Legislative Advocacy Tips An overview of how to get your ideas made into law in California Presented By: Evelyn Abouhassan Senior Legislative Advocate Protection & Advocacy, Inc. Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

Transforming Ideas into Law What are the key pieces to the puzzle? Discovering a problem and seeking the legislative solution Discovering a problem and seeking the legislative solution Developing the Bill Idea Developing the Bill Idea “Shopping” for the Author “Shopping” for the Author The Committee Process The Committee Process Dealing with the opposition or potential opposition Dealing with the opposition or potential opposition Getting the Bill signed into Law Getting the Bill signed into Law

Discovering a problem and seeking the legislative solution AB 1371 (2003) What was the problem The legislature passed AB 2328 (Wayne) in the previous session, a bill allowing surrogate consent for medical experimentation. PAI opposed the legislation and wanted to “clean up” provisions of that bill with new legislation.

Discovering a problem and seeking the legislative solution How did we seek to solve problem? Sought to revise current law relating to medical experimentation on human subjects. AB 1371 increased fines for failure to obtain consent, required a surrogate decision maker to use a “substituted judgment” rather than a “reasonable knowledge” standard, and required the individual conducting the experiment to disclose any financial stake in excess of $10,000.

Developing the Bill Idea Drafting the language by looking at the current state and federal law for guidance Drafting the language by looking at the current state and federal law for guidance Get the language to legislative counsel by finding a friend in the legislature to submit the language Get the language to legislative counsel by finding a friend in the legislature to submit the language

“Shopping” for the Author What does it mean to shop for an author? What does it mean to shop for an author? Meet with legislators. Meet with legislators. Explain the importance of the issue and the bill to legislators that have an interest in the topic. Explain the importance of the issue and the bill to legislators that have an interest in the topic.

“Shopping” for the Author Assembly Bill 1371 (2003) PAI staff met individually with staffers of legislators that had an interest in health related issues, explained the problem and proposed solution PAI staff met individually with staffers of legislators that had an interest in health related issues, explained the problem and proposed solution

“Shopping” for the Author Assembly Bill 1371 (2003) Legislator Leland Yee, a psychologist who had an interest in mental health issues and was a member of Assembly Health and Assembly Appropriations Committees agreed to author the bill. Legislator Leland Yee, a psychologist who had an interest in mental health issues and was a member of Assembly Health and Assembly Appropriations Committees agreed to author the bill.

The Committee Process The bill gets referred to committees- the committees that the bill gets referred to is based on several factors. The bill gets referred to committees- the committees that the bill gets referred to is based on several factors.

The Committee Process Topic- AB 1371 (2003) involved health issues so it was referred to the health committees in both houses. Topic- AB 1371 (2003) involved health issues so it was referred to the health committees in both houses. Cost-the bill was tagged by legislative counsel as having a potential cost to the state so it was referred to the appropriations committees in the senate and the assembly. Cost-the bill was tagged by legislative counsel as having a potential cost to the state so it was referred to the appropriations committees in the senate and the assembly. Legal questions-referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Legal questions-referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Committee Process Getting the bill out of committees Testimony by interested parties, consumers, family members, and lobbyists as to the need for the bill Testimony by interested parties, consumers, family members, and lobbyists as to the need for the bill Letters by constituents and lobbyists as to why the bill, if passed, would be good or bad policy. Letters by constituents and lobbyists as to why the bill, if passed, would be good or bad policy. Lobbyists meet with staff on bills. Lobbyists meet with staff on bills.

Dealing with the opposition or potential opposition The key is to try to reach a consensus if it is possible. The key is to try to reach a consensus if it is possible. Complete consensus is almost never possible, although there are compromising and non-compromising points Complete consensus is almost never possible, although there are compromising and non-compromising points

Getting the Bill signed into Law Meet with the administration and discuss the focus of the bill and address with staff the issues that may be raised by potential opposition Meet with the administration and discuss the focus of the bill and address with staff the issues that may be raised by potential opposition

Getting the Bill signed into Law Send letters to the Governor and the staff analyzing the bill, explaining the bill and urging signature Send letters to the Governor and the staff analyzing the bill, explaining the bill and urging signature

Getting the Bill signed into Law Urge grassroots organizations to support your bill and write letters supporting that the bill be signed into law. Urge grassroots organizations to support your bill and write letters supporting that the bill be signed into law.

Transformation Complete You have now transformed your idea into law. You have now transformed your idea into law. Let’s do it again and again! Let’s do it again and again!