HF 2660

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/05/2012 01:48pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing an open-access textbook task force;
requiring a plan for improved use of open-access textbooks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin OPEN-ACCESS TEXTBOOK TASK FORCE.
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new text begin (a) The Office of Higher Education shall convene an open-access textbook task force
of 11 members to develop a plan for promoting and increasing the use of open-access
textbooks and open-content instructional materials in Minnesota postsecondary institutions
to reduce textbook costs for students. The task force must include broad representation
from Minnesota's postsecondary systems and sectors, including representatives of
postsecondary faculty, administrators, student government leaders, business officers,
and campus bookstores.
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new text begin (b) The task force must develop a plan for presentation to the committees of the
legislature responsible for higher education finance by January 15, 2013. The plan must
be based on the following:
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new text begin (1) an inventory of existing open-access textbooks;
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new text begin (2) a description of undergraduate general courses which would be recommended
for the use of open-access textbooks;
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new text begin (3) a recommended standardized process for reviewing and approving open-access
textbooks;
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new text begin (4) recommendations for encouraging and promoting the use of open-access
textbooks by faculty;
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new text begin (5) identification of barriers to the expanded use of open-access textbooks;
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new text begin (6) strategies for producing and distributing open-access textbooks to ensure that
the textbooks are easily downloaded, accessed, printed, or obtained in a bound format at
reduced or no cost to students;
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new text begin (7) identification of technology security standards necessary to safeguard the use of
open-access textbooks; and
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new text begin (8) identification of new technologies to improve use of open-access textbooks.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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