A. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are hereby authorized to establish and implement a system for the rental and distribution of higher education textbooks to students attending any institution of higher education within The Oklahoma State System for Higher Education. The purpose of this system for rental and distribution of textbooks is to:

1. Make textbooks available on a rental basis to students who may not be able to afford the price of a new or used textbook;

2. Encourage faculty within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to use class textbooks for a longer period of time;

3. Encourage department heads to review textbooks used in that department to help determine if a textbook can be utilized for a longer period of time or whether such textbook is outdated; and

4. Encourage students to make use of all textbooks required for the courses of study of such student and not limit the education of the student because of lack of funds to purchase new or used textbooks.

B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are hereby encouraged to authorize the board of regents of the various higher education institutions within The Oklahoma State System for Higher Education to utilize the system to purchase textbooks as determined by the faculty or department heads to be marked as rental textbooks to be provided at a low rental payment for students attending that institution of higher education. Among other conditions of rental established by the State Regents and the Board of Regents of the institution of higher education, such textbooks shall be rented on condition of return of such textbook at the conclusion of the course of study of such student and that any damage to the textbook will be paid for by the student. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are authorized to promulgate and adopt rules for the establishment and implementation of this system for low-cost textbook rental for institutions of higher education.

Added by Laws 1994, c. 39, § 1, eff. July 1, 1994.