H-1270.1
HOUSE BILL 1768
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State of Washington | 65th Legislature | 2017 Regular Session |
By Representatives Stambaugh, Holy, Bergquist, and Haler
Read first time 01/27/17. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
AN ACT Relating to the Washington open educational resources pilot grant program at the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the cost of textbooks is a barrier to higher education for many students. The state board for community and technical colleges through the open course library, and universities around the country through various open education material programs, have achieved significant cost savings for students. It is the intent of the legislature to create a pilot grant program to reduce costs for college students by supporting the public, four-year institutions of higher education in promoting, adapting, and creating open educational resources.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Beginning in the 2017-18 academic year, the Washington open educational resources pilot grant program is established within the student achievement council to create a competitive grant program for the public four-year institutions of higher education to promote, adapt, and create open educational resources and reduce students' costs of attendance.
(2) Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the student achievement council shall award up to six grants, each up to one hundred thousand dollars, for the purpose of promoting the development, adaptation, and use of open educational resources. The student achievement council shall develop a process for reviewing and selecting grant applications.
(3) The student achievement council shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2019, on:
(a) Which public four-year institutions of higher education received the grants;
(b) How the grant money was used to promote and expand the use of open educational resources; and
(c) An estimated cost savings to students as a result of the grants.
(4) This section expires June 30, 2020.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2017, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
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