Students are continuing to push the Wisconsin State Legislature to introduce a policy that would protect students from punishment for underage drinking when calling police for help in certain emergency situations, according to ASM Press Office Director David Gardner.
The circumstances include students who witness a violent crime, call for help in an emergency or call in need of their own medical assistance when under the influence of alcohol.
The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee spearheaded the campaign, called the Responsible Action Campaign, this past fall.
Gardner said ASM Legislative Affairs Vice Chair Morgan Rae has been leading the lobbying effort and working with state Sen. Fred Risser’s, D-Madison, office on drafting legislation.
Gardner said after development, the bill will be passed around for possible cosponsorships in the next two weeks before being introduced in the Senate.
“At that point we will meet with several legislators and express our opinion and the importance of this bill to the student body and advocate for the students,” Gardner said.
According to Gardner, ASM took on the campaign after campus surveys showed students would be much more likely to call for help when consequences don’t include problems with the law.
“The most important thing to us and to our students is the safety of our student body and this legislation will allow us to put that priority first,” Gardner said.
