AB 607: Public postsecondary education: course materials.

Existing law requires each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and requests each campus of the University of California, to clearly highlight the courses that exclusively use digital course materials, as specified, and clearly communicate to students that the course materials for these courses are free of charge and therefore not required to be purchased.

This bill would, commencing July 1, 2024, require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request each campus of the University of California, to prominently display the estimated costs for each course of all required course materials and fees directly related to those materials, for no less than an annually increasing percentage, up to 75% by January 1, 2028, of the total number of courses on the online campus course schedule for which a faculty member or course instructor has been assigned. The bill would define, for purposes of this requirement, course materials to include digital or physical textbooks, devices such as calculators and remote attendance platforms, and software subscriptions. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.