Advocacy 102

TOPICS Advocacy 101: Quick Review Why and How We Advocate Finding my Legislator Turning Concerns and Ideas into Bills Committees: The Keys to the Floor Advocacy During the Session Over the phone, Over the internet, Over the Desk Navigating Richmond 2

Why Advocate? 1.Maintain Persons in their Own Homes with Dignity. 2.Remove Barriers to Economic and Personal Independence. 3.Provide a Continuum of Care for Vulnerable Elderly. 4.Provide Managed In-home and Long Term Care Services. 5.Protection from Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation. 6.Opportunity for Employment & Community Service. 7.Empower Elders to Volunteer and Serve the Community. 3

Allowable AAA Advocacy Activities AAA’s may respond to specific requests for information, technical assistance and their opinions from elected officials or other agencies. AAA’s may provide unsolicited communication to influence legislation if the issues are of bona fide interest to the AAA by their effect on the AAA or its constituents, i.e. budgets or Medicare. Prohibited AAA Advocacy Activities Support of individual candidates for elected office. Use of federal funds to advocate for issues that are not in keeping with the purposes and principles of the Older Americans Act. (Non-federal funds may be used.) 4

How AAA’s Advocate Identify local, state and national Aging Issues Develop Public Policy Recommendations Recommend Legislative Solutions Inform Elders, Families and Elected Officials Testify Before Legislative Committees Participate and Provide Local Leadership Mobilize citizens to advocate. 5

6 The Senior Advocate Alert is published during the Virginia General Assembly Session every other week. Special issues are published as needed. Board Legislator Visitation The Senior Advocate Alert Seniors Want to Know Hotline Advocacy Training Each Senior Services Board member visits their Delegate and Senator late summer to present senior needs and issues. Call (757) and leave your message! What should the General Assembly do for seniors in the 2011 legislative session? Advocacy 101: Summer 2010 Advocacy 102: Fall 2010

Who is my Legislator? atives.shtmlhttp:// atives.shtml n?openformhttp://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/mai n?openform 7

How a Bill Becomes Law A bill is a document which may: –Adds a new law –Changes a current law –Deletes existing law. Ideas for bills come from: –Citizens, –General Assembly members, –Lobbyists, –The Governor –State agencies heads. The member who introduces a piece of legislation is The Patron or Sponsor. –They guide their legislation through both houses. 8

The Legislative Process 9 Note: If the Bill comes to the Governor the last week of session or later, he has 30 days to sign.

Types of Legislation  Legislative Bills Resolutions $ Budget Amendments § Constitutional Amendments 10

Example of Legislative Bill: Issue: Respite Care HB 464 Respite Care Registry and Fund; Department for Aging to establish. Charniele L. Herring | all patrons... notes | add to my profiles Summary as introduced: Virginia Respite Care Registry. Directs the Department for the Aging to establish and maintain the Respite Care Registry to make information about adult day services providers, community respite care organizations, and other providers of respite care available to the public. The bill also establishes the Virginia Respite Care Fund, to consist of voluntary income tax contributions to support the Respite Care Registry. Charniele L. Herringall patronsnotesadd Full text: 01/12/10 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/ D pdf Status: 01/12/10 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/ D 01/12/10 House: Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions 01/18/10 House: Assigned HWI sub: #2 01/21/10 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2011 by voice vote 01/21/10 House: Continued to 2011 in Health, Welfare and Institutions by voice vote 01/12/10 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/ D pdf 01/12/10 House: Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions 01/18/10 House: Assigned HWI sub: #2 11

Example of a Resolution: Edith R. Jones SJ 276 Celebrating the life of Edith R. Jones. L. Louise Lucas | all patrons... notes | add to my profiles Summary as introduced: Celebrating the life of Edith R. Jones. L. Louise Lucasall patronsnotesadd Full text: 11/02/10 Senate: Prefiled and laid on Clerk's desk; offered 01/12/ D pdf Status: 11/02/10 Senate: Prefiled and laid on Clerk's desk; offered 01/12/ D 11/02/10 Senate: Prefiled and laid on Clerk's desk; offered 01/12/ D pdf 12

