In an effort to improve Department of Public Safety transparency, the GUSA Senate passed a resolution Sunday that aims to create a guide to DPS policy that would give students access to various public safety protocols.

Some of the proposals on the table include guidelines regarding entry to and searches of student residences, refusal of identification and conditions of arrest. The procedures would not only be written down, but also publicly available; with this measure the Georgetown University Student Association intends to clear up the facts about DPS’s jurisdiction.

The bill, proposed by Michael Barclay (COL ’12), GUSA senator, calls for DPS to institute a “transparent and accountable method” so that students can report violations of DPS protocol.

“This bill originated from the many calls from students unsure of their rights and confused about DPS’s jurisdiction on campus,” Barclay said. “A codified list of DPS policies would allow students to educate themselves about their rights and make for a [better]-informed student body as a whole.”

DPS is willing to engage GUSA in a conversation about the new bill, according to DPS’s Associate Director Joseph Smith.

“I have not yet seen the language of the bill just passed, but I have been in communication with Senator Barclay and will continue to work with him,” Smith said.

GUSA is currently working on updating a “Know Your Rights Pamphlet” to inform the student body on their rights and responsibilities as students in the District, according to GUSA Senator Josh Mogil (SFS ’11), which will complement the bill.

“When procedures and rights are not codified in an organized fashion, there is the potential for abuse. GUSA encourages DPS and other campus organizations to codify their policies to ensure that student rights are safeguarded,” Mogil added.

Smith stressed how much DPS values administrative protocol and legal jurisdictions.

“DPS greatly respects rule of law and due process, whether that is within the context of federal law, local statutes or university rules and regulations,” Smith said.

Student reaction around campus appeared to be in favor of the bill, but many remain curious about what the legislation actually entails.

“Yes and no,” Juman Khweis (SFS ’13) answered when asked if she supported the proposal. “I feel like with something like that it would depend on who is actually is going to read it. But it’s good for people to be aware of their rights. I don’t see any harm in that.”

Safety was not the only item on the agenda at Sunday’s meeting, however. GUSA also passed a second bill, called the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which caps GUSA’s annual budget at 15 percent of the total amount of funding allocated to campus organizations at the spring’s Budget Summit. During last spring’s Budget Summit, GUSA was allotted 7.8 percent of the total Student Activities Fee budget.

GUSA Finance and Appropriations Committee member Colton Malkerson (COL ’13) said that the bill is meant to showcase GUSA’s financial restraint. The measure comes at the heels of last semester’s student body referendum, which approved a gradual hike in the Student Activities Fee over two years.

“By approving SAFE Reform, the student body has given GUSA a great deal more responsibility,” Malkerson said. “It is important to demonstrate that with this increase of money, we will not spend it all on ourselves. Putting a cap on our own budget affirms our promise that SAFE Reform was about getting more money to student life rather than just GUSA.”

The bill also stipulates that the senate can only use Student Activities Fee money for official business that directly affects GUSA’s public initiatives. The money cannot be used to fund private GUSA dinners, food at meetings or other comfort expenses, according to Malkerson.

“[This part of the] bill reaffirms what is already in our bylaws about not spending money unless it has an effect on students. The intent of GUSA is to serve students, and I believe that this bill is a step in ensuring that,” said Fin/App Chair Greg Laverriere (COL ’12).

GUSA’s budget has been steadily rising, from $18,950 in the 2008-2009 academic year to $20,000 last year. The allocated budget this year is $28,000.