1. SA Senate

2. Agenda Approval of Minutes and Agenda
Feedback on Proposed Changes to Distribution System.
Proposal for Campaign Regulations
Introduction of SA Constitution Referendum
Introduction of Referendum from Honor Council
Introduction of BRIDGE Act Resolution
Introduction of Senate Bill 6 - H&D Reform
Announcements:
Elections Petitions due tonight at 11:59 PM!
Save date for changeover reception on Friday, March 24th at 7:30 PM!
Release of the Academic Freedom Working Group application
The Immigration Day of Action happening this Friday
Health Professions Task Force Members

3. Proposed Campaign Regulations
At no time may a student, candidate, or officer promise, suggest, or in any way indicate that a person or organization will receive preferential access to Blanket Tax or Initiative funding for assisting or supporting a candidate’s campaign.
Additionally, no entity unaffiliated with Rice University (affiliated meaning for example, a student or registered student club) may engage in the electoral process in any way, unless said organization is compensated at market value for the services rendered. Such restrictions include donations of intellectual or creative work product as well. For example,
A candidate may purchase custom t-shirts from a vender unaffiliated with Rice, but a candidate may not receive donated t-shirts from an outside group.
A candidate may pay an unaffiliated graphic designer to create marketing materials for his/her campaign, but may not receive in-kind donations of this work.
A candidate may pay an unaffiliated campaign strategist at market value for assistance with his/her campaign, but may not receive in-kind donations of any physical or intellectual work product.

4. The Brand New SA Constitution and Bylaws
2/13/2017

5. Committee
Convened last spring through Senate Bill #1, charged with general review
Benchmarked other university constitutions, looked at structure and language
Met with the Committee, made up a diverse group, multiple times
Held a Constitutional Convention!
Talked with Blanket Tax Crack team members, surveyed BT stakeholders
A lot of what you’re seeing is familiar - used what worked from old constitution

6. Goals of New SA Constitution
To create a sustainable Constitution that works long-term for the SA
To make the Constitution accessible to all members of the Student Association
Address confusion in the Blanket Tax section

7. General Changes to the Constitution
Separated Constitution and Bylaws
Clarified processes, and streamlined language for better transparency
Combined Dependent and Blanket Tax (formally Subsidiary) Sections
Reformed Blanket Tax process to address the challenges encountered during the first two years of implementation

8. Specific Changes to the Constitution
Open/closed meetings
Changeover
Back to Resolutions
Directors -> Executive Council / Appointed Officers
Changed language of second round election
Parliamentarian’s discretion on absences
“Business days” -> “class days”
More specific Campaign Finance Regulations

9. Blanket Tax Changes
Blanket Tax Fund Access Applications every two years
Updated Initiative Fund Purpose
Removed “priority access”
Removed subsidiary organization

10. Judicial Changes
Constitution (basic purpose) vs. by-laws (rules/procedures)
More accessible language
Clearer procedures, easier to follow
Streamlined sections
More time for UCourt to schedule hearings
Provision for decorum during hearings

11. READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