The rising prices of textbooks and other learning materials comprise just one component of the price of college. The impact of textbook costs within the context of decreasing state support for higher education and increasing fees for students has initiated a groundswell of criticism directed at higher education--both public and private segments. Two members of the Legislature have introduced proposals focused on bookstores and publishers with the desire to reduce costs for students.

Senate Bill 832 (Corbett) requires publishers to disclose their prices, estimated shelf life of editions and the differences between new and old editions so that faculty members can make more informed choices about the books they choose for their courses. This measure is sponsored by California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG), a statewide student public interest advocacy organization.

Originally the CSU had several concerns dealing with bookstore liability that Senator Corbett has addressed, and now the CSU is neutral on SB 832, as it now essentially holds publishers accountable for their costs and prices rather then users such as colleges and universities, faculty and students. At the time of this writing, the CSU Academic Senate has one remaining issue that Senator Corbett is committed to addressing--their concern that some ordinary books (e.g., novels, plays, monographs, etc) might be covered when the real target of the legislation is high-priced textbooks.

The other measure, Assembly Bill 1548 (Solorio) is sponsored by the Greenlining Institute and is represented as a bill focused on transparency. The bill requires bookstores to post on the store shelf or their Internet Website a description of their mark-up policies for the sale of new and used textbooks, requires schools to encourage faculty to place their orders with sufficient lead time to confirm the availability of the textbooks and materials, prohibits a publisher and bookstore from soliciting faculty for free review of textbooks, prohibits bookstores from allowing book wholesalers conducting buyback on campus, among some other issues. Additionally, it will require publishers to print on or in the text books specific information related to the price of the textbook, the changes since the last edition, and how long the edition is expected to be in use.

AB 1548 is of concern to the CSU given most of its provisions will more than likely increase textbook costs for students. The information required to be printed only on California textbooks will almost certainly increase the costs to the student since this would require California to be unique from all other states and thus need its own distribution channel. There could also be delivery delays because of the “special” requirements placed upon textbooks being sold in California.

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to the U. S. Congress recently issued a report that concluded that transparency for its own sake is not a solution to the price of textbooks. The report, “Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable,” highlighted the CSU’s groundbreaking work through its digital marketplace initiative. The report pointed out CSU initiatives being developed, such as electronic versions of books, e-text, and interactive web-based text and textbook options, as a starting point for the implementation of a “national digital marketplace” to address textbook affordability. The CSU’s digital marketplace initiative began in 2003 to increase student and faculty success by cutting the costs of educational information, hardware, and software, while serving the technological needs of students, faculty, and staff was developed by the CSU Textbook Affordability Task Force.

SB 832 will be heard in the Assembly Higher Education Committee while AB 1548 will be heard in Senate Education and Senate Judiciary Committee.