Request for Signature - AB 607

Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor 

State of California 

1021 O St. Ste. 9000 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

RE: REQUEST FOR SIGNATURE – AB 607 (KALRA) 

Dear Governor Newsom, 

On behalf of Dr. Gary K. Michelson and the Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP), I am writing to request you sign Assembly Bill 607 (Kalra) which MCPP is proud to sponsor. AB 607 would close price transparency gaps by requiring the California State Universities (CSU) and California Community Colleges (CCC), and encouraging the University of California (UC), to display the estimated cost of course materials for ultimately 75% of courses offered on the online course schedule platform. AB 607 has not received any no votes and has bi-partisan support.  

Existing law requires the CCCs and CSUs, and encourages the UCs, to display in the course schedule when a course has zero-cost digital materials. Additionally, the Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires campuses receiving federal funds to disclose textbook costs and ISBN numbers for textbooks on the course schedule. However, in the decade since the Higher Education Opportunity Act was written, the types of materials students are expected to purchase has widened to include digital homework platforms and other new technologies that are not captured under current law. We know students in California continue to struggle to afford materials, in fact, a 2020 survey conducted at CSU Channel Islands found that 65% of students reported skipping buying a textbook due to cost.  

As you know, course material costs make up a significant portion of the costs of secondary education, especially at community colleges. The small but significant change made by AB 607, builds on the investments your administration has supported and championed and will help students better plan and budget for at least one of the costs related to their postsecondary education. For these reasons, we are proud to sponsor this bill and would respectfully request your signature on this important measure. 

Sincerely, 

Geoffrey L. Baum

Executive Director 

Michelson Center for Public Policy