Senate Committees

Senate Committees are where the work gets done! Senate is organized in 5 standing committees, 2 time-sensitive committees (Sweepings/Central Reserves), and ad hoc committees as decided by the Student Senate President. Committees meet weekly prior to Senate to discuss legislation, vote on referred bills or resolutions, interview candidates forwarded to the Senate, and engage in the work of the Student Senate. Meeting time, place, location, and agenda must be advertised at least 24 hours in advance (but should be posted and advertised at the previous Senate meeting), and should take place at the same day and time each week for consistency. Senate Committee Reports must be emailed directly following the meeting to be posted online for the Student Senate to review. Chapter 411 of Student Body Statutes outlines Senator’s Committee Rights, including submitting committee preferences, requests to be moved to a diff erent committee, excused absences and removal processes, and additional responsibilities.

Budget The Budget Committee is responsible for discussing legislation related to SGA allocated Activity & Service (A&S) fees. This includes the annual budget, budget transfers for SGA entities, Senate Projects, and overall understanding of the SGA Budget. The Budget Committee may host workshops and meetings with A&S funded entities to learn and share more about how all Florida State students benefi t from allocated funds. Review Chapters 411, 416, 418; and Chapter 800: Finance Code for more information.

Finance The Finance Committee focuses on Finance Code and ensuring student organizations are utilizing their funds in the best interest of the Student Body. All fiscal matters (Statutes, Chapter 800) and PAC and RTAC funding requests and allocations are discussed in Finance. Review Chapters 600 and 800 for more information.

QUORUM

Attendance at committee meetings is important, because there must be a quorum present to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. Rules 5.7 outlines Quorum as more than half of all voting committee members!

Judiciary The Judiciary Committee focuses on legislation pertaining to SGA policies, including any legislation amending the Student Body Constitution or Student Statutes. They are also responsible for interviewing candidates the Judiciary Branch, assisting the Supervisor of Elections with the Election Code certifi cation, and enacting the Investigative Rights of the Student and impeachment proceedings. Judiciary members should be well versed in the Student Body Statutes, including details, grammar, cross-references, and review of all components of the document.

Internal Aff airs The Internal Aff airs committee interviews forwarded candidates for the SGA Executive Branch, including Agencies, Bureaus, and Affi liated Projects. They also review the SGA Application, internal proceedings and trainings of the Student Senate, and the Bureau Review process. Review Chapters 307, 703, and 900 for more information.

Student Life & Academic Aff airs SLAA is interested in the needs of the student body and the quality of student life at FSU. This is a proactive and creative committee that considers allocations from Senate Projects, compiles Senate liaison reports, and connects with student aff airs and academic aff airs pertaining to issues facing current students. SLAA is also instrumental in the process for FSU Student Senate Award for Excellence and coordinating the annual Campus Safety Tour with numerous campus partners. Review Chapters 413, 418, and 1100 for more information.

Rules & Calendar Chairs of all committees and funding boards comprise the Rules & Calendar Committee, which approves Senators requests for leaves of absences, deals with resolutions that changes the Rules of Procedure and resolutions that commend an individual. Members of this committee also interview applicants that are forwarded to the Senate for Senate seats, and serve as the leadership team to support the growth and development of all Senators. Rules & Calendar members should be well versed in all the legislation being heard in committees and are the stewards of the Student Senate Rules of Procedure.

Sweepings/Central Reserves Committees Sweepings and Central Reserves Committees are special standing committees that exist only when there is a need to allocate Sweepings (previously allocated but unspent funds) or Central Reserves (unallocated funds from previous fi scal year) to requesting organizations or departments. 2 members of Budget, Finance, Judiciary, Student Life & Academic Aff airs, and Internal Aff airs comprise the membership of the committee, which elects its own Chair and Vice Chair. Review Chapter 412, 416, and 803 for more information.

Program Allocations Committee PAC is a funding board of the Student Senate. Chaired by an elected Senator, the committee is comprised of members of the Union Board, SOAR Board, and general students interested in student organizations and funding. The group meets at the beginning of each week in the fall and spring semesters to review requests from RSOs for funding for programming, events, and promotional items. Decisions of PAC are forwarded to the Finance Committee via Consent Resolution, which is then approved or objected to on the Senate fl oor. Review Student Statutes Chapter 807 for more information.

Resources for Travel Allocations Committee RTAC is a funding board of the Student Senate. Chaired by an elected Senator, the committee is comprised of members of the Union Board, SOAR Board, and general students interested in student organizations and funding. The group meets at the beginning of each week in the fall and spring semesters to review requests from RSOs for funding for group travel and competitions, including conference registration, rental cars, and reimbursement for lodging, airfare, and mileage. Decisions of RTAC are forwarded to the Finance Committee via Consent Resolution, which is then approved or objected to on the Senate fl oor. Review Student Statutes Chapter 807 for more information.

College Leadership Council Funding Committee CLCs receive a block amount of funding in the Student Senate Budget, which is allocated in the Spring semester for the upcoming fi scal year. The Student Body Treasurer chairs the committee, with 2 senators serving on the committee. The CLC Committee makes a recommendation to Senate for the fund distribution via a resolution submitted by the Senators serving on the committee, to be reviewed by the Budget Committee and approved on the Senate fl oor by a 2/3 vote. Review Student Statutes Chapter 621 for more information.

Student Academic Programs Funding Committee SAPs receive a block amount of funding in the Student Senate Budget, which is allocated in the Spring semester for the upcoming fi scal year. The Student Body Treasurer chairs the committee, with 2 senators serving on the committee. The SAP Committee makes a recommendation to Senate for the fund distribution via a resolution submitted by the Senators serving on the committee, to be reviewed by the Budget Committee and approved on the Senate fl oor by a 2/3 vote. Review Student Statutes Chapter 614 for more information.

Homecoming Planning Commission Homecoming receives a block amount of funding in the Student Senate Budget, which is allocated in the Spring semester for the upcoming fi scal year. The Senate Pro-Tempore Chairs the committee, with the Senate President also serving. Review Student Statutes Chapter 616 for more information.