1. Student Senate PM

2. Agenda Roll Call, Approve Minutes/Agenda
Government Relations Update from the Director of Government Relations
Introduction of SB5 Academic Freedom Working Group
Vote on Updated SA Budget
Vote on RVP Leadership Change
Updates from Blanket Tax Committee
Update on Funding for Student Leadership Positions
Diversity in SA Leadership Positions
Announcements
“It’s an SApalooza!”- Feb. 6th at 8 PM
Health Professions Task Force Committee

3. Texas Student Government Coalition
Legislative Agenda

4. Tax-free textbooks (H.B. 242)
-What?
→ Creates two exemption periods (7 consecutive days in August and January) for Texas public and private university students to buy books for “educational, instructional, pedagogical” purposes
-Why?
→ Students spend an average of $893 a year for textbooks, and textbook prices have risen 186% since 1986
→ Other states already have tax-exempt textbooks
Hernandez and Thierry
Amending State tax code
Takes effect in July or October, depending on votes

5. Good Samaritan policy (H.B. 73)
What?
→ Expands current medical amnesty laws to include “small amounts of controlled substances” & other prohibited drugs
Why?
→ Students who may need medical assistance from using illegal drugs are afraid to call for medical attention because they are afraid of the legal consequences.
Guillen
Takes effect in September

6. Sexual assault reform (H.B. 355)
What?
→ a registered sex offender may not reside on the campus of a public or private university
Why?
→ increasing protections for students in the close quarters of a college campus
TSCG also advocates for greater accessibility of rape kits (schools are not currently required to provide them).
Raney
Basically amending Criminal Procedure code

7. Electronic voting registration (H.B. 143)
(not officially on the agenda yet)
What?
→ A person may complete a voter registration application on the official state website (program created by Texas Sec State)
Why?
→ Increase ease of voting registration
Israel

8. Low Income Leadership Inclusion Initiative
Primary goal: Increase accessibility to Leadership Positions
Data pointed us towards work study
Fights disadvantage of people who cannot give away their time for free

9. Problems Shift in point of reference over time
It’s dangerous to shift away from our culture of pursuit of experience
Not everyone wants to run
We are deciding for them what resources they will get

10. Resolution Part of a much larger problem
Issue of giving low income students Rice resources that they can spend on
their educational experiences
Fix
Leebron’s proposal
College based solutions

11. Diversity in SA Elections
Plan
Sonal and James to attend multicultural council meeting to describe elections and encourage presidents to reach out prospective members
Contact Questbridge, SSI, Generation College to direct source names of good candidates
Coffeehouse Office Hours for Elections Questions (NSR’s)
Reach out to Presidents/Senators/O-Week Coordinators for names of people to encourage to run (sourcing at college level)
Ideas?
Vision and Mission of SA Exec team this year is to increase diversity on campus, and to make sure each individual, not matter what socieconomic class, culture, sexuality, etc. feels safe on campus. Especially important in this time period we are in