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2005 SESSION

058878444
HOUSE BILL NO. 1726
Offered January 12, 2005
Prefiled December 30, 2004
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23-4.3:1, relating to textbook sales at public institutions of higher education.
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Patrons-- Oder, Black, Bryant, Hamilton, Ingram, Morgan, Parrish, Reese, Rust, Sickles and Tata; Senators: Hanger and Mims
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23-4.3:1 as follows:

§ 23-4.3:1. Policies addressing textbook sales and bookstores.

A. The State Council shall adopt guidelines regarding the designation and sale of textbooks required for coursework at the various public institutions. Such guidelines shall include, among other things, provisions that (i) prohibit agreements whereby textbook publishers provide financial incentives to faculty for requiring students to purchase such publisher's version of a specific textbook required for coursework or instruction and (ii) create exceptions for instructors receiving royalties or other compensation from sales of textbooks that include such instructor's own writing or work.

The governing boards of the public institutions of higher education shall adopt policies, consistent with such guidelines, to address agreements made or renewed on and after December 1, 2005.

B. The governing boards shall implement procedures, consistent with guidelines established by the State Council, for posting on the relevant institutional website listings of textbooks required or assigned for particular courses at the institution.

The Council's guidelines shall, among other things, (i) be designed to ensure that institutions maintaining a bookstore supported by auxiliary services or operated by a private contractor post the listing of such textbooks when the relevant instructor or academic department identifies the required textbooks for order and subsequent student purchase and (ii) provide for a standardized format that shall include the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) on the relevant institutional website.