Legislative Platform

2. Legislative Platform HIGHER EDUCATION Affordability Safety Student Loans A platform consists of the positions that a party, candidate, or organization supports and or promotes as part of their mission.

3. Planks • Each individual issue that makes up the Legislative Platform is considered a plank. For instance; your platform is Higher Education but your planks can be; affordability, instate tuition, safety and so on as long as your plank is tied to Higher Ed. • Each Plank represents an area of support or concern by the members of FCSSGA. • In order for a plank to be “officially” support by FCSSGA, it must at some point have a bill tied to it. • For example, your issue might be affording college. Thus, affordability becomes one of the planks. Any bill created that deals with affordability will automatically fall under this plank and can quickly be moved forward for support consideration. • Only Sponsored Bills will be discussed with our State and Federal Representatives.

4. Planks Do not have too many planks as this will make you look unprofessional and disorganized.

5. How does the FCSSGA Legislative Platform work? • The Issues packet system is now converted to a permanent legislative platform. • Issues will be proposed by our FCSSGA members and approved by the State E-Board to be voted on at a later date. The issues will then become planks to be added or removed to the platform. • Platform will provide continuity from year to year and will offer a solid foundation for the legislative part of the association. • Federal issues are now included as part of the Platform.

6. What Happens Next? • Once the planks have been determined the Director of Legislative Staff (DLS)along with the FCSSGA President, will distribute a statement of position on what items the platform will support. • The Statement of Position will be distribute to member colleges. • In order for a plank to move forward it must be a current bill in the House or Senate. • The organization decides on if the bills qualify for their platform.

7. Why is This Important? • By having a platform, the students of the FCSSGA will be empowered to incorporate legislative issues year around instead of in the small window they currently work with. • There will be more substance to the legislative portion of our organization and it will provide year round education to our students in the legislative area.

8. Accepted Bills Accepted bills will be determined on the following criteria set forth by the FCSSGA Constitution: Must be a state or federal issue that effects the entire college system at a state/and or federal level. Or issues that effect Home Charter Rules

9. How to Submit.. • Go to www.FCSSGA.org • Submissions for the platform will open September 8th and close October 18th. • Start researching now, so you are prepared to submit. • Sample Submission Form found on next slide…

10. Submission Form • Does your submission effect the entire college system on a state and or federal level. Or effect home charter rules? • Has your submission been a prior House/Senate Bill on the State or Federal Level? • If yes please provide bill number/year/and any supporting documentation available. • Enter your submission to be consider for the FCSSGA Platform (attach pertinent documentation if applicable). • Are you willing to speak/work/address your submission if required? • Name/School/Campus

11. Thank You