. As used in this act:
"Public institution of higher education" means Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the State colleges or universities established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the county colleges.
3. a. The governing board of a public institution of higher education is authorized to establish a textbook rental program for the students at each of the institution's campuses provided that the governing board certifies that the following conditions are met:
(1) the student government association of the campus votes to request the establishment of a textbook rental program; and
(2) any existing contracts or other established arrangements with entities operating campus bookstores permit, or can be changed, canceled, or renewed, to accommodate the establishment of a textbook rental program.
b. The governing board of a public institution of higher education may convene a task force to determine recommended procedures and policies for the establishment and operation of a textbook rental program. The task force established pursuant to this subsection may include, but need not be limited to, students, faculty, administrators, and bookstore managers.
c. Any textbook rental program established at a public institution of higher education shall operate in compliance with all of the following requirements:
(1) the average annual textbook rental cost for full-time students shall not exceed 50% of the average annual retail purchase cost of textbooks for full-time students;
(2) the textbook rental program shall not limit the rights of faculty to select appropriate texts in accordance with established campus policies and procedures; and
(3) the textbook rental program may be disbanded with the approval of the student government association of the campus.
d. The governing board of a public institution of higher education which establishes a textbook rental program may do the following:
(1) charge a campus-based, course-based, or per book rental fee to each student to cover the costs of administering a textbook rental program and maintaining an appropriate stock of textbooks;
(2) establish policies to apply to textbook rental programs including, but not limited to, implementing practices among institutions to achieve the best possible purchase price for textbooks and for the provision of rental services;
(3) charge a student a fine for any late, lost, or damaged book if any book is not returned in a timely manner as determined by the textbook rental service;
(4) allow students the option to purchase the textbooks they rent in a manner determined by the textbook rental program; and
(5) establish other procedures as may be deemed necessary to establish and operate a textbook rental program in accordance with the provisions of this act.
4. Nothing in this act shall be construed to change or limit any textbook rental program in existence at a public institution of higher education prior to the effective date of this act.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the governing board of a public institution of higher education to establish a textbook rental program for the students at each of the institution's campuses. The bill specifies that a textbook rental program may be established provided that the governing board certifies that: the student government association of the campus has voted to request the establishment of a textbook rental program; and any existing contracts or other established arrangements with entities operating campus bookstores permit, or can be changed, canceled or renewed, to accommodate the establishment of a textbook rental program.
The bill also authorizes a governing board of a public institution of higher education to convene a task force to determine recommended procedures and policies for the establishment and operation of a textbook rental program. The task force may include, but need not be limited to, students, faculty, administrators and bookstore managers.
Under the bill, the governing board of a public institution of higher education which establishes a textbook rental program may: charge a campus-based, course-based, or per book rental fee to each student; establish policies to apply to textbook rental programs; charge a student a fine for any late, lost, or damaged book; allow students to purchase textbooks they rent; and establish any other policy deemed necessary.
The bill includes a grandfather clause providing that the provisions of the bill cannot be construed to change or limit any textbook rental program in existence at a public institution of higher education prior to the bill's effective date.
