Student Senate 01.30.17 9 PM

Agenda Roll Call, Approve Minutes/Agenda Government Relations Update from the Director of Government Relations Introduction of SB5 Academic Freedom Working Group Vote on Updated SA Budget Vote on RVP Leadership Change Updates from Blanket Tax Committee Update on Funding for Student Leadership Positions Diversity in SA Leadership Positions Announcements “It’s an SApalooza!”- Feb. 6th at 8 PM Health Professions Task Force Committee

Texas Student Government Coalition Legislative Agenda

Tax-free textbooks (H.B. 242) -What? → Creates two exemption periods (7 consecutive days in August and January) for Texas public and private university students to buy books for “educational, instructional, pedagogical” purposes -Why? → Students spend an average of $893 a year for textbooks, and textbook prices have risen 186% since 1986 → Other states already have tax-exempt textbooks Hernandez and Thierry Amending State tax code Takes effect in July or October, depending on votes

Good Samaritan policy (H.B. 73) What? → Expands current medical amnesty laws to include “small amounts of controlled substances” & other prohibited drugs Why? → Students who may need medical assistance from using illegal drugs are afraid to call for medical attention because they are afraid of the legal consequences. Guillen Takes effect in September

Sexual assault reform (H.B. 355) What? → a registered sex offender may not reside on the campus of a public or private university Why? → increasing protections for students in the close quarters of a college campus TSCG also advocates for greater accessibility of rape kits (schools are not currently required to provide them). Raney Basically amending Criminal Procedure code

Electronic voting registration (H.B. 143) (not officially on the agenda yet) What? → A person may complete a voter registration application on the official state website (program created by Texas Sec State) Why? → Increase ease of voting registration Israel

Low Income Leadership Inclusion Initiative Primary goal: Increase accessibility to Leadership Positions Data pointed us towards work study Fights disadvantage of people who cannot give away their time for free

Problems Shift in point of reference over time It’s dangerous to shift away from our culture of pursuit of experience Not everyone wants to run We are deciding for them what resources they will get

Resolution Part of a much larger problem Issue of giving low income students Rice resources that they can spend on their educational experiences Fix Leebron’s proposal College based solutions

Diversity in SA Elections Plan Sonal and James to attend multicultural council meeting to describe elections and encourage presidents to reach out prospective members Contact Questbridge, SSI, Generation College to direct source names of good candidates Coffeehouse Office Hours for Elections Questions (NSR’s) Reach out to Presidents/Senators/O-Week Coordinators for names of people to encourage to run (sourcing at college level) Ideas? Vision and Mission of SA Exec team this year is to increase diversity on campus, and to make sure each individual, not matter what socieconomic class, culture, sexuality, etc. feels safe on campus. Especially important in this time period we are in