NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION Governmental Relations Your Voice in Trenton

Governmental Relations Department Mission Win enactment of legislation/administrative code that achieve NJSBA goals Prevent passage of legislation/administrative code proposals that would be detrimental to the public education system Assist boards to effectuate public policy change for the benefit of their district WE WORK for YOU!!

POLICY Broad philosophical statement of belief Adopted by Delegate Assembly POSITION Supports or opposes specific legislation Policy vs Position

Authority to take Positions on Legislation Based upon Existing NJSBA Policy Interim Positions authorized by by-laws Legislative Committee Executive Committee Adoption by Board of Directors How NJSBA Formulates Advocacy Agenda

Policy Development Process Resolution Adopted by: –Standing Committee –NJSBA Executive Committee –Local Boards of Education –County School Boards Association –NJSBA Board of Directors Delegate Assembly action

Delegate Assembly Resolutions NJSBA staff researches and analyzes Resolutions Subcommittee reviews and makes recommendations to D.A. Delegate Assembly votes to approve or not approve

Resolutions Approved by the Delegate Assembly Become Association Policy Codified in the Manual of Positions and Policies on Education. POLICY MANUAL

Manual of Positions and Policies on Education What our members support and want to encourage What our members don’t support and want to change Becomes NJSBA “Advocacy Agenda” Can be changed or modified by future D.A.

Recommendation of NJSBA Standing Committee School Finance\Special Education Recommendation of Legislative Committee Adoption by Board of Directors Position Taken in Absence of Policy

New Jersey Legislature Senate and General Assembly 40 Legislative districts Each District –State Senator (1) –Assembly Representatives (2) Terms –Senate 4 years –Assembly 2 years

Legislative Process Bill Introduced Referred to a standing reference committee, sometimes referred to a second committee (fiscal matters) House floor vote Second house repeats committee process Second House floor vote Governor: signs bill New Law !! vetoes bill: Legislature overrides or does nothing Concurs

When Can You Be Most Effective? Upon introduction of a bill When referred to a committee When considered in a committee When considered by the full Senate or Assembly When awaiting the Governor’s action

How Can You Help the Lobbying Effort? Letters or resolutions Phone calls/fax/ One-on-one meetings Testimony before committees Press releases/letters to editor County School Boards Association Reading School Board Notes Support NJSBA through Advocacy Participate in Delegate Assembly Process SBN

Where Can You Get Information? –Governmental Relations Dept. Phone web site: –Action Alert –Legislation / Code Advisories Legislative Training

Where Can You Get Information? –NJSBA Publications School Board Notes School Leader –NJSBA Committees School Finance Special Education Urban Boards –County School Boards Association Updates Discussion SBN

Governmental Relations Department WE WORK FOR YOU!