New board member Joshua Wood is sponsoring nearly half of the legislation being decided upon at this week’s Associated Students Inc. meeting.

Eight of the 17 articles of new business on ASI’s agenda have been sponsored or co-sponsored by Wood, who is currently pushing a resolution titled the “Student Health Insurance Plan.”

If the resolution is approved, coverage for Sac State students would begin in spring 2005 and provide comprehensive, year-round, health insurance valid anywhere in the world for $286.99 per semester, according to the legislation.

Of that fee, $280 would pay for individual costs for the plan, $5 for Health Center improvements and $1.99 to cover ASI’s administrative costs for the implementation.

If the referendum passes, Wood will form a committee with the Health Center director Joyce Harris, ASI Director of Health and Human Services Alexis Clemons, as well as three students at-large with no affiliation to ASI.

In addition to the healthcare plan, Wood is joining Director of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Angel Barajas in presenting a proposal to change ASI’s bylaws regarding the removal of ASI directors.

The change would require that directors who miss more than two consecutive meetings or more than three meetings total during their term be removed from office.

Directorship would not be reinstated unless they receive a two-thirds vote by the board.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is the appointment of a second Graduate Director.

ASI president Peter Ucovich said this will be in compliance with a change made to ASI’s bylaw after last semester’s elections.

Last semester’s bylaw change states that if the Sac State graduate student population exceeds 5,000, then a second graduate director will be appointed.

According to the CSUS Institutional Research Department, 5,883 grad students attended Sac State as of spring 2003.

Ucovich will appoint Kristin Dawidczik to work with current Graduate Director, Xico Gonzalez.

Dawidczik’s appointment requires a majority vote of approval from the board.Other new business will include Green Thunder reconstruction and the establishment of a permanent Homecoming committee.

Before new business is discussed, an open forum will be held for students to comment on items within ASI’s jurisdiction both on and off the meeting’s agenda.

The meeting will be held today in the Foothill Suite of the University Union at 1:30 p.m.