Press Release - College Textbook & Volunteer Firefighter Bills
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008
CONTACT:
Laura Chapin, 303.866.6386, laura.chapin@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER SIGNS COLLEGE TEXTBOOK AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER BILLS INTO LAW
Gov. Bill Ritter today signed into law legislation that will bring greater transparency to the cost of college textbooks and provide greater job security to volunteer firefighters.
Senate Bill 73 was co-sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa and Rep. John Kefalas. The bill's main advocate was the Associated Students of Colorado organization. It requires publishers to:
- Publicly disclose the price of textbooks and other course materials on websites and other means;
- Sell textbooks separately and "unbundled" from CD-ROMs, workbooks and other related material; and
- Disclose substantial content revisions between current and prior editions.
"This is a consumer right-to-know bill for students and educators alike," Gov. Ritter said. "It represents an important step toward transparency and will help students and their families plan their budgets. Textbooks cost students hundreds of dollars a semester, and with two students in college myself, I know that every dollar counts."
Senate Bill 116 was co-sponsored by Sen. Ken Kester and Rep. Marsha Looper. It prohibits an employer from terminating a volunteer firefighter who leaves work to respond to an emergency if certain reasonable conditions are met.
"Volunteers are critical to Colorado's firefighting efforts," Gov. Ritter said. "Volunteer fire departments account for 62 percent of all fire departments in the state. About 5,500 volunteers protect almost 650,000 Coloradans, and volunteer firefighters respond to an average of two structure fires every day. As summer fire season approaches, we want volunteer firefighters to protect the public knowing that their regular jobs also are protected."
For a complete list of legislation Gov. Ritter has signed into law during the 2008 legislative session, click here.