The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee is in the process of lobbying support for a bill that would protect students from punishment for underage drinking when calling police to help in an emergency.
The Responsible Action Bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Fred Risser, would prohibit Wisconsin police from penalizing intoxicated students who report a crime or seek medical assistance for themselves or another individual, as long as the student cooperates with law enforcement.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison already has a Responsible Action Policy that protects underage students in the same scenarios from disciplinary action from the UW Police. However, the policy does not apply to discipline from the City of Madison Police.
The committee is currently trying to garner support of legislators, groups and coalitions that may be interested in supporting the bill. The bill will be voted on in the Senate sometime after the session resumes in January, and then will pass to the State Assembly before arriving at Gov. Scott Walker’s office.
Legislative Affairs Committee Vice Chair Morgan Rae, who is spearheading the initiative, said the bill would help prevent alcohol poisoning by making students less hesitant to contact authorities in emergency situations involving alcohol consumption.
“It’s a huge student safety issue,” Rae said. “If this bill can save lives, it would be great.”
The committee also discussed starting an initiative to encourage downtown establishments to have more entertainment options for students 18 and older, which members believe may discourage the use of fake IDs.
The committee plans to send an email to students asking if they Madison offers sufficient activities for 18+ crowds, as well as questions about fake ID use.
The results may be presented to entertainment venues to promote more 18+ activities.
