Western Washington University

Legislative Affairs Council

October 21st, 2019	VU 567

Board Members:	Present: Grace Drechsel (VP for Governmental Affairs), Nicole Ballard (Organizing and Outreach Coordinator), Bennett Massey-Helber (Director of Legislative Affairs), Grace LaMonte (Student At-Large), Erin Kelley (Student At-Large, Grace LaMonte (Student At-Large), Collin Thrower (Student At-Large), Jose Ortuzar (ESP Representative), Joselyn Chavez (ESC Representative), Kaitlyn Davidson (Student At-Large), Phoebe DeMeerler (Local Issues Coordinator), Jasmine Balasa (GSAC), and Kayl Gillihan (Outreach and Representation).
Secretary:	Sierra Templeton
Guest(s):

Motions:
LAC-19-F-1	To move the funding request to the first two information items, before the proposal. Passed
LAC-19-F-2	To move the funding request for the Bellingham Herald request to be moved to an action item. Passed
LAC-19-F-3	To pass the funding request before the local candidate forum. Passed
LAC-19-F-4	To appoint Kayl Gillihan as the new LAC VP. Passed

I.	Call to Order

Grace Drechsel, VP of Governmental Affairs, called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.

II.	Additions and Changes to the Agenda
MOTION LAC-19-F-1	by Grace Drechsel
To move the funding request to the first two information items, before the proposal.
Second: Kayl Gillihan	Action: Passed

III.	Approval of Minutes
None

IV.	Information Items

A.	Funding Request- ASL Interpreter for Local Issues Forums (Harren and DeMeerler) Specific request for an ASL interpreter $900 dollar expense for both night- $450 each night Kayl suggests DAC laptops for transcription accessibility for hearing Harren will look up the cost of transcription and add it to the item the next week Pheobe said that there was a specific interpreter requested, may not work at the DAC, but if they do, will be requested. Will stay in contact about the transcription with Grace

B.	Funding Request- Bellingham Herald (Harren and DeMeerler) Phoebe states that it’s important in her position to keep updated with news, and she’s unable to at the moment because of the paywall Harren agrees
MOTION LAC-19-F-2	by Kayl Gillihan
To move the funding request for the Bellingham Herald request to be moved to an action item.
Second: Nicole Ballard	Action: Passed
C.	LAC Proposal- K-12 Sex Education (Massey-Helber) Was on last year’s LAC agenda, supported by the senators and house members 11.2% of college students experience sexual assault, but only 10% of these people report it according to RAINN There is a need for education in higher education, but also educating children with knowledge of healthy relationships These asks are taken from Senate bill 355, and House bill 14-07, amendments to the healthy youth act Establishes standards for youth sexual assault mandated in public K-12 schools Mandating consent education, comprehensively, and wholly Hopefully this will pass in the Senate this year, perhaps going into effect September 1st 2020 or 2021 Would give Massey-Helber permission to lobby for it in Olympia, and would be in consideration focused on for Lobby Day
D.	LAC Proposal- Support for Survivors (Massey-Helber) Specific for college campuses, and even more so to Western Washington University Can do more to help the bill, support House Bill 10-02 Change the definition of rape so that simply lack of consent can be under this umbrella Grace notes that this will eliminate a barrier to reporting assault Allocating resources to personnel, state-wide training for staff and training, spreading awareness of resources for survivors Parts 1-3 are achievable this year, but numbers 4-5 are more of an ask to bring awareness, may have to wait until the Title IX final guidance is released All are separate bills, 10-02 will hopefully come back and pass All are one ask Will more on to be an action item next week

V. A.	Action Items Funding Request- Bellingham Herald (Harren and Demeeler)
MOTION LAC-19-F-3	by Jasmine Balasa
To pass the funding request before the local candidate forum.
Second: Nicole Ballard	Action: Passed
VI.	Discussion Items
A.	Outreach for Student Legislative Priorities First thing is to create a list of priorities to create an agenda. Everyone bring back a couple ideas for the committee for items students may want to focus on, google doc will be created. Overall goal is to do outreach to the student population to find out their priorities. Create a survey/google survey with student name, W#, and options. $50 gift card raffle if survey is completed as an incentive perhaps. Create posters to put around campus with a QR code link to the survey Talk to people, spread the word out to different circles, post on AS social media Goal to have the agenda approved before winter break so the survey should go out in early November. Add free response option as well Combine both surveys intone so the LAC email opportunity can be utilized.

V.	Reports
Phoebe, Local Issues Coordinator stated that she went to the mayor’s advisory council where they focused on the Parks and Rec reevaluation. They want to shift focus to equity and socioeconmomics, prioritizing repairs for areas that are higher in poverty and have a higher amount of people in the park. They have a goal to have a park every half mile in the city. They also discussed the finding of more white supremacist (patriot front) stickers in the town. Neighborhoods are concerned about the homeless problem, primarily citizens concerned about their own safety rather than thinking of it as a housing issue. There is blame on Western University because of the lack of student housing which causes less housing for the rest of the city, and higher renting prices. At the city council hearing, they passed legislation making it easier for temporary winter shelters to be established because of less review processes. The council is also focusing on trying to make the city denser rather than wider. In local issues, university students brought up that there are issues with housing as well as access to mental health care in college, due to health insurance limits and the ineffective counseling center. City and county forums will be held on the 29th and 30th. Bennett, Director of Legislative Affairs, stated that there will be a town hall with a student-led round table including Debra Lakanoff which is a good opportunity to bring documents to her as she has a good critical eye for changes to make sure the LAC’s asks are passed. There will be a luncheon with Senator Mark Lee the following week, as well as more legislators coming to campus in the library soon. Nicole, Organizing and Outreach Coordinator, stated that voter registration is still happening, and is available in the VU until the 28th. Democracy and donuts will be hosted on the 5th of November in the common area of the Multicultural center. There will be voting information guides, envelopes, as well as donuts and coffee. Grace, AS VP for Governmental Affairs, stated that the hotels have been confirmed for both lobby days at the Governor’s Hotel, and she is working on getting buses for the event. Grace noted the Debra Lakanoff meeting again. She stated that candidate forums are the week of October 21st-25th, and all students will be able to vote for two candidates from the college you belkong to, as well as two running for the At-Large position.
VI.	Other Business
A.	Vice Chair of the LAC A Vice Chair should be appointed so that in the case of any absence of the AS VP of Governmental Affairs, there will be an individual present to run the meeting.

MOTION LAC-19-F-4	by Nicole Ballard
To appoint Kayl Gillihan as the new LAC VP.
Second: Grace Lamonte	Action: Passed

Grace Drechsel, AS VP of Governmental Affairs, adjourned this meeting at 5:08 p.m.