HR1080

LRB094 19999 NHT 57472 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Postsecondary education is increasingly an 
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essential credential for success in the modern economy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Affordability of a college degree is a growing 
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concern to students, families, and State policymakers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The cost of textbooks is a substantial and 
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escalating burden for students; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Other states have undertaken legislative and 
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administrative measures to curtail the rising expense of 
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textbook purchases; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with the Illinois 
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Community College Board and public universities and community 
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colleges, shall conduct a thorough and comprehensive study of 
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the cost and feasibility of implementing textbook rental 
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programs at public universities and community colleges; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall explore 
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the feasibility of various funding sources to establish a 
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revolving fund to finance start-up costs for textbook rental 
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programs at public universities and community colleges; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall examine 
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measures considered or adopted in other states, including the 
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unbundling of software or other supplementary materials from 
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the sale of textbooks; the public listing of titles, prices, 
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and ISBN numbers of required textbooks; and the disclosure of 
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textbook costs to faculty; and be it further
 
 


 






HR1080
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LRB094 19999 NHT 57472 r




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    RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall 
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investigate the potential for technology to reduce textbook 
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costs, including online book swaps, an electronic 
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clearinghouse for the purchase of textbooks, and e-book 
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alternatives to published textbooks; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education shall report 
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its findings and recommendations to the chairpersons of the 
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Higher Education and Higher Education Appropriations 
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Committees of the House of Representatives no later than August 
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1, 2006; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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delivered to the Governor, the chairperson of the Board of 
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Higher Education, the chairperson of the Illinois Community 
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College Board, and the president of each public university and 
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community college in this State.