Textbooks Bill Passes in the Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION:
April 11, 2007 Nicole Allen, WashPIRG, 203 216 7112
PRESS RELEASE
STUDENTS TRIUMPH ON TEXTBOOK BILL
OLYMPIA
- Washington students may find that they pay less for their textbooks
next year, thanks to legislation that was passed unanimously yesterday
in the Senate. The bill (SHB 2300) was sponsored by Bob Hasegawa
(D-11), and Derek Kilmer (D-26), and was strongly backed by students
across the state. This bill requires publishing companies to disclose
prices and change-of-edition information when marketing course
materials to Washington faculty. The Senate was its last stop before
being signed into law by the Governor.
“This is a huge victory
for students, since it will ensure faculty have the tools they need to
choose lower cost textbooks,” said Bryce McKibben, the Student Lobbyist
for the Associated Students of the University of Washington. “Many
students are already struggling to pay for college, and textbook prices
have become a large part of college costs. Students are glad to see
the Legislature include this issue in its efforts to make higher
education more affordable.”
According to research from WashPIRG,
textbook prices have risen four times the rate of inflation over the
past decade, and the average student pays $900 per year on course
materials. A recent study released by WashPIRG showed that 94%
professors surveyed would prefer to assign a cheaper book if two
equally good options were available, yet only 63% said they typically
know the price of books they assign.
“The cost of textbooks to
students is largely dependent on which books instructors choose to
require. This research shows that professors are willing to choose
cheaper books, but it also shows that they do not always know the
information necessary to make that distinction,” said James Mellinger,
a sophomore at the University of Washington and the spokesperson for
WashPIRG. “That is why this legislation was so necessary.”
Students
should still keep in mind that they may not see dramatically lower
prices immediately, since lower cost materials to meet all course needs
may not exist. “However,” continued Mellinger, “as more instructors
choose less expensive textbooks, publishers will need to reevaluate
their prices and offer lower cost versions.”
Sponsors Kilmer and
Hasegawa worked closely with students to develop and gain support for
the bill. The Washington Student Lobby testified on behalf of the bill
in Olympia, and WashPIRG student chapters across the state generated
hundreds of calls and letters from students to legislators.
“Every
student knows that textbook prices are out of control, but most
students accept it as a fact of life. This bill gave us the
opportunity to be engaged in the democratic process on an issue that
affects us,” said Daron Williams, the leader of WashPIRG’s grassroots
efforts to pass the bill. “It is easy to feel helpless against the
textbooks industry, but yesterday’s unanimous vote proved that if we
speak up the Legislature will listen.”
Connecticut passed a
similar law last year, and Washington is now the second state to pass
price disclosure legislation. Several other states across the country
are considering legislation this year.
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The report “Exposing the Textbooks Industry” can be found at www.washpirgstudents.org/reports
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