§3351.16. Louisiana Community and Technical College System; electronic and digital textbooks and instructional materials; student charges

A.  In an effort to reduce the cost of course materials to students and provide a convenient means for students to purchase course materials in a single transaction in lieu of purchasing content separately, the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall make every effort to ensure that electronic and digital versions are available for all prescribed textbooks and other digital instructional materials and shall develop a program for the encouragement and sale of electronic and digital textbooks and instructional materials.

B.  Beginning in the Fall 2011 semester and thereafter, the board shall:

(1)  Direct institutions under its management to clearly communicate the board's desire to increase the availability and accessibility of electronic and digital textbooks and other digital instructional materials in community and technical colleges when inviting publishers to participate in the textbook selection process and encourage all publishers to make available electronic and digital versions of the products they offer in addition to the printed version.

(2)  Adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the sale and  distribution of electronic and digital textbook content, or fractions of electronic and digital textbook content, instructional materials and assessments.

C.(1)  The board is authorized to charge a student who chooses to purchase electronic and digital textbooks and other digital instructional materials an amount not greater than the actual cost of such electronic and digital textbooks and instructional materials.

(2)  The board may not charge the student for any administrative, handling, or other related costs associated with the provision of electronic and digital textbooks and other digital instructional materials.

(3)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any monies derived from such charges shall remain with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and shall not be deposited into the state general fund. Such monies shall be used exclusively to lower the costs of electronic and digital textbooks and other digital instructional materials for students.

(4)  Nothing in this Section shall be construed to affect the terms of a contract entered into by the board prior to June 28, 2011.

(5)  Nothing in this Section shall be construed to supersede the institutional autonomy or academic freedom of instructors, faculty members, or academic departments involved in the selection of college textbooks and other instructional materials.

Acts 2011, No. 308, §1, eff. June 28, 2011.