Students are focus of new laws; Legislature passes rules on smoking in dorms, textbook sales, tuition help, other issues.(Main)

Byline: CARA MATTHEWS - Gannett News Service

ALBANY - A ban on smoking in college dorms, restrictions on textbook sales, prevention of school pension fraud and immediate dismissal of teachers guilty of sex offenses are some of the big-ticket education items that passed the Legislature this session.

Gov. David Paterson has agreed to sign the Textbook Access Act, which supporters said will help control the cost of textbooks by requiring more disclosure to professors of what they are ordering. Faculty members may order a book and be unaware that it comes "bundled" with other materials, such as CD-ROMs, workbooks and codes for access to a related Web site, said …