S.F. No. 2214 establishes a pilot program to explore the use of inclusive access at institutions of higher education to address textbook affordability in postsecondary institutions. Inclusive access provides a digital distribution of course material instead of traditional textbooks. The Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education is required to provide incentive funding to an institution, selected by the Board of Trustees, to develop and utilize inclusive access for all courses offered at the institution, where available. The pilot expires July 1, 2021, and the commissioner is required to report by December 1, 2021, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education issues on the cost savings, feasibility, and acceptability of the inclusive access pilot program.
Section 2 appropriates from the general fund to the Commissioner of OHE funds for purposes of section 1.
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