The Wisconsin state Legislature made one of the first moves in the legislative process that could save students’ lives.
The Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges held a public hearing Wednesday to facilitate discussion and gauge how Madison residents feel about the Responsible Action Bill, which would protect drunk underage students calling emergency services. State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said the meeting was well rounded and there was little opposition to the bill.
The bill would grant immunity to students who contact emergency services for themselves or classmates in emergency situations involving underage drinking. Currently students are only granted immunity if they are on UW-Madison property. The bill expands protection to all UW System schools across Wisconsin.
UW-Madison junior Morgan Rae first approached Risser as a freshman and proposed the idea that students would be much more likely to seek medical assistance for their intoxicated underage friends if there were no consequences. Rae and Risser collaborated with the Senate’s drafting department and circulated the bill in June.
Madison’s senator referenced other bills circulating in the legislation saying if the legislature is reviewing “good samaritan bills” for other substances, including heroin, then there is no reason to not review and pass the Responsible Action Bill.
“The crux of the bill is health and safety of the citizens of our state,” Risser said.
Associated Students of Madison Chair David Gardner, who testified at the hearing, encouraged legislators to support the bill. Gardner said ASM endorsed the bill and has been working on the issue for the past three years.
Gardner added there was a lot of excitement and motivation to see the bill move out of committee and to the floor of the state Assembly and Senate.
“[The bill] goes right to the core of our responsibility to student safety,” Gardner said.
The bill received significant support through a survey ASM issued last year. According to Gardner the survey asked students how likely they would contact the authorities in the event of emergency involving underage drinking. In the survey, 89 percent of students indicated they would be more likely to call the authorities if they knew no one would get into trouble.
