Book tax cut jumps 1st hurdle

SACRAMENTO -- A bill that could exempt students from paying sales tax on textbooks has conquered its first legislative obstacle Monday as a government committee passed the bill presented by Associated Students Inc. President Toby Sexton.

The California Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation agreed with six "yes" votes and two abstentions to allow the bill to go through the tax committee and be considered by the Budget and Education committees, the State Senate and the Governor's Office.

Along with Sexton, Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, as well as representatives from Orange Coast College and Cal State Fullerton, argued that each college student would save $50 a year if the bill becomes law, which they say is a significant savings.

"The biggest thing we hear from students is the cost of college books," Ducheny said.

The representatives also argued that because online shops sell their books tax free, business is being taken away from university bookstores.

At OCC, about $1.5 million was lost since the arrival of e-commerce, said Sheree King, the student representing OCC.

Sexton also told the committee that CSULB's University Bookstore has lost money to online stores. The loss has interfered with those scholarships funded by profits from bookstore sales.

Although the students' case was widely accepted by the committee, Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, R-Carlsbad, said he did not see $50 as a significant rise and the subtracted sales tax may not actually reduce the price of the books.

Also opposing the bill was the California State Association of Counties, which represents county governments before the state Legislature, according to the meeting agenda. However, no representatives testified at the meeting, nor did they give a statement.

Other committee members disagreed with Kaloogian and the county association.

"I remember how difficult it was pulling together $200 for textbooks," said the committee's chairman, Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles. "It was very hard to pay my rent. Every little bit counts."

Sexton has been trying to get this type of legislation to reach the state Capitol since he was elected A.S.I. president last year, he said.

"I feel I'm following through on my commitment on this bill we started 11 months ago," Sexton said. "I'm going forward to help continue to reduce the price of higher education."

Assemblyman Mike Honda, D-San Jose, said the bill made perfect sense.

"If it saves you $50 on textbooks, it gives you $50 for what you need for the rest of the necessities for student life," Honda said.

Despite the committee's rejection of a similar bill in 1998, Sexton was confident this proposal would pass because the original bill lacked a student voice, a strong following and a $12 billion surplus in the state, he said.

Besides the abolishment of textbook sales tax, Sexton said he also hopes more attributes can reduce the price.

"Because enrollment is so high, we sell more books," Sexton said. "If we sell more books, the price can drop 5 to 15 percent."

Moreover, if faculty members do not turn their book requests in on time, the bookstore needs to rush the order and requests express service, adding a significant price to books.