SB 13-UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST  9:17:06 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the final order of business would be 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." 9:17:23 AM SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented SB 13. He proceeded with the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [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 have often found themselves in difficult situations attempting to balance the various costs of higher education such as tuition, room and board, and course materials. For many students the 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 with this information we will be building towards a more equitable and cost-effective University System for students at the class level. 9:19:44 AM DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Senator Myers, prime sponsor, gave the sectional analysis for SB 13, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: 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 offered his appreciation to the representatives from the University of Alaska (UA) for building the student information system modernization project from the ground up and having this legislation in mind. 9:21:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked how the bill related to Representative Carrick's bill. SENATOR MYERS said the bill is word for word what Representative Carrick introduced on the House side. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT referred to the changes to the online system and asked whether UA would absorb those costs. SENATOR MYERS replied that UA is putting in new computer systems from the ground up, and it would be easier and cheaper to put something in as it is building the system. 9:23:16 AM SARA PERMAN, State Relations Manager, Office of Government Relations, University of Alaska System, stated that UA did not put a fiscal note forward because in 2022, the legislature appropriated $20 million for student information systems upgrades. She added that UA took a previous platform and extended it through 2023, and recently began implementing the funding. 9:24:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX opined there is no reason not to pass SB13. In terms of managing textbook costs, he questioned what would be accomplished. MS. PERMAN said SB 13 did not specify decreasing costs; however, both this bill and another Act from 2008 require cost transparency. 9:26:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK asked for a ballpark figure on the flat fee. MS. PERMAN deferred to [Mr. Shier]. 9:27:08 AM BENJAMIN SHIER, Chief Information Technology Officer, University of Alaska System, said the number is around $230, which is a partnership with Barnes and Noble. 9:27:46 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on SB 13. After ascertaining no one wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 9:28:10 AM SENATOR MYERS noted that in the bill packet there are letters of support. 9:28:43 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD set an amendment deadline for SB 13. [SB 13 was held over.]