House Committee on Education (03/06/2008)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/06/2008	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:59 PM to 03:05 PM	Benefield	X
		Gardner C.	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Kerr A.	X
		Massey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Middleton	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Rose	X
This Report was prepared by		Scanlan	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	X
		Todd	X
		Witwer	X
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB08-073 SB08-017		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations

01:59 PM -- Call to Order

Representative Merrifield, the chairman, called the committee to order.

02:00 PM -- Senate Bill 08-073

Representative Kefalas, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 08-073, concerning the College Textbook Affordability Act. He shared with committee members statistics on the rising costs of college textbooks, and he asked for the committee's support of the bill.

02:05 PM

Representative C. Gardner asked Representative Kefalas to explain how the bill could prevent bookstores from selling new editions with limited changes that do not affect the content of the book. Representative Witwer asked Representative Kefalas if he knew how the bill might add costs to publishers which would then be passed on to the consumer. Representative Kefalas said that he hoped the witnesses could answer these questions.

02:09 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

02:09 PM -- Bruce Hildebrand, representing the Association of American Publishers, testified in support of the bill because he believes in the importance of transparency in textbook pricing.

02:11 PM

Representative Peniston asked if the publishers will have an issue with the effective date of the bill because some books may already be bundled for upcoming terms. Mr. Hildebrand explained that since the effective date is July 1,2009, the publishers will be able to make the necessary adjustments. He further explained to the committee members that the publishers bundle the textbooks at the faculty's request, and that books can be bundled in myriad combinations. A discussion ensued among committee members about the bundling process and how the bill will alleviate the cost burden on the students.

02:18 PM

Mr. Hildebrand discussed the variety of text book options and bundling options available to college professors. Representative Middleton shared her experience as a college instructor and selecting books for courses, and how a publisher marketing representative does not always share information about minor changes in new editions.

02:24 PM

Representative Solano asked how the bill will improve clarity on textbook prices. Representative Kefalas responded that sales representatives will be compelled to share all information about textbook pricing and alternative formatting. Mr. Hildebrand shared with committee members findings of a Zogbi International study in which faculty stated that textbook costs are important, but that the quality of the materials was overwhelming more important to professors by a 17 to 1 margin.

02:26 PM -- Aaron Jack Wylie, representing the Associated Students of Colorado, testified in support of the bill, and shared background information with committee members on how the bill developed. Mr. Wylie shared his experience as a college student dealing with textbook costs and responded to questions from the committee.

02:31 PM

Representative Solano asked Mr. Wylie about the resale value of textbooks. Mr. Wylie explained that the resale value of textbooks varies. Representative Massey asked Mr. Wylie about customized textbooks, and if that would bring down the cost of textbooks more dramatically.

02:35 PM -- Richard Moeller III, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and shared his experience as a professor at Metropolitan State College. Dr. Moeller explained that it can be hard to get an exact price from the sales representatives, who tend to give price ranges for textbooks, as opposed to an exact price. He also informed the committee that he has ordered books without bundles and received the books bundled anyway from the publishers.

02:38 PM

Representative Todd asked Dr. Moeller about textbook consistency in his department. He explained that adjunct professors tend to have more consistent textbook lists, but that tenured professors have more flexibility in selecting textbooks. Representative Solano asked about consistency in the amount charged for textbooks across different states. Dr. Moeller explained that federal law prohibits publishers from charging different wholesale prices for textbooks in different states, and that the difference in textbook pricing across states is due to the bookstore mark-up on the books.

02:41 PM

Representative Kerr shared that his wife, who is an adjunct professor at Metropolitan State College, sometimes does not have her class assignment until right before the semester begins, and that the textbooks have already been preselected for her. Representative Middleton asked Dr. Moeller if he believed if standardization of curriculum will drive up costs. Dr. Moeller stated that he believes that it would.

02:44 PM -- Troy Smith, representing Pikes Peak Community College, testified in support of the bill. He shared his experience as a student at Pikes Peak dealing with high cost textbooks.

02:47 PM -- LynAnn Weaver, representing Colorado State University, testified in support of the bill. She shared her experience as a student dealing with high textbook prices.

02:51 PM

Representative Kefalas concluded his remarks and asked for the committee's support of the bill.


BILL:	SB08-073
TIME:	02:52:21 PM
MOVED:	Todd
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 08-073 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Gardner C.	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Witwer	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:58 PM

After a brief recess, Representative Merrifield called the committee back to order.

02:59 PM -- Senate Bill 08-017

Representative Primavera, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 08-017, concerning occupational education credentialing. She explained that the bill was recommended by the Legislative Audit Committee.

03:01 PM

Representative Massey asked a clarifying question about the fiscal note, specifically about who manages the education licensure cash fund. Jami Goetz, representing the Colorado Department of Education, replied that the fund is retained within CDE.


BILL:	SB08-017
TIME:	03:03:23 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 08-017 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Middleton
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Gardner C.	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Witwer	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:05 PM

The committee adjourned.