How can student-led organizations keep more of the money they raise for their causes? A bill proposing to waive sanitary permit fees aims to strike that balance—drawing strong support and providing much-needed clarity on the issue.

Much-needed clarity on sanitary permit fees surfacing during a public hearing on Bill 215. The measure proposing waiving sanitary permit fees for student-led fundraisers—fees that apparently had student groups spending anywhere from $300 to $1,000 from their raised funds just to comply.

That burden was highlighted by University of Guam Student Government Association president Keana Ardiente, who testified in support of the bill. “Student leaders already shoulder big financial responsibility when organizing fundraisers. They personally and collectively invest in supplies, materials, and logistics in order to operate successful events. On top of these costs, student organizations are required to pay a temporary sanitary permit fee of approximately $50–100," she stated.

Ardiente adding that the measure would remove a major barrier to participation and encourage greater civic engagement—pointing out that many fundraisers support not only student organizations, but the broader community, as well.

Also expressing support for the bill was Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services director Therese Arriola. During the hearing, she and Public Health officials clarifying the different types of permits available—explaining that one permit, costing $300 and valid for 180 days, can cover multiple student organizations, as long as fundraisers are held in the same location, rather than requiring a separate permit for each club.

Leilani Navarro, environmental public health officer administrator for the Division on Environmental Health said, "Technically, as long as the fundraiser happens in specific locations in the school, then it doesn’t matter which organization, as long as it’s, for example, in the courtyard or in the gym or cafeteria.”

Also backing the bill was Sean Monforte of the Guam Department of Education’s Food Nutrition Management Division, who says his agency is working with Public Health to streamline and clarify the information for schools.

Monforte also recommended adding language to the bill for GDOE campuses—emphasizing the need for schools to follow CFR regulations on items sold during school hours, as violations could jeopardize school food programs.