School begins again and other things...

Well I went to school on Tuesday and went to my first class. The History of Social Thought, I am thinking it is going to be boring as hell but I could be wrong. The good thing is that I only have one book to buy for this semester and it only costs $112.75!!! I know that some people are paying $500 - $600 for their books this semester and probably more which sucks big time.

That reminds me though, here are some links on some Senate Bills in Arkansas that are aimed at lowering the cost of college text books all of these bills have been filed and referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce:

• SB22 TO REGULATE THE SELECTION AND USE OF STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS AND TO MINIMIZE THE COST OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS.



• SB23 TO REGULATE THE SELECTION AND USE OF STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS AND TO PROHIBIT SINGLE-USE TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS.



• SB24 TO REGULATE STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOK SALES AND TO REQUIRE PROMPT NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS.



• SB25 TO REGULATE THE SELECTION AND USE OF STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS AND TO PROHIBIT CUSTOMIZED TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS.



• SB26 AN ACT TO REGULATE THE ADMINISTRATION AND USE OF STATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS.



• SB27 AN ACT TO REGULATE STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOK SALES AND TO PROHIBIT INDUCEMENTS TO REQUIRE SPECIFIC TEXTBOOKS.



• SB28 AN ACT TO REGULATE STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOK SALES AND TO REQUIRE COURSE SUPPLEMENTS BE SOLD TO COMPETING BOOKSTORES AT COST.



• SB29 TO REQUIRE STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO PERMIT PRIVATE RETAILERS ACCESS TO STUDENT SALES.



• SB30 TO REGULATE THE USE OF ROYALTIES FROM THE SALE OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS OR PUBLICATIONS BY STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES.



• SB31 TO PROHIBIT REFERRALS TO WEBSITES OF TEXTBOOK SELLERS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED AND DO NOT AGREE TO COLLECT ARKANSAS SALES AND USE TAXES.

There is some opposition to these bills. There have been some articles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and on some of the television news affiliates that I know of, not sure about the other major papers in Arkansas. Anyway, enjoy!

~ Terhune