HB 18-1331 Summary

• Creates the Colorado Open Educational Resources (OER) Council within the Department of Higher Education, comprising 12 appointed members from public institutions (faculty, librarians, instructional designers, administrators, and one student) plus three ex-officio members, with three-year terms beginning by July 1, 2018.

• Establishes an Open Educational Resources Grant Program providing funding to public institutions, faculty, and staff to create, adapt, and promote use of free or low-cost educational materials, with grants awarded by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education based on council recommendations.

• Requires grant recipients to submit data on student savings and enrollment outcomes, openly license and share developed resources under the broadest possible license, post materials to open repositories in editable formats, and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Mandates the Colorado Commission on Higher Education adopt guidelines requiring public institutions to inform students prior to course registration beginning in fall 2021 which courses use open educational resources or other low-cost materials.

• Appropriates $660,000 from the general fund for the 2018-19 fiscal year to the Department of Higher Education to implement the initiative, with the article set to repeal effective November 1, 2021.