BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
John Vasconcellos, Chair
2003-2004 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 2477
AUTHOR: Liu
AMENDED: June 9, 2004
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 23, 2004
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Terri Mosqueda
Nancy Anton
SUBJECT Public higher education: textbook production and
pricing
SUMMARY
This bill urges textbook publishers to take specified
actions to reduce the cost of college textbooks to
students, as specified.
This bill requires the Trustees of the California State
University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges
(CCC) and requests the Regents of the University of
California (UC) to work with their respective academic
senates and to encourage faculty to consider the least
costly practices in selecting textbooks.
BACKGROUND
According to a study commissioned by the California Public
Interest Research Group, the cost of college textbooks has
been climbing rapidly in recent years. A study of textbook
costs at California and Oregon public colleges and
universities found that students will spend an average of
$898 per year on textbooks in 2003-04, compared to $642 in
1996-1997.
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Urges textbook publishes to:
a) Unbundle instructional materials to give
students the option of buying textbooks,
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workbooks and CD-ROMs separately.
b) Disclose the different products they sell,
how the newest edition of the product is
different from previous editions, and how long
they intend to produce the current edition.
c) Give preference to paper or online
supplements rather than new editions.
2) Requires CSU and CCC, and requests UC to work with
their respective academic senates to do all of the
following:
a) Encourage faculty to consider the least
costly practices in assigning textbooks, as
specified.
b) Encourage faculty to disclose to students
how certain editions of textbooks differ from
previous editions and the cost to students for
textbooks used in each course.
c) Review procedures for faculty to inform
college and university bookstores of textbook
selection.
d) Encourage faculty to work with publishes and
bookstores in creating bundles and packages that
are economically sound and cost effective.
3) Requires college and university bookstores to disclose
textbook costs, on a per course basis, to faculty and
make this information publicly available.
4) Encourages campuses to provide as many forums for
students to purchase college textbooks as possible, as
specified.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) CALPIRG study. In January 2004, CALPIRG released a
study entitled "Ripoff 101: How the Current Practices
of the Textbook Industry Drive Up the Cost of College
Textbooks." This study found that students will spend
an average of $898 per year on textbooks in 2003-04,
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based on a CALPIRG survey of 521 students at seven UC
campuses. This represents almost 20% of the average
tuition and fees for in-state students at public
four-year colleges nationwide.
Half of all textbooks now come "bundled" or
shrink-wrapped with additional materials, such as
CD-ROMs and workbooks. 65% of faculty "rarely" or
"never" use the bundled materials in their courses.
Textbook publishers put new editions on the market
frequently, often without content changes, making the
less expensive used textbooks obsolete and
unavailable. 76% of faculty report that the new
editions they use are justified "never" to "half the
time." 40% of faculty report that the new editions are
"rarely" to "never" justified. A new textbook costs
$102.44 on average, 58% more expensive than the price
of an average used textbook. 59% of students who
searched for a used book for the Fall 2003
quarter/semester were unable to find even one used
book for their classes. 87% of faculty support
presenting new information in a supplement instead of
producing a new textbook edition.
Attachment "A" is a 256 page paperback book (standard
novel length) college history book which costs $47.
2) Textbook selection and distribution process.
Generally, the college textbook selection and
distribution process is as follows: (a) publishers
produce materials, (b) faculty select which to assign
from a selection list provided by publishers, (c)
institution department chairs approve textbook
selections, (d) lists of assigned textbooks are
submitted to bookstores, (e) bookstores order and
stock based on faculty estimates and (6) students
purchase their books from bookstore, off-campus stores
or online.
3) Concern with legislative findings. Opponents have
expressed concern over the legislative findings in
this bill, which directly quote the Cal-PIRG study.
Opponents assert that "many reputable and independent
research firms have compiled data that contradicts the
CAL-PIRG report." The author and opponents are
working towards drafting language that best reflects
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the current reality of the college textbook market.
4) What about Private and Independent Colleges ? Should
the bill be amended so that its provisions apply to
private and independent colleges and universities?
SUPPORT
California Federation of Teachers
California Student Public Interest Research Group
California State Student Association
City College of San Francisco
City of Los Angeles
University of California Student Association
OPPOSITION
Pearson Education