Soar Draft Bill

[DISCUSSION DRAFT]

76TH SESSION 2008–2009

S. B. 76-__

To establish a temporary program within the Department of Clubs and Organizations to provide academic tutoring to students.

IN THE SENATE OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS ________________, 2008 Mr. [PRIMARY SPONSOR] introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on ___________________________________

A BILL To establish a temporary program within the Department of Clubs and Organizations to provide academic tutoring to students. 1 2 3

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Associated Students, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ―Student Organizations

4 as Academic Resources (SOAR) Act‖. 5 6

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Senate makes the following findings:

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(1) With the impending closure of the Academic

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Skills Center, and the imposition of fees to offset im-

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pacts due to the current statewide budget crisis, it is

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necessary and desirable to assist in providing services

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for academic tutoring for those with a financial hard-

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ship.

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(2) The membership academic and professional

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clubs and organizations have particular skills and ex-

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pertise, and the membership can put their collective

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and individual skills to good use by tutoring their

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peers.

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(3) Such clubs and organizations have indicated

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an interest in volunteering membership hours to pro-

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vide academic tutoring for students.

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(4) It is in the interest of the Associated Stu-

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dents to establish a program whereby students can vo-

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lunteer tutoring services facilitated through the

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Associated Students.

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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

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In this Act: (1) The term ―Department‖ means the Depart-

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ment of Clubs and Organizations. (2) The term ―Director‖ means the Director of

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Clubs and Organizations.

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SEC. 4. STUDENT

AS

ACADEMIC

RE-

SOURCES PROGRAM.

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ORGANIZATIONS

(a) AUTHORITY.—The Director, in cooperation with

4 the University Academic Skills Center, or its successor or 5 assign, may establish and carry out an academic tutoring 6 program for undergraduate students at the University. 7

(b) DESIGNATION.—The academic tutoring program

8 carried out under this section shall be known as the ―Stu9 dent Organizations as Academic Resources (SOAR) Pro10 gram‖. 11

(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the academic tutoring

12 program is to provide a temporary substitute or supple13 ment to the University’s academic tutoring program for 14 students with financial hardships. 15

(d) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.—Only students unable

16 to pay the fees associated with the University’s academic 17 tutoring program are eligible to participate in the academic 18 tutoring program established under this section. 19

(e) TUTOR EDUCATION.—In carrying out the academ-

20 ic tutoring program under this section, the Director shall 21 provide for mandatory training for appropriate volunteers 22 who will serve as tutors. This training shall cover informa23 tion appropriate to the duties being performed by such 24 volunteers.

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SEC. 5. TUTORS.

(a) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director shall establish

3 regulations governing the qualifications tutors must pos4 sess in order to be eligible to participate in the academic 5 tutoring program established under section 4. Such regula6 tions must— 7

(1) be equivalent to the minimum qualifications

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required of tutors under the University tutoring pro-

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gram; and

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(2) include a requirement that tutors is a mem-

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ber in good standing of an academic or professional

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club or organization relevant to the subject matter the

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tutor will provide assistance.

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(b) COMPENSATION.—Tutors are not entitled to com-

15 pensation. 16

(c) STATUS WITHIN GOVERNMENT.—Tutors providing

17 services to the program established under section 4 are 18 volunteers and are not officers of the Associated Students. 19 20

SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS.

(a) REGULATIONS.—The Director shall develop and

21 promulgate regulations defining inability to pay fees as 22 referenced in section 4(d). Such regulations shall— (1) provide clear guidance on what constitutes an

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inability to pay; and

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5 (2) define an income level below which there is a

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presumption of inability to pay.

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(b) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Director shall provide a

4 mechanism by which members of the Associated Students 5 may provide feedback regarding what constitutes an inabil6 ity to pay. The public comment period shall extend for a 7 minimum of 2 weeks. 8

(c) PUBLICATION.—The Director shall cause regula-

9 tions promulgated under this section to be published. 10 11

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) DESIGNATION

OF

ADMINISTRATOR.—The Director

12 may designate a Clubs Commissioner as the administrator 13 of the program established under section 4. 14

(b) COMPENSATION.—The administrator is not en-

15 titled to additional compensation. 16 17

SEC. 8. PRIORITY OF TUTORING SERVICES.

Priority must be given to courses that are part of the

18 University Core Curriculum for the academic tutoring 19 program established under section 4. Only once sufficient 20 resources are available to cover core courses may tutoring 21 be offered for additional courses. 22 23

SEC. 9. REPORT TO THE SENATE.

The Director shall submit to the Committee on Aca-

24 demics of the Senate a report on the SOAR Program

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6 1 established under this Act within six months of the imple2 mentation of the program. The report shall include— (1) information on the implementation of the

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Program; (2) the number of participants, both tutors and

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students, during such year; (3) the number of tutoring hours provided under

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the Program; and

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(4) recommendations for further legislation or

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administrative action that the Director considers ap-

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propriate to improve academic tutoring services facili-

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tated through the Department.

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SEC. 10. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

It is the sense of the Senate that—

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(1) while it is commendable the Director specifi-

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cally, and the Executive Branch generally, moved to

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provide a response to budget cuts to the University

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Academic Skills Center, the implementation of Associ-

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ation programs or activities without authorizing legis-

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lation, and the expenditure of funds from the Treasury

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without authorization and appropriation in law, is

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outside the proper legal and constitutional process for

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the Associated Students; and

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(2) the Executive shall work cooperatively with

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the Senate to enact legislation authorizing programs

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and activities desired to be established.

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SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated for the De-

6 partment for fiscal year 2009 such sums as may be neces7 sary to carry out the academic tutoring program 8 authorized by this Act. 9 10

SEC. 12. SUNSET.

If, at any time before April 13, 2009, the University

11 ceases to charge fees for the use of its tutoring program, 12 the provisions of this Act shall cease to have effect 30 days 13 from the date the University ceases to charge fees. Other14 wise, this Act shall cease to have effect on May 13, 2009.

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