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2005 SESSION

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HB 1726 Higher education institutions; SCHEV to adopt guidelines for textbook sales.

Introduced by: G. Glenn Oder | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Higher education; textbook sales and bookstores.  Prohibits employees at Virginia public institutions of higher education from demanding or receiving any payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services or anything, present or promised, as an inducement for requiring students to purchase a specific textbook required for coursework or instruction.  An exception allows the employee to receive (i) sample copies, instructor's copies, or instructional material, not to be sold; and (ii) royalties or other compensation from sales of textbooks that include such instructor's own writing or work.

The measure also requires the governing boards to implement procedures for making available to students in a central location and in a standard format on the relevant institutional website listings of textbooks required or assigned for particular courses at the institution.

Finally, institutions maintaining a bookstore supported by auxiliary services or operated by a private contractor must post the listing of such textbooks when the relevant instructor or academic department identifies the required textbooks for order and subsequent student purchase.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Higher education; textbook sales and bookstores.  Directs the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) to adopt guidelines regarding the designation and sale of textbooks required for coursework at the various public institutions. The 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.

In addition, the measure requires the institutions to implement procedures, consistent with SCHEV guidelines, for posting on the relevant institutional website listings of textbooks required or assigned for particular courses at the institution.