Government Bill 06

A BILL TO BE ENTILED AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR AN UPDATED APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS

______________________________________________________________________________

Short Title: Appropriations Amendment Act

Sponsors: Senator Goldsmith (Corresponding)

Signatories:

Referred to:                        

Version: Initial Version

First Reading:                                                             Second Reading:

WHEREAS, the appropriations process is a lengthy procedure aimed at allocating funds to student organizations; and,

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of both students and senators to expedite funds to registered student organizations in a manner as timely as possible; and,

WHEREAS, the Student Body Statutes define Appropriations Help Sessions in §5-2.12 as an:

                        “open session where student organizations can seek help with completing appropriations requests...”; and,

WHEREAS, it is the duty of each sponsoring senator to review and amend their respective appropriations requests prior to the close of filing for said requests per §5-2.11 subsection (c); and,

WHEREAS, there is historical evidence to support a growing number of appropriations requests; and,

WHEREAS, regularly scheduled interview times before the Appropriations Committee routinely require over 25 hours of interviews; and,

WHEREAS, both representatives of each organization and student senators are required to attend their respective interviews; and,

WHEREAS, a great deal of the interview process is comprised of members of the Appropriations Committee simply reading through the appropriations request for the first time; and simply asking groups questions that are answered on their requests to justify them being present; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, the North Carolina State University Student Senate views the shortening of the appropriations process to be the most conducive to the interests of both student senators and student organizations; and be it further,

RESOLVED, that §5-2.12 of the Student Body Statutes shall read:

                        “§5-2.12. Appropriations Help Session.

            The committee shall organize at least two (2) open sessions where student organizations   and senators can seek help with completing appropriations requests, occurring prior to         the close of online submissions. It shall be mandatory that each senator attend at least one (1) help session prior to their request being reviewed by the committee. It shall be the discretion of the chair as to whether each senator is assigned a specific time for a        help session or if it shall be up to the senator to determine which session to attend. Any             senator who does fail to attend one help session shall be given one half absence”;

RESOLVED, that §5-2.13 of the Student Body Statutes shall read:

                        “§5-2.13. Appropriations Interviews.

            Following the close of the sponsors’ request editing period, the committee shall interview             such organizations submitting requests that have met all eligibility requirements. The    Appropriations Committee may exempt any group from attending interviews with the           unanimous consent of the committee. Upon such a decision of the committee, the            interview will then become optional for the organization. All interviews shall be        conducted at a duly called meeting of the committee, and the organizations shall be          notified of the time and place of their interview at least three (3) calendar days in         advance.”; and be it further,

RESOLVED, that §5-2.29 of the Student Body Statutes shall read:

                        “§5-2.29. Appropriations Packet.

            The Appropriations Packet shall be a document of information and regulations specific    to a particular appropriations session. The packet will explicitly inform groups of the     times that help sessions occur. The packet shall also explicitly state that not attending            an optional interview will in no way deter the ability of the organization to receive full     consideration from the committee. No portion of the packet may be in conflict with these        statutes, but shall otherwise be binding on the process.”; and be it further,

RESOLVED, that the above changes will expire after the 2010 fall semester unless provided for           by a future act from the Senate.

RESOLVED, that this bill shall become effective upon enrollment.