SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1752 FILED ON: 1/20/2017
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 714
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Walter F. Timilty
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:
Resolve establishing a special commission relative to reducing the costs associated with the purchase of college textbooks.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Walter F. Timilty | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth |
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Michael D. Brady | Second Plymouth and Bristol | 2/1/2017 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1752 FILED ON: 1/20/2017
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 714
By Mr. Timilty, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 714) of Walter F. Timilty and Michael D. Brady for legislation to establish a special commission relative to reducing the costs associated with the purchase of college textbooks. Higher Education. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1076 OF 2015-2016.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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Resolve establishing a special commission relative to reducing the costs associated with the purchase of college textbooks.
Resolved, SECTION 1. A special commission is hereby established to investigate and study the college textbook industry. The investigation and study shall include, but not be limited to, examining the costs of purchasing textbooks and study materials, reviewing information concerning offering a choice of lower cost texts, such as soft cover, one color and digital texts, exploring the effective use of E-textbooks, reviewing changes in editions and the cost savings related to maintaining a current edition over purchasing the most recent edition, encouraging colleges to implement comprehensive and controlled buy-back and book swap programs to reduce costs for students, providing incentives to those schools that offer such programs and expanding the information available to purchasers of textbooks so that faculty and students alike are provided with a complete view of all available textbooks for comparison purposes. The commission shall be appointed by the governor and shall consist of 15 members as follows: the house and senate chairmen of the joint committee on higher education, 1 member of the house of representatives, 1 member of the senate, 1 member of the University of Massachusetts administration or a designee, 1 member of the State College Council of Presidents or a designee, 1 member of the Community College Council of Presidents or a designee, 1 member of A.C.U.M. or a designee, 2 representatives of the college textbook publishing industry with offices in the commonwealth, 1 faculty member of a public college of the commonwealth, 1 college librarian and 1 student trustee of a public college or the University of Massachusetts. The commission shall report to the general court the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2017.