Patrick J. Hogan
Associate Vice Chancellor
pjhogan@usmd.edu
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
1807
University of
Maryland,
Baltimore
1856
University of
Maryland,
College Park
1865
Bowie State
University
1866
Towson University
HB 3 - Public Institutions of Higher Education –Textbook Fairness Act
Chairman Conway, Vice Chairman Proctor, and Committee members, thank you for the
opportunity to testify on HB3 – the Textbook Fairness Act. While the University System of
Maryland (USM) supports the intent of HB 3, the bill in its current form poses serious questions
about the effective and cost-efficient purchase of textbooks. We greet efforts from faculty,
bookstores, and the publishing community to reduce the cost of textbooks for USM students.
However, due to the complicated and time-sensitive nature of coursebook adoption, mandated
disclosure requirements will only make a challenging situation worse.

HB 3, as drafted, could eliminate the final stage of the textbook adoption process,
which ensures textbooks requested by faculty. The final stage adoption process is a
limited, but critical period of time after the faculty provides the college bookstore with
required coursebook information. It is at this point that bookstore managers contact the
faculty to ask if they would consider using last year's edition or verify the need for an
individual professor to bundled book. This step is crucial in achieving cost savings for
students.

HB 3, as drafted, does not allow for the adoption process to work effectively on
behalf of cost-conscience students and families. The legislation requires that course
adoption lists be published on-line before the final stage of the textbook adoption process
has been completed. This could result in preliminary and inaccurate information being
provided to students leading to costly mistakes in ordering. In early anticipation,
students may purchase a book on-line or buy from another student only to find that the
faculty member has cancelled his textbook order due insufficient supply. The student
may be either stuck with the book or have to pay charges for returning the item only IF
the seller has a return policy.

HB 3 is silent regarding those institutions that outsource bookstore operations.
Higher education institutions that contract with private booksellers have realized
tremendous savings for students and families.

HB 3 refers to “The Governing Board of a Public Institution of Higher Education.”
USM respectfully requests that HB 3 be amended to refer to “each Public Institution of
Higher Education”

HB 3 treats the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as an exact science
and a numerical publication identifier set-in-stone. This is not accurate. Multiple
ISBN numbers may exist for the same textbook and may change if a book is reprinted
with a new or altered title or reprinted by another publisher. In some cases bookstores
will not know the exact ISBN number until the order of course materials are received at
the bookstore from the publisher.
1886
University of
Maryland,
Eastern Shore
1898
Frostburg State
University
1900
Coppin State
College
1925
Salisbury University
1925
University of
Baltimore
1925
University of
Maryland
Center for
Environmental
Science
1947
University of
Maryland
University College
1966
University of
Maryland,
Baltimore County
1985
University of
Maryland
Biotechnology
Institute
Thank you for allowing the University System of Maryland to share these thoughts about HB 3.
We hope our concerns will be taken under consideration.
3300 Metzerott Road
 Adelphi, MD 20783

TEL: 301-445-1927

FAX: 301-445-1931

www.usmd.edu