Western Washington University Legislative Affairs Council
LAC Committee Meeting Minutes
October 14th, 2019
VU 565

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), Phoebe DeMeerler (Local Issues Coordinator), Jasmine Balasa (GSAC), Kayl Gillihan (Outreach and Representation), and Connor Farrand.
Secretary:	Sierra Templeton
Guest(s):	N/A

Motions:
ASB-19-W-	N/A

I.	Call to Order
Grace Drechsel, LAC Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.
II.	Additions and Changes to the Agenda
None

III.	Approval of Minutes
None
IV.	Discussion Items

LAC Overview and Onboarding

Encourage civic engagement and student participation in the political process

Voter registration drive

Call senators and representatives

Support representation and engagement process

Present at Lobby Day

Brainstorm student engagement ideas

Support political events on campus (speakers, etc.)

Encourage city/council attendance

Propose legislative agendas to AS Executive Board

Local Lobby Day Agenda

WWU (Viking) Lobby Day Agenda

Federal Lobby Day Agenda

Submit recommendations to the WSA

Washington Student Association: non-profit that connects 4-yr public institutions in WA for cohesive legislative agenda

WSA has legislative agenda that is voted on by all members

October 12th-13th WSA General Assembly at WWU discussed: Tribal youth suicide prevention, Columbus Day changed to Indigenous People’s Day, Funding for 21-58, Support for survivors of sexual assault, Fee-waiver access, veteran centers funding, mental health centers funding, K-12 sexual health and consent training

Establish contact with elected officials

WWU

Local

Federal

LAC Director of Legislative Affairs will be living Spring Quarter in Olympia for outreach

Call/write senators and representatives

Formulate policy positions for the AS

Review funding request proposals, financial decisions, & student funds paid to LAF

Legislative Affairs Fund- $1 per quarter per student

Around $45,000 per year

Approve budget fir LAF to represent students locally and statewide

Around $15,000 dues to WSA

Federal Lobby Day (D.C.)

Encourage civic engagement (state candidate, and local issues forums)

Membership

Voting:

AS VP for Governmental Affairs or designee (Chair)

As Legislative Coordinator

AS Local Coordinator

AS REP Organizing and Outreach Coordinator

6-8 Students At-Large

1 Graduate Student of Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) Representative

1 ESC Representative (appointed by ESC Presidents Council)

1 ESP Representative (appointed by the ESP Director)

SAIRC Representative

Non-Voting:

Secretary

Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Director of Viking Union Facilities or designee (Advisor)

Basics of Robert’s Rules

Agenda adoption

Creation of motions

Use this frame, but can be inaccessible so more relaxed

Questions or clarifications

N/A

Committee Agreements

AS VP of Governmental Affairs- Conversations about power and privilege

Kayl- Honesty and communication

Grace- Step back for other’s voices, be mindful

Bennett- All documents published and accessible

AS VP for Governmental Affairs- Bringing questions and concerns to the table

Additions and Changes to the Agenda

N/A

Charge and Charter

Located on the AS Website under Committees and then AS LAC

Currently expired, will be updated on Friday at the AS Executive Board Meeting

Past ASWWU Legislative Agendas

All documents are under the committee website

Start with paragraph proposals

6-8 are chosen for Lobby Day

Legislative Agenda draft is formed

Blank LAC Proposal Form

Issues for consideration should be roughly 600 words

Presenter, endorsers, impact, background information, target, student engagement

Example form review: sexual assault survivor support

Limit the number of asks to support a focused goal

We’re on a biannual funding schedule on a supplementary year

Not as many big funding items pass, but can be submitted for consideration in the following year

V.	Reports

Local Issues Coordinator (Phoebe)

County and City Council Meetings

Unity village contract trying to be renewed

Making Bellingham denser instead of bigger

Trans-mountain pipeline

Concerns about access to mental health care

October 29th-30th are the forums for city and county candidates

Director of Legislative Affairs (Bennett)

Chair of Senate of Higher Education Committee talked to students about issues they face

Bellingham representative coming to campus to talk to students

After the town hall, there will be a smaller meeting of student leaders to voice specific asks

VU 565 this Saturday from 1:00-2:30. Smaller meeting will be from 2:45-

Representative specializes in environmental and Native rights

Organizing and Outreach Coordinator (Nicole)

Voter Registration

Ballots mailing around the 18th

Phone banking

Democracy and donuts- will be a box for ballots to be delivered

AS VP for Governmental Affairs (Grace)

WSA General Assembly

LAC agenda proposal passed

AS President (Lani Defiesta) and Grace wrote to the Washington State Office of Public Institute for comprehensive K-12 sex education

VI.	Other Business

Potential Time Change

Next week’s meeting will be from 4:30-6:00 next Monday in the VU 565

Grace Drechsel, AS VP of Governmental Affairs, adjourned this meeting at 5:33 p.m.