What's happening
This bill requires SUNY and CUNY to study and report on the availability and impact of lower-cost alternatives to traditional textbooks.
Why it matters
Potential to Significantly Lower Student Expenses. By requiring detailed analysis of textbook costs and adoption of lower-cost alternatives, the bill could lay the groundwork for reducing a major financial burden for SUNY and CUNY students.
Focus on Equity and Access. The study aims to identify not just the existence of alternatives, but their accessibility, surfacing barriers that may prevent low-income or marginalized students from benefiting from cost-saving resources.
Reference to National Best Practices. By mandating examination of other states’ models, the legislation encourages the adoption of proven strategies and could help New York institutions stay competitive and innovative in their approach to educational affordability.
Action-Oriented Recommendations. Beyond just reporting, the bill seeks actionable proposals for expanding and distributing alternative materials, which could drive policy changes or funding decisions that directly impact students’ classroom experiences.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Alternatives to Textbooks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2893
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT requiring the boards of trustees of the state university of New York and the city university of New York to conduct a joint study and report on the availability and accessibility of alternative high-quality, lower cost course resources in lieu of traditional textbooks
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The board of trustees of the state university of New York shall conduct a study and prepare a report on the availability and accessibility of alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources in lieu of traditional textbooks, which may include open education resources, online textbooks and other related educational materials, to students enrolled in the state university or a community college. The report shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) an overview of current initiatives undertaken by the board of trustees of the state university of New York to facilitate access to high-quality, lower-cost alternatives to traditional textbooks;
(b) information related to average traditional textbook costs, the number of students who have used alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources, and cost savings of students who have purchased such high-quality, lower-cost alternatives in lieu of traditional textbooks;
(c) any challenges associated with making more alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources widely available;
(d) information regarding other states' best practices, models and initiatives to reduce overall textbook costs at institutions of higher education; and
(e) recommendations on how to expand the use, accessibility, and distribution of alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources.
§ 2. The board of trustees of the city university of New York shall conduct a study and prepare a report on the availability and accessibil-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03875-01-9
A. 2893 2
ity of alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources in lieu of traditional textbooks, which may include open education resources, online textbooks and other related educational materials, to students enrolled in the city university of New York. The report shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) an overview of current initiatives undertaken by the board of trustees of the city university of New York to facilitate access to high-quality, lower-cost alternatives to traditional textbooks;
(b) information related to average traditional textbook costs, the number of students who have used alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources, and cost savings of students who have purchased such high-quality, lower-cost alternatives in lieu of traditional textbooks;
(c) any challenges associated with making more alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources widely available;
(d) information regarding other states' best practices, models and initiatives to reduce overall textbook costs at institutions of higher education; and
(e) recommendations on how to expand the use, accessibility, and distribution of alternative high-quality, lower-cost course resources.
§ 3. The board of trustees of the state university of New York and the board of trustees of the city university of New York shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the higher education committees in the assembly and senate within one year of the effective date of this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.