SB0101 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10486 CMG 15815 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB0101

Introduced 2/3/2021, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/9.40 new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that each public institution of higher education shall study and issue a report on the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by the public institution for improving students' timely access to required course materials and the affordability of required course materials. Sets forth the required areas of study that must be included in the report. Provides that the report from each public institution must be submitted to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board no later than August 1, 2022. Provides that no later than February 1, 2023, the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall submit a joint report to the Governor and General Assembly that summarizes the findings from the reports submitted by public institutions. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to post each institution's report and the joint report on their respective websites. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.40 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.40 new)

Sec. 9.40. College course materials access and affordability study.

(a) To examine the cost-saving methods and practices utilized by each public institution of higher education for improving students' timely access to required course materials and the affordability of required course materials, each public institution, after consultation with administrators, faculty, campus bookstores, and publishers, shall conduct a course materials access and affordability study and shall submit a report of the study's findings to the Board of Higher Education if the public institution is a university and to the Illinois Community College Board if the public institution is a community college.

(b) The report shall include all of the following areas:

(1) A list of cost-saving methods available to students, including, but not limited to, inclusive access programs developed by publishers, textbook subscription programs, textbook rental programs, used textbooks, and other institutional textbook cost-saving methods, such as open educational resources.

(2) The total amount of cost savings achieved by the public institution and the total number of students that utilized each cost-saving method.

(3) A description of the process required to implement each cost-saving method listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(4) A description of the process by which students obtain required course materials.

(5) The identification of best practices resulting from the cost-saving methods listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(6) An examination of the following areas:

(A) whether the methods improved access to required course materials by the first day of class;

(B) whether the methods increased the affordability of required course materials; and

(C) whether the methods improved access to learning materials and improved student outcomes for minority, low-income, and first generation students.

(7) A description of the ways students and faculty are utilizing or have utilized inclusive access programs, subscription programs, textbook rental programs, used textbooks, and open educational resources for the purposes of remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic health crisis.

(c) Each public university shall submit its report to the Board of Higher Education and each public community college shall submit its report to the Illinois Community College Board no later than August 1, 2022.

(d) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall review each submitted report to ensure that each report addresses all of the areas listed in subsection (b). The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall post the reports on their respective websites no later than October 1, 2022.

(e) No later than February 1, 2023, the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall submit a joint report to the Governor and General Assembly that summarizes the findings from the reports submitted by public institutions of higher education, including the areas listed in subsection (b).

(f) No later than February 1, 2023, the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall post the joint report on their respective websites.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.