Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB4903

Creates the Transparency in College Textbook Publishing Practices Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education in this State may not buy, sell, or allow the sale on its campus of a textbook unless and until the publisher of that textbook posts on its Internet website or otherwise makes available to the public (1) for any bundled textbook, the price difference between the bundled textbook and the same unbundled textbook; (2) for any new editions of textbooks, a summary of the substantive differences between the new edition and the prior edition; (3) for any new editions of textbooks, an estimate of how long the new edition will remain in print; and (4) the amount and recipient of any compensation provided to faculty or administrators of the institution as inducement to adopt particular textbooks for courses, except for sample copies and royalties. Allows the Attorney General, a State's Attorney, or any affected resident of this State to bring a civil action to enforce the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Transparency in College Textbook Publishing Practices Act. Provides that when contacting or being contacted by prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose, at that time and in writing, to the faculty member or, if applicable, the other adopting entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at a public institution of higher education (1) the price at which the publisher would make the textbook or supplemental materials available to the bookstore on the campus of or otherwise associated with the institution; (2) the copyright dates of past editions of the textbook or supplemental materials for the previous 10 years, if any; (3) the substantial content changes made between the current edition of the textbook or supplemental materials and the previous edition, if any; and (4) the existence and price of alternative formats of the textbook or supplemental materials. Provides that publishers of college textbooks are required to offer all bundled textbooks for sale as individual unbundled textbooks and supplemental materials. Provides that when a faculty member or, if applicable, other adopting entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution directs a publisher to compile a custom textbook, the publisher shall provide, in writing before the faculty member or entity adopts the custom textbook, the price at which the publisher would make the custom textbook available to the bookstore on the campus of or otherwise associated with the institution. Contains a provision concerning institutional autonomy and academic freedom. Provides that the Attorney General or a State's Attorney may bring a civil action to enforce the Act.

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