Western Washington University

Legislative Affairs Council

October 28th, 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), Jasmine Balasa (GSAC), Nora Harren (REP Director), Collin Thrower (Student At-Large), Grace LaMonte (Student At-Large), Erin Kelly (Student At-Large), Kaitlyn Davidson (Student At-Large), Jose Ortuzar (ECC Representative), and Joselyn Chavez (ESC Director).
Secretary:	Sierra Templeton
Guest(s):

Motions:
LAC-19-F-5	To add a discussion item to talk about the forums. Passed.
LAC-19-F-6	To move this info item to an action item. Passed.
LAC-19-F-7	To approve the funding request for legislative outreach. Passed.
LAC-19-F-8	To approve the funding request for access to the Bellingham Herald. Passed.
LAC-19-F-9	To approve the ask as a priority on the LAC legislative agenda. Passed.
LAC-19-F-10	To approve the proposal to the LAC legislative agenda. Passed.

I.	Call to Order

Grace Drechsel, VP of Governmental Affairs, called the meeting to order at [insert time].

II.	Additions and Changes to the Agenda
MOTION LAC-19-F-5	by Massey-Helber
To add a discussion item to talk about the forums.
Second: Ballard	Action: Passed

III.	Approval of Minutes
A.	None

IV.	Information Items
A.	LAC Proposal- State Need Grant Funding (Massey-Helber) HB 2158 changed two main things; to fully fund college grants so that everyone who qualifies is able to get the support, and it expands the criteria for those who qualify. There was a hole in the legislature so funding fell short, but there was also supplementary money found in the budget that should more than cover this. Lobby for this would look like a bill to divert funding for this purpose. Grace notes that it is important to have a dedicated revenue, and that all asks need to make sure they know where the money is coming from so money isn’t diverted from causes we want to support. Bennett says he will address the problems with the cost and will try to have that information next meeting.
B.	LAC Proposal- Statewide Ban on Single Use Plastic Bags (Massey-Helber) SB 5323 and HB 1204 are supported with this proposal. The AS support the ban of single use plastic bags. Although bans like these cause a rise in trash bag sales, the overall use of plastic bags still falls by a noticeable amount. The US accounts for 34.5 million tons of plastic waste, this is a move towards diminishing that. Some areas in WA have already enforced this ban or ones like it. Thrower asked for a clarification on the type of bag being banned, which Massey-Helber stated was a trash bag ban only, not the plastic sandwich bags as well. Jose inquired about whether there would be a fee on paper bags, as this would make it less accessible to those who can’t buy or don’t have reusable bags. Massey clarified that there will be a fee, specified in the document to be no less than 10 cents per paper or alternative option. Balasas asked about whether it would be possible to see the percentage of counties with a bag ban, and if looking at the amount of people already living with this ban would be helpful in this proposal passing. Massey-Helber responded to say that this would be helpful as long as it is made clear what areas have bans that are total, and which ones have workarounds, and making sure that the population of people in these areas is correct. Drechsel asked about the overall effect on consumers, and Massey-Helber responded that he will try to figure out the effect on the consumer specifically accessibility. Kelly suggests the distribution of free reusable bags in Bellingham, as a local solution to this issue. Jose notes that he wants to make sure that this environmentalism isn’t performative because things like the straw ban have hurt the disabled community, and this is more specified rather than a larger single-use plastic ban. As a representative of the ECC he wants to make sure the larger carbon footprint is actually reduced.
C.	LAC Budget Request- Funding for Legislative Outreach (Drechsel) This is an ask for $16 for 30 posters from the publicity center to promote student response to the LAC survey.
MOTION LAC-19-F-6	by LaMonte
To move this info item to an action item.
Second: Massey-Helber	Action: Passed

V.	Action Items
A.	Funding Request- Bellingham Herald (Harren and DeMeerler) Harren stated than it is imperative for the Local Issues Coordinator to be able to access the local news. MOTION LAC-19-F-8 By Thrower To approve the funding request for access to the Bellingham Herald. Second: LaMonte Action: Passed
B.	LAC Proposal- K-12 Sex Ed (Massey-Helber) This is support for a mandated comprehensive education plan including concent and age-appropriate lessons targeting the skills for building healthy relationships for all public schools. It supports SB 5395 and HB 1407 Senator Emily Randall stated that she believed it will pass, and it seems to have a lot of traction this year. If the bill passes, it will go through an OSPI revision to create a curriculum. MOTION LAC-19-F-9 By Massey-Helber To approve the ask as a priority on the LAC legislative agenda. Second: Drechsel Action: Passed
C. D.	LAC Proposal- Support for Survivors (Massey-Helber) There are for asks in this proposal; to update the RCW to place emphasis on the accused rather than on the victim, resources for training, training for staff, faculty and students, and transparency and access to support for survivors. WSA has passed this proposal, it is a new version of HB 1002 MOTION LAC-19-F-10 By Massey-Helber To approve the proposal to the LAC legislative agenda. Second: LaMonte Action: Passed Funding Request- Legislative Outreach (Drechsel)
MOTION LAC-19-F-7	By Thrower
To approve the funding request for legislative outreach.
Second: LaMonte	Action: Passed

VI.	Discussion Items
A.	Student Legislative Priority Survey Work on the simplification of issues, ex: DACA support can go under Support for Undocumented Students. Need to keep things general for the larger student body Remove Western specific asks, to focus on asks that will affect all college students as a whole.
B.	Bellingham City Council and Mayor Candidate Forum Nora wants to mention that this event will be held this week, a Facebook Link will be sent to all committee member who wish to attend.
C.	LAC Proposals Drechsel wants to add that anyone can bring a LAC proposal to the table so that a wider range of proposals can be heard, and we have more items that Massey-Helber can lobby on. Drechsel will send out a template and she notes that she is always open to talk about ideas if a member is unsure of where to start. Bills don’t necessarily have to be written about the proposal for it to be useful.

VII.	Reports
Bennett, Director of Legislative Affairs, stated that he doesn’t have anything to report. Nicole, Organizing and Outreach Coordinator, stated that it is the last day to register to vote on campus, and that Democracy and Donuts will be held on November 5th in the MCC Community room. Grace, AS VP for Governmental Affairs, stated that she doesn’t have anything to report.
VIII.	Other Business
A.	None
IX.	Adjourn

Grace Drechsel, AS VP of Governmental Affairs, adjourned this meeting at 5:30 p.m.