GOVERNMENT BILL 49

Chairman Lucy Tatum submitted the following report regarding Government Bill 49, "First Year Election Act", on Tuesday, January 28th 2003, on behalf of the Government Operations Committee, and pursuant to its Monday, January 27th 2003 recommendations, by general consent:

As provided by Senate Rule 14(b), the committee requests that the Senate President place Government Bill 49 on the calendar for second reading.

Attendance:

There were five (5) Members (Fabricius, Horne, Moody, Palin, Tatum) present.

There was one (1) Member (Sheehan) absent.

A quorum was present.

The following officials were also present: Hutcherson, Pendergrass, Spencer, Stephenson

Purpose of Legislation:

This legislation eliminates the Fall Appointments process and implements a Fall Election for first-year students.

Background Information:

Previously, Freshmen senators were chosen by the Fall Appointments Commission, a group of current senators who worked to advertise and recruit Freshmen who could then go through an interview process to be selected as a senator.

Debate:

Debate included whether or not first-year students who enter in the Spring should be eligible to run, whether or not the time table was appropriate and if there should be a group of current senators to help publicize. It was decided that the time table would remain as it was originally in the bill, but the other changes were made and are indicated in this report.

Recommendations:

The committee recommends consideration by the Senate.

Committee Amendments:

In lines 20 and 42, "non-transfer" was struck.

On line 64, "Spring" was changed to "Fall"

On line 43, "three(3)" was changed to "two(2)"

In Section 7, after "shall be struck" the following was added:
"and the following shall be inserted:
The Student Senate President shall appoint, no later than May 1st, at least 2 members to a select Senate committee on Fall Elections Publicity. The committee shall be charged with fully publicizing both the filing and voting of the Fall General Election"