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The University of California Office of the President released the second round of guideline drafts late Tuesday regarding university funding policies for student governments and organizations.

Acceptable use of mandatory student fees, student group referenda and student lobbying rights are just a few of the items covered in the guidelines.

The negotiations over the guidelines have been an ongoing process between the UC Student Association and UCOP.

Hanan Eisenman, a spokesman for UCOP, said he will comment on the draft after representatives from both parties meet in the coming weeks.

Of specific importance to some members of the UCLA Undergraduate Students Association Council is the section on student group funding by student governments.

Currently, USAC only provides funding for Officially Recognized Student Organizations – groups registered with the Center for Student Programming that are not political or religious in nature.

In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled student governments could not allocate funds based on the viewpoint of the recipients. UCOP has been in the process of updating its guidelines since the ruling.

The second draft is updated in compliance with the Court’s ruling, mandating student governments must allocate funds on a viewpoint- neutral basis.

Discussion over changing USAC’s bylaws for student group funding was tabled at the Oct. 21 general meeting when General Representative Josh Lawson proposed extending funding to all groups registered with CSP. Discussion was tabled pending the release of the second draft of the UCOP guidelines.

Matt Kaczmarek, USAC external vice president and UCSA chairman, said USAC is not in violation of the Court’s decision because its bylaws state that funds are allocated on a viewpoint-neutral basis. But only ORSO’s are funded on a viewpoint neutral basis. Kaczmarek is also the chief negotiator between the University of California Students Association and UCOP.

Lawson said he is planning on reintroducing the proposal because he believes viewpoint neutrality means opening up the process to all student groups, regardless of their political or religious affiliations.

A big issue with previous drafts of the guidelines was the financial support of student governments for off-campus organizations, like the nationwide lobbying organization United States Student Association. USAC currently contributes membership fees to USSA.

Members of UCSA objected to previous guideline drafts which did not allow student governments to use mandatory student fees in supporting off-campus organizations.

The second draft, in addition to permitting student governments to join off-campus organizations at a basic membership level, will give the option of additional funding as long as it can be justified to the chancellor as providing a direct educational benefit to UC students.

Kaczmarek said UCSA will most likely push for membership beyond the basic level for the final version of the guidelines.

Once members of the UCSA send their final comments back to UCOP and negotiations are made, revisions will be made to the final version, which is expected to be released by the end of the academic year.

Members of UCSA will meet this weekend to prepare their comments for the final draft, Kaczmarek said.