SR0692

LRB094 20000 NHT 57473 r






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


 






SR0692
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LRB094 20000 NHT 57473 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 Appropriations III Committees of the 
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Senate no later than August 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.