Summer Recap Part 1: Boca House Legislation

The summer semester has come to an end, and so have the Boca House’s summer meetings. Here’s a look back at legislation the House voted on.

Number:  BRHB-11-19
Name: Supporting the College Reach-Out Program
What it does: Gives $10,405.49 to FAU’s College Reach-Out Program (CROP), which is state funded. Both CROP pages say the program is meant to motivate and help students in grades 6-12 get into college.
Last action taken: Tabled indefinitely.
Date of last action: 06.16.2011

Number: BRHB-11-23
Name: SEEDS Nature Trail Through the FAU Preserve
What it does: Spends $15,562.15 building a “nature trail” through the nature preserve for SEEDS@FAU. According to SEEDS@FAU VP Joshua Scholl, the trail is meant to educate people about the preserve, which is north of the Boca campus’ Lee street.
Last action taken: Signed by the VP of Student Affairs
Date of last action: 06.06.2011

Number: BRHB-11-24
Name: Give Students a Voice on Traffic and Parking Citations
What it does: Puts two yes/no questions on the Boca campus’ fall ballot:

1. Do you support the lowering of parking citation fines?
2. Do you support a warning system for parking citations in which a first violation would be cited without any fee charge?

The House will give the results to Traffic and Parking for them to consider.
Last action taken: Presidential veto overridden
Date of last action: 08.05.2011

Number: BRHB-11-25
Name: Give Students a Voice on Course Registration
What it does: Adds the following yes/no question to the Boca campus’ fall ballot:

Do you support the technology fee being used to improve servers for class registration?

The House will give the results to the technology fee committee. Undergrads will pay $5.16 per credit hour for the fee this fall.
Last action taken: Presidential veto overridden
Date of last action: 08.05.2011

Number: BRHB-11-26
Name: Give Students a Voice on Regulation 5.010
What it does: Adds the following yes/no question to the Boca campus’ fall ballot:

Do you support changing FAU’s Policy on Anti-Discrimination and Harassment to include sexual orientation as a protected class along with race, religion, and gender?

The House will take the results to the office of the University President and the Board of Trustees.
Last action taken: Presidential veto overridden
Date of last action: 08.05.2011 

Number: BRHB-11-28
Name: Give Students a Voice on Sensible Cannabis Policies
What it does: Puts two yes/no questions on the Boca campus’ fall ballot:

1. Do you agree that the sanctions imposed by Florida Atlantic University for the use and possession of marijuana should be no greater than the sanctions imposed for the use and possession of alcohol?
2. Should students face immediate suspension or removal from student housing for the use and possession of up to twenty grams of marijuana?

The House will take the results to the office of the University President and the Board of Trustees.
Last action taken: Signed by VPSA
Date of last action: 08.08.2011

Number: BRHB-11-29
Name: New Ping pong Equipment for the Student Union
What it does: Spends $130 on new ping-pong paddles and ping-pong balls
Last action taken: Sent to all committees
Date of last action: 08.05.2011

Number: BRHR-11-12
Name: Sensible Cannabis Policies
What it does: States that FAU’s punishment for possessing marijuana should be no greater than its punishment for using and possessing alcohol. Also, students shouldn’t be suspended or kicked out of campus housing for possessing up to twenty grams of marijuana
Last action taken: Signed by the President
Date of last action: 08.04.2011

This covers all but one piece of legislation: BRHB-11-27. As soon as I get the full text and status of that bill, I’ll update this list.