SB430 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Scott Beason

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Rusty GloverPaul SanfordGerald H. Allen

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Public education, institutions of higher education under direction of Alabama Council of College and University Presidents to create digital textbooks for free download by public K-12 schools

Summary

The bill would require Alabama public colleges and universities to create a free digital textbook library for K-12 students, managed under the Alabama Council of College and University Presidents.

What This Bill Does

It directs public higher education institutions to coordinate the creation of a digital textbook library for use in public K-12 schools. The library would be freely accessible for download on electronic devices via the state supercomputer, printable on demand, and regularly updated with error fixes. A State Textbook Committee would review the content to ensure balance and neutrality, with special emphasis on traditional classics in literature and English. The digital textbooks would be state property and may be printed in book form by the State Board of Education or local boards, without publication or duplication fees.

Who It Affects

• Public institutions of higher education in Alabama: must coordinate and develop the digital textbook library under the direction of the Alabama Council of College and University Presidents.
• K-12 public schools and students: will have free access to digital textbooks and the ability to print them if needed.
• State Textbook Committee: will review digital textbooks to ensure balanced, neutral content and traditional emphasis in literature/English.
• State Board of Education and local boards of education: may print the digital textbooks as physical books for student use, without fees.

Key Provisions

• Public colleges and universities coordinate to create a library of digital textbooks for K-12, monitored to fix errors and keep content updated.
• Digital textbooks cover all K-12 subjects, are free to download on electronic devices via the state supercomputer, and are printable on demand with no extraneous information.
• State Textbook Committee reviews content for balance and neutrality; literature/English materials emphasize traditional classics.
• Digital textbooks are state property and free from publication/duplication fees; boards may print them in book form for student use.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education