Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/13/2023 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB13 | |
| Presentation Constitutional Requirements and Legal Precedents for Public Education Funding in Alaska | |
| Presentation Pupil Transportation Program | |
| SB52 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 52 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 13-UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST
3:33:51 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 13
"An Act relating to costs of and charges for textbooks and other
course materials required for University of Alaska courses; and
providing for an effective date."
3:34:52 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 13, introduced the bill speaking
to the following sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
For decades a major roadblock to the acquisition of
higher education in this country has been costs.
Students in Alaska and throughout the United States
often find themselves in difficult situations
attempting to balance the various costs of higher
education such a tuition, room and board, and course
materials. For many students cost of material can be a
deciding factor in the decision to take a course due
to the sometimes-exorbitant prices of required course
materials. Students often find themselves as consumers
subject to a captive market that has experienced a
colossal growth in price over the last several
decades. The costly and unique nature of the textbook
and course material market has led to many students
being forced to "shop around" and attempt to engage
the market as informed consumers.
The Textbook Cost Transparency Act provides students
with vital information about their textbook and course
materials while they are registering for classes,
allowing them to make informed choices and financially
plan. The goal of this legislation is to provide
students with as much information regarding cost as
early as possible in the registration process with
clearly defined definitions integrated into the
University of Alaska's shared online course catalog
(UAOnline). By allowing students to see which classes
come at "zero-cost" or "low-cost" they will be able to
make more informed financial decisions more easily.
While faculty will remain the paramount deciders of
class materials, we believe that by providing students
this information we will be building towards a more
equitable and cost-effective University System for
students at the class level.
3:37:19 PM
DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 13, version A:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 13 v. A Sectional Analysis
TEXTBOOK COST TRANSPARENCY ACT
"An Act relating to costs of and charges for textbooks
and other course materials required for University of
Alaska courses; and providing for an effective date."
Section 1: Page 1, Lines 4-6 This section establishes
that this act may be known as the "Textbook Cost
Transparency Act".
Section 2: Page 1, Lines 7-14, Page 2, Lines 1-16 This
section outlines the information that the University
of Alaska must provide in the University systems
online course schedule relating to class materials and
automatic fees required for the materials. This
section provides statute definitions for "course
materials", "online course schedule", "zero-cost
resources", and "low-cost resources".
This section also directs that the universities online
course schedule must include search functions to
identify courses with only zero-cost or low-cost
materials required.
Section 3: Page 2, Line 17 This section establishes an
effective date for the bill of July 1st, 2026.
MR. MANN mentioned that the University of Alaska Anchorage
Textbook Affordability co-chairs helped guide the definitions in
Section 2, and the verbiage "to the extent practical" was added
to page 1, line 13, to ensure ease of compliance for the
university.
3:39:38 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked why SB 13 requires a textbook cost
estimate instead of the actual cost.
3:39:53 PM
SENATOR MYERS replied that although the university possesses the
cost information, it is not in control of costs. For example,
from spring semester to fall semester a company could change the
cost of a textbook. Requiring a cost estimate recognizes the
university is subject to third party changes.
3:40:56 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for more information about the textbook
affordability group.
3:41:14 PM
MR. MANN replied that the two co-chairs of the textbook
affordability group were part of a Fall 2021 online meeting.
Approximately 17 students from the university attended.
Following the meeting, the co-chairs submitted recommendations
for SB 13. He suggested that representatives from UAA could
share more about the group.
3:42:30 PM
DENISE RUNGE, Provost, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, Alaska, stated the University of Alaska Anchorage
(UAA) has a committee of students that has done a phenomenal job
helping students obtain less expensive course materials. The
most substantial effort has been increasing the number of free
textbooks, also referred to as zero cost or open educational
resources, that students can search for as they register for
classes.
3:43:28 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if textbook recommendations are for the
entire university system or if schools retain control over
departments.
3:43:51 PM
MS. RUNGE replied that each university has faculty that selects
materials. In some cases, an entire department may agree on a
single item. For example, Writing 111 at UAA is a required class
for most students. The department decided to create and use a
free textbook which saves students money. However, faculty can
select the materials for the courses they teach.
3:44:43 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked why the three UA campuses have
different reactions to the concept of textbook transparency.
3:45:12 PM
PAUL LAYER, Vice President, Academics, Students & Research,
University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, replied
textbook transparency is a concept that began at the grassroots
level at each campus. The three campuses had their own
committees and ideas, but the objective of providing zero-cost
or low-cost materials to students was the same. He opined that
as the University of Alaska revisits its information and Banner
system, there will be more standardization and establishment of
best practices.
3:47:12 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked why SB 13 has a zero fiscal note.
3:47:21 PM
SENATOR MYERS said the university was requesting funds for its
new computer systems when the legislature held the first
textbook transparency bill hearing. He opined that the
university received capital funding for the new computer
systems, which will include a textbook transparency program.
3:49:00 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 13 in committee.