Student Senate met Wednesday, passing its first bill of the academic year along with several resolutions to expand Senate by adding members.
The bill Senate passed was to support the city’s appeal of the Aug. 28 court decision, which ruled Athens’ plastic bag ban unconstitutional.
The bill to support the appeal was presented to Senate by the Governmental Affairs Commission. The bill's sponsors included Governmental Affairs Commissioner Donald Theisen alongside senators Jayson Smith, Jack Meermans and primary sponsor Mark Vitelli.
After members of Senate amended several grammatical errors, City Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4 ward, was invited to answer questions.
One question presented by Senator for Accessibility and Accommodation within the Minority Affairs Commission Rees Morris concerned whether plastic bags were banned because they were non-recyclable or just generally banned.
Swank then updated the Senate on the initial cause of the city's plastic bag ban, saying that students can use backpacks and need to rely as much on reusable bags as possible.
“I look around at students, and many of you carry backpacks,” Swank said. “Just throw what you buy, after you pay for it, in your backpack. If there is too much, take a reusable bag.”
Following Swanks' informational speech, the bill was little discussed before it was put to a vote and passed.
Senate also passed two procedural resolutions, which would set a timeline for filing for impeachment and require associate justices to work a minimum number of office hours.
Grace Jarchow, chief justice on Senate’s judicial panel, was the secondary sponsor for the resolution. She said she supported the bill because adding a timeline would make the impeachment process more efficient for defendants and the judicial panel.
“I'm sure everyone understands how valuable time is,” Jarchow said. “As relevant to this legislation and the troubles (the judicial panel) and Senate have encountered in the past, adding a timeline to the process of filing for appeal of impeachment is crucial to the efficiency of (the judicial panel).”
With this, Senate also passed a resolution requiring associate justices within the judicial panel to complete a minimum of two office hours per week.
Other legislation passed by Senate added one new member and appointed current members to additional positions.
Abbey Constantine was a member of Senate last year and was appointed to the position of Women’s Affairs Vice Commissioner of Programming.
“Last year, Abbey distinguished herself as a leader and advocate and an invaluable member of this body,” Johnny Susany, Senate treasurer, said. “I’m excited to see all the great things she'll accomplish again this year as Vice Commissioner.”
Other Senate positions filled included chairperson of the budget committee, appointed to Colton Gibbs-Dunlap, who reclaimed his position from last year.
Current Academic Affairs Commissioner Maggie Giansante and Governmental Affairs Commissioner Donald Theisen also filled two member positions within the budget committee.
The resolution that Senate tabled last week was not voted on but referred to the Rules and Procedures Commission for further revision.
