Bill: SB 810, 85(R) - 2017
Committee
Senate Higher Education
2nd Chamber Committee
House Public Education
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Lois Kolkhorst
Co-Author(s)
Larry Taylor
Royce West
Sponsor(s)
Donna Howard
Bill Caption
Relating to the use of open educational resources.
Fiscal Notes
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 810, As Engrossed:
a negative impact of ($300,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019. The agency is not
required to implement the legislation in the absence of an appropriation.
Bill Analysis
This bill seeks to implement incentives for faculty at universities to use more open educational sources. The bill would require notice to be given to a student if an open education source is required or recommended for a particular class. It would also establish a grant program that would help fund courses that use open source textbooks and literature.
Vote Recommendation Notes
The monopoly on access
to textbooks and course information must end in order to have a free market in
education, and this bill is a start in achieving that goal. However, achieving
this does not need more appropriations to start more grant programs and spend
more tax payer dollars. If the grant provision were removed, we would adjust our position from neutral to active support.
