A
bill that won final legislative approval Wednesday will require
publishers to be clearer about prices and options for college
textbooks, the cost of which can burden students and parents.
Senate
Bill 365 repassed the Senate on a 17-11 vote and heads to the desk of
Gov. Ted Kulongoski. It was requested by the Oregon State Public
Interest Research Group and the Oregon Student Association.
Faculty will receive full information about the textbook versions they can choose from and how much each costs.
The
bill also deals with "bundling" textbooks with CD-ROMs and workbooks,
which are shrink-wrapped and can be purchased only as a unit. The bill
requires publishers to make such textbooks available without the add-on
materials.
"This will help address the skyrocketing costs of textbooks," said Laura Etherton, an advocate for OSPIRG.
According
to surveys conducted by the two organizations, the average Oregon
college student spent $900 each year on textbooks, and wholesale costs
increased four times the inflation rate between 1994 and 2003.
