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.