Example of Budget Amendment: Language Chief Patron: Joannou Item 275 #2h Health And Human Resources Department For The Aging Language Language: Page 182, after line 15, insert: "P. The Commissioner shall work with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia to develop a policy which allows the agency to provide transportation to non-Medicaid eligible, low-income disabled individuals who can be accommodated on existing transportation routes provided by the agency to low-income aged individuals to achieve economies of scale and reduce overhead costs." Explanation: (This amendment adds language to allow flexibility in the transportation program administered by Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia to achieve economies of scale, reduce overhead costs and better serve those in need of transportation services.) 13

Example of Budget Amendment: Money Chief Patron: Landes Item 275 #1h Health And Human Resources FY FY Department For The Aging $200,000 $200,000 GF Language: Page 180, line 48, strike "$28,902,375" and insert "$29,102,375". Page 181, line 5, strike the first "456,209" and insert "656,209". Page 181, line 5, strike the second "456,209" and insert "656,209". Explanation: (This amendment restores $80,509 each year which is the amount of the ongoing reductions to the Respite Care Initiative program that was reduced in the Governor's Fiscal Year 2010 Reduction Plan. An additional amount of $119,491 each year from the general fund is provided to assist caregivers who are caring for elderly and disabled individuals suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. A companion amendment reduces spending in Item 132 and provides the funding for this item.) 14

Committees: The Key House of Delegates The House of Delegates has 14 committees. Members are assigned to committees by the Speaker of the House.committees Senate of Virginia The Senate has 11 committees. Members are assigned to committees by a vote of the Senate.committees Legislative Meeting Schedule The Legislative Meeting Schedule contains time, date, and location of scheduled meetings of the Virginia General Assembly. Also included are links to committee and subcommittee information, dockets and agendas.Legislative Meeting Schedule 15

Why Committees Matter The forum where the public is heard First line of defense for opposition First line of offense for proponents The forum where logic is tested The forum where legality is tested 16

What Committees Do Committee Action All bills are referred to a committee that hears the patron and any other witnesses. The committee has several options when they vote: Option 1: Report it to the floor: Option 2: Pass by Indefinitely (PBI) Option 3: Defeat Option 4: Continue/Carry Over Option 5: Pass by for the day Option 6: No Action or Left in Committee Option 7: Incorporate into other Legislation 17

Senate Committees Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Commerce and Labor Courts of Justice Education and Health Finance General Laws and Technology Local Government Privileges and Elections Rehabilitation and Social Services Rules Transportation 18

House Committees Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Appropriations Commerce and Labor Counties Cities and Towns Courts of Justice Education Finance General Laws Health Welfare and Institutions Militia, Police and Public Safety Privileges and Elections Rules Science and Technology Transportation 19

What Committee is My Legislator On? atives.shtmlhttp:// atives.shtml n?openformhttp://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/mai n?openform 20

How to Participate in Committee Proceedings Committees have set schedules Committee dockets are published in advance You can send s of your opinion in advance You can tell your legislator you want to be heard You can attend the hearings You can testify 21

What Happened to My Bill? Call your legislative aide. 22

Some Do’s & Don’ts of Communicating with Your Legislator Advocating During the Session 23

Visit your legislator in the off season. Become your legislator’s SME When legislation of particular interest is scheduled for consideration respond quickly. Cite the correct name, number and contents of the bill. Do what the Legislator asks when they want more information. Do be brief and to the point. Time is of the essence in written correspondence. Do your Homework 24

DO DO be proud of your expression of your opinion. If you are short and express your ideas clearly, legislators are glad to give you a hearing. DO write to each legislator individually. Communicating With Your Legislator 25

Legislators want to know: 1.How this legislation affects you and the people you represent.  Your problems, feelings, and facts that you are thinking about and your conclusions. 2.How this legislation will help or hurt. 26

–ALWAYS – ALWAYS - ALWAYS……. Be courteous and reasonable. The golden rule applies – remember how you would want someone to speak to you. Communicating With Your Legislator 27

DON’Ts DON'T guess at facts or base your ideas on rumors. DON'T use mimeographed letters, printed post cards or form letters under any circumstances. DON'T use generalities or be wordy. DON'T use threats or promises... ever. DON'T inject party politics or criticize legislators or other organizations. Communicating With Your Legislator 28

Navigating the Capital Pre-Session trip to Richmond Senior Day at the General Assembly 29

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