The State Textbook Committee shall advertise for books in all basic subjects in such manner and for such time as it may deem best. Each year the Committee shall advertise for sealed bids from publishers of textbooks for furnishing textbooks for the public schools of this state. Each bid shall state specifically and clearly the price at which each book will be furnished FOB the bidder's depository or delivered to any ordering school district in this state, and the price the books may be sold for through local retail book dealers, and shall be accompanied by a sample copy of each book offered in such bid, together with any teacher edition or teacher aids used with such book. A copy of each textbook for which a bid has been accepted by the Committee shall be displayed in at least one library or institution of higher education within each Congressional District in this state. The facility shall have free public access. The textbooks shall be displayed from the time they are accepted by the Committee until their final selection or rejection. A record of all the books delivered direct to any school district shall be immediately furnished by the shipper and the school district to the State Board of Education. Each bid shall be accompanied by a sworn statement specifically:
1. Stating whether the publisher is the owner of any interest or share in any other textbook publishing houses and, if so, giving the names and addresses thereof;
2. Showing whether any member of the Committee is in any manner interested, directly or indirectly, in such person, firm, or corporation submitting such bid; and
3. Showing the name and address of every committee, public official, or individual in this state who has been furnished, within the preceding twelve (12) months, any copy of the textbook or textbooks or any edition thereof included in the bid, together with the numbers and titles thereof furnished to each recipient.
If the fact shall be disclosed that any member of the Committee, State Textbook Director, or any employee of that office is interested in the bidder, it shall work a disqualification of such member, and the member shall not be permitted to serve on the Committee, and the bidder shall be disqualified. If it shall be disclosed that such sworn statement does not accurately and completely give the information required, the State Textbook Committee shall disregard the bid. Oklahoma authors of school textbooks shall be permitted to receive the customary royalty, regardless of employment.
Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 16-103, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1984, c. 241, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1984; Laws 1993, c. 229, § 5, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1997, c. 341, § 2, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997.