§ 6-21-407 - Contracts with publishers. - Arkansas Statutes

6-21-407. Contracts with publishers.

(a) The State Board of Education shall make and execute contracts with all publishers whose books, series of books, or instructional materials have been recommended by the state.

(b) (1) (A) The state board shall determine the contract period, provided no contract period shall be for less than three (3) years nor more than five (5) years for courses subject to rapid knowledge-base changes.

(B) For courses determined by the state board to be free of rapid knowledge-base changes, the contract period may be for a maximum of ten (10) years.

(2) Contract periods for paperback books, novels, plays, and other forms of literature in a softbound cover that are part of a basal textbook program may be from one (1) to five (5) years.

(c) If during the first two (2) years of any contract, the consumer price index has increased by twelve percent (12%) or more, the state board is authorized to renegotiate with the contract holder the prices contained in the contract. The state board may grant a price increase in the last three (3) years of the contract, provided the publisher certifies that the price is no higher than the lowest contract prices the product is currently bid in any other state.

(d) The state board is authorized to renew or extend contracts for no less than one (1) year nor more than two (2) years. This provision shall be made a part of the publisher's contract, and the state board may exercise the provision by notifying the publisher no less than one (1) year prior to the expiration of the original contract.