NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SENATE

92^nd SESSION, 2012-2013

 

Government Bill 32

 

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO IMPROVE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND FUNDING EFFICIENCY BY APPROVING GROUP REQUESTS IN THE SEMESTER PRIOR TO THEIR EVENT

 

 

Short Title: Appropriations Timeline and Funding Efficiency Act

Sponsors: Senate President Pro Tempore Barker (Corresponding), Senators Mills, Poosamani

Signatories:

Referred to:                        

Version: Adopted

First Reading: August 22, 2012        Second Reading: September 5, 2012

 

 

WHEREAS, Senate Appropriations is one of the most important ways in which the Senate and individual senators interact with their constituents and make a significant impact on campus; and,

               

WHEREAS, the current Appropriations timeline needlessly complicates the processes and penalizes groups acting in good faith by dramatically delaying the distribution of funding; and,

 

WHEREAS, the two month-long process within Student Government coupled with a month-long process of receiving checks from the University essentially makes Appropriations funding a reimbursement process; and,

 

WHEREAS, many deserving events that have been approved by the Appropriations Committee and Student Senate are unable to occur due to the large upfront costs which groups are unable to undertake and then be reimbursed for; and,

 

WHEREAS, this inability to hold events leads to return of funding which then exacerbates a potential Student Government surplus; and,

 

WHEREAS, it is Student Government’s duty to efficiently and effectively utilize student funding in the academic year for which it was intended; and,

 

WHEREAS, the Appropriations Committee has discussed and approved an improved timeline to rectify this situation; now therefore be it,

 

RESOLVED, that in accordance with the Appropriations Committee Packet and similarly to other universities, funding for events shall be approved in the semester prior to when the event is to occur (thus Spring events are approved in the Fall and Fall events are approved in the Spring); and be it further,

 

RESOLVED, that to reflect these improvements statutes be amended to read:

 

§5-2.8.  Timetable for Appropriations.

 

(a) All bills pertaining to appropriation shall be filed for

introduced  introduction no later than (i) the second Senate meeting

in October, for the fall semester, or (ii) the first Senate

meeting in March, for the spring semester.

 

(b) The Senate shall approve its appropriations to student

organizations no later than (i) the first Senate meeting

in November, for the fall semester, or (ii) the second

Senate meeting in March.

 

(c) The Appropriations Committee shall be authorized to

set additional dates as needed for the appropriations

process, including, but not limited to: (i) the opening

and closing of submission system, at least two weeks

apart, (ii) the close of request editing for sponsors, at

least three (3) class two (2) days following close of

organization submissions, (iii) interview notification

and interview dates, and (iv) the appeals hearing.

 

§5-2.9. Fall-Spring Appropriations Division.

 

(a) For fall appropriations, organization activities must

take place after the tenth (10th) class day in the fall,

but prior to spring break the following semester.

(b) For spring appropriations, organization activities must

take place after the tenth (10th) class day in the spring,

but prior to fall break the following semester.

 

(a) For fall appropriations, organization activities must

take place after the tenth (10th) class day in the spring,

but prior to fall break the following semester.

 

(b) For spring appropriations, organization activities must

take place after the tenth (10th) class day in the fall,

but prior to spring break the following semester. When

considering funding early fall events during the

spring, the committee shall take steps to ensure the

organization has viable continuity beyond the

academic year.

 

 (e) In cases where an activity falls after the cut-off date, it

may be considered, at the committee's discretion, in

the earlier semester if the group provides

documentation that failure to receive funding in the

earlier semester will make the activity impossible.

 

; and be it further,

 

RESOLVED, that this bill be effective upon enrollment.