Bill > HB2963

This bill directs the Joint Boards of Education to prepare a report on strategies for making higher education textbooks more affordable for students across Oregon, examining existing laws like ORS 337.500 to 337.506 and federal provisions from the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 that address textbook bundling and price disclosure. The report will explore various cost-saving measures, including statewide bulk purchasing, used book exchanges, the use of open-source materials and instructor-created textbooks, statewide licenses, shared online resources, and the creation of a central repository for free or low-cost materials, while also considering partnerships with other organizations. The Joint Boards are required to involve students and faculty in this process, hold public meetings, and ensure that any recommended strategies uphold academic freedom, instructional quality, student success, and copyright law. The report will also identify strategies needing new rules or legislation and analyze potential cost savings for K-12 school districts, with a final report due to a legislative committee by October 1, 2012. This bill will be repealed on the convening of the 2013 legislative session and is declared an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage.