Part I: An Introduction and Overview Definition and the Math Part II: Implementation An In-depth Review and Training

Part I: An introduction and overview

AB1725 The focus of this Law is to emphasize the role of Community Colleges in California as a postsecondary institution in addition to establishing an assurance of the students role in the Shared Governance process and to …express their opinions and give every reasonable consideration as supported by Title 5 of the California Education Code.

AB1725 contd: This law provides and enhances access to governance mechanisms for the purpose of effective representation, accountability and improving communication, coordination and collaborative efforts in the interest of students in the educational process.

Therefore:

A Financial Need for Advocacy Arises? AB1725 opened the doors for advocacy at state, county, c ity and local campus levels… BUT

How do we get there? & Where's the money?

In1987 the Student Representation Fee was established in the Ca. Ed. Code by AB2756. *AB 2756 authored by Assemblyman Hayden and sponsored by the CSUs and UCs.

Does Your College Have it? Would you give a dollar each semester to advocate for affordable textbooks? More Financial Aid? Decreased fees? Better student services? And more classes? Diversity and equity? 60 Community Colleges as of June 2009 have successfully implemented this fee. Out of 110 Community Colleges, 50 colleges do not have adequate funds for advocacy work. So what is the Student Representation Fee?

Student Representation Fee Defined Education Code : {A $1.00 Student Representation Fee}…shall be collected…to provide for the support of governmental affairs representatives who may be stating their positions and viewpoints before city, county, and district governments, and before offices and agencies of the state government. This state law requires one key event!

Ed Code : …Governing body of the association may order an election be held for the purpose of establishing a student representation fee… Are there minimum requirements to implement it?

Steps to Implementation 2/3 vote approval is required. The Minimum Threshold: the number of students voting must exceed the average number of students voting in the three previous associated student body elections. But who pays this fee?

Who Pays the SRF? Once approved in the student elections the $1 SRF is mandatory for all students to pay when registering for each semester. A student who wishes to not pay the SRF must submit it in writing for political, religious, financial, or moral reasons at the time of registration whether online or in person. A negative check off must be in a form that complies with the BOG regulations. Under the law the district may retain a portion of the fees to a maximum of 7% for administrative charges. Only $1.00, that nots much...how will that help?

2.91 million CC Students Think about it! 2.91million x 2 semesters = $5.82 million per year $5.82 million – assume 1/3 dont pay = $3.91million $3.91m – 7% admin charges = $275,000 thousand Bottom line with conservative numbers, CC students could bring in: $3.91m – $275,000 admin charges= $3.64 million Now take your college population and do the math!

Organize Organize Organize

Small Groups Breakout! Come up with a plan… Haves: Task: Come up with a plan on how to track your SRF funds! Do the Math first: What is your population? How long have you had the SRF? Find how much money you should have! Make a strategic plan to appropriate you funds for advocacy efforts. Become SRF specialists and pass it on! Assist other colleges to get it done! Have nots: Task: Come up with a plan to get it on your campus! Do the Math first! How much money will be free from your AS account for other activities? How do I get it on the ballot? What is the minimum threshold from the last 3 elections? How will you get students to the poles? Identify clubs who support it and get them to advertise! Advertise and set the stage: Have balloons because they are magical David Hawkins, Founder Advocate Resource Training Program,

Additional Resources SSCCC California Law Legislative Information &WAISaction=retrieve David Hawkins, Founder Advocate Resource Training Program ARC California Community Colleges Chancellors Office LegalResourcesCCCCOStateFederal/tabid/391/Default.aspx At-Large Senator Rachael Richards

Part II A n In-depth Review and Training

Minimum Voting Threshold Ed Code : …the students who vote in the election equals or exceeds the average of the number of students who voted in the election equals or exceeds the average of the number of students who voted in the previous three student body association elections …Requires 3 prior student body elections…to ensure meaningful participation *Legal opinion June 25, 1998 It need not be scheduled during a regularly scheduled student body election. It may be held by special election.

Political Tactics Know the last three voting totals at your campus. Analyze the numbers so you may achieve the average of voters to the poles. Get out the balloons – they are magical! Advertise, advertise, advertise. Be creative to get the message out there! Use talent on your campus to create songs or raps! Have a quad party, skits. Have a town hall to show the potential of funds that would be come available.

After the Election Now what do we do? Implement collections?

Collection Procedures Ed Code The student representation fee authorized by this section shall be collected by the officials of the community college, together with all other fees, at the time of registration or before registration and shall be deposited in a separate fiduciary fund…

Separate Fiduciary Account This information is available to all students. Get copies of your banking statements. Treasurer accountable for reporting activity? Agendize it regularly. Be in the know always! Accountability is key to your constituents.

The administration is the key holder to the bank, you make the decisions of how to spend it and when to spend it!

Appropriations of Fees Although the district maintains custody of funds in a separate fiduciary account ONLY the associated student body may spend the monies from the Student Representation Fee. It is NOT REQUIRED to decide how to spend this fund in conjunction with the administration or other forms of campus committees. Special Procedures such as essays are not required for access of these funds since the governing student body has the sole decision to appropriate.

Students may choose to order disbursements of funds for activities or situations as they deem fit, so long as the expenditures are appropriate as per the California Administrative Code (Title 5) and the California Education Code. Students do not need the approval of administration to expend funds, yet they do have right of consultation and veto power should the appropriations not be within the confounds of the law. Who has the Final Authority to decide how to spend the Monies?

Legal Opinion O The key words that determine proper appropriations …to provide support for student representatives… yet the question that often arises is how direct the connection must be between the activity and the ultimate objective of advocating for students interests? Essentially expenses incurred before and after the actual advocacy efforts.

What Can the Money be Spent On? Dues Donations Representational Skills Seminars/Workshops Travel Informational Support Lobbying Legislators Letter Campaigns

Dues Dues to other representative organizations -as originally intended for. Examples if dues are applicable: USGA USGA CalPIRG CSCC CCLC CSSC ASCCC ASACC FACCC And many more

Donations Donations above and beyond dues to entities such as the SSCCC and other student organizations. Who represent their combined interests to legislators. i.e.: another college in its advocacy efforts. *Example: You r A.S. may wish to donate to the SSCCC by semester or annually.

Representational Skills/Workshops To sharpen advocacy skills such as: -Communicating with legislators effectively -Lobbying effectively -Letter writing management to legislators -Effective representation of students -Hosting private individuals to perform advocacy training. -Hosting an At-Large or Executive council member of the SSCCC to your local campus to strengthen relations with local senates and training such as this SRF presentation.

Travel Members of the student association, along with members of the general student body may use the funds in advocacy efforts on a local, regional or statewide basis such as: -Conferences -Airfare, mileage, lodging and meals while attending and in travel to and from locations of stating their views before local and/or state officials.

Informational Support Subscription to sources that specifically address local and state political issues that may significantly affect students.

Lobbying Legislators Group visits to speak with legislators may be financed by the Student representation fee. Costs that are incurred while traveling to or from a legislators office fall under the guise of appropriate Rep Fee spending.

Letter Campaigns If a campus is organizing a letter writing campaign regarding issues that affect students locally and/or on a statewide basis, monies from the Student Representation Fee can be used for materials, advertising, as well as postage. *See also appendix C-Chancellors Office published Legal Opinion O regarding expenditures of this fee.

Disseminating Legislative Information Covered? According to Legal Opinion O – YES. Section seems to encompass this activity because it states that funds can be used to support student representatives. If individual students are to express their views to elected officials, they must have information, thus payable and appropriate to use the Student Representation Fee.

What You Cannot Do with the Money The monies CANNOT be used for campaigning. Monies are not to be spent subsidizing specific political campaigns, i.e. the voucher initiative or S.A.V.E. campaign, or candidates campaigns of any sort.

SRF Funds Money Management 101

Managing the Money State Law – every student has to pay it. Population per semester total? Subtract written requests in record Equals Sub-Total Subtract 7% administrative fees Equals total of available funds per semester.

Strategic Planning of Funds: So You know Where the money is? How are you going to use it? Like any budget – Planning is key! Pass the Financial Records forward to your successor!

Bylaws Not required by the Ed Code to be written into your associated student association by- laws, however, it would be advisable to establish some guidelines based on the law as it will also keep your constituents in the know that this fund exists on your campus.

Suggested Sections to Amend/Add to By-laws Collection Purpose Assignments of Representatives Responsibilities of Representatives Accountability of Representatives Budgeting Procedures for the Monies Collected. *Not necessarily limited to these areas listed above

Additional Resources SSCCC California Law Legislative Information &WAISaction=retrieve David Hawkins, Founder Advocate Resource Training Program ARC California Community Colleges Chancellors Office LegalResourcesCCCCOStateFederal/tabid/391/Default.aspx At-Large Senator Rachael Richards