NY State Senate Bill S6608

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (14)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 07, 2018	referred to higher education delivered to assembly passed senate
May 14, 2018	advanced to third reading
May 09, 2018	2nd report cal.
May 08, 2018	1st report cal.1115
Jan 03, 2018	referred to higher education returned to senate died in assembly
Jun 15, 2017	referred to higher education delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.1827
Jun 07, 2017	referred to rules

Votes

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10014
Current Committee:: Assembly Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §725, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S3661, A5914
2021-2022: A2663
2023-2024: A4340

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Reduces the cost of textbooks and course materials for students of institutions of higher education by requiring every institution of higher education to adopt policies that allow the use of innovative pricing techniques and payment options for textbooks, supplemental materials, and other course materials or textbooks.

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 BILL NUMBER:  S6608

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
reducing the cost of textbooks for students of institutions of higher
education

 PURPOSE :

To authorize colleges and universities to seek more affordable
textbook options for students.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 - Amends the education law to add a new section 725. The
provisions contained therein would authorize institutions of higher
education to adopt policies in accordance with 34 CFR 668.164(c)(2).

Section 2 - Contains an immediate effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Alternatives to conventional textbooks - including digital learning
platforms and innovating pricing models consistent with 34 CFR
668.164(c)(2) - can help reduce the financial burden on students.
Digital versions of textbooks typically cost substantially less than
the print versions. Innovative pricing models can also be implemented

whereby an institution of higher education negotiates with a publisher
for digital instructional materials access for all students in a
course or courses, at lower prices than standard market rates.
Students pay for their instructional materials as part of their
tuition and fees, get their resources by the first day of class, and
may opt out. These innovative pricing models also allow students to
apply loans, grants, and scholarships to textbook purchases.

These models are based on regulations issued by the U.S. Department of
Education (34 CFR 668.164(c)(2)) which allow students to use Title IV
federal student aid funds to obtain instructional materials as part of
tuition and fees.

In addition, digital learning programs can improve student outcomes in
that they adapt to the learning needs and pathways of individual
students, as well as enable professors to track student performance
and tailor instruction accordingly.

This bill will make clear to New York State institutions that they may
implement innovative pricing models in accordance with 34 CFR
668.164(c)(2)to make college instructional materials available to
students at below competitive market rates.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6608

                       2017-2018 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 7, 2017
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to reducing the  cost  of
  textbooks for students of institutions of higher education

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 725 to
read as follows:
  § 725. REDUCTION OF COST OF TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS.  1.  EVERY
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AUTHORIZED
TO  ADOPT  POLICIES  THAT ALLOW THE USE OF INNOVATIVE PRICING TECHNIQUES
AND PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR TEXTBOOKS,  SUPPLEMENTAL  MATERIALS,  AND  OTHER
COURSE MATERIALS OR TEXTBOOKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 34 CFR 668.164(C)(2).
  2.POLICIES  ADOPTED  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION MAY
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, BULK PRICING ARRANGEMENTS  THAT  ENABLE
STUDENTS TO PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS OR OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE
DELIVERED:  (A) DIGITALLY; (B) THROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE
USED WITHIN A COURSE; OR (C) IN PRINT FORMAT.
  3. INNOVATIVE PRICING TECHNIQUES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS ADOPTED  PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE AN OPT-OUT PROVISION FOR STUDENTS.
  4.  INNOVATIVE PRICING TECHNIQUES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE ADOPTED ONLY IF THERE  IS  DOCUMENTED  EVIDENCE
THAT  THE  PROPOSED  OPTIONS  WOULD  RESULT  IN  THE  TEXTBOOKS OR OTHER
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS  BEING  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  STUDENTS  AT  BELOW
COMPETITIVE MARKET RATES.
  § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.


 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13078-01-7

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S6608

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

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Votes

Jun 7, 2018 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 7, 2018

May 8, 2018 - Higher Education committee Vote

Higher Education Committee Vote: May 8, 2018

Jun 15, 2017 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 15, 2017

Jun 15, 2017 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 15, 2017

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S6608

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Sponsored By

Pamela Helming

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jun 7, 2018 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 7, 2018

May 8, 2018 - Higher Education committee Vote

Higher Education Committee Vote: May 8, 2018

Jun 15, 2017 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 15, 2017

Jun 15, 2017 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 15, 2017

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6608 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments