Post on 23-Jan-2015
description
Advocating Advocating for for
a Healthy a Healthy TexasTexas
More than 10 million More than 10 million viewsviews
Going viral Going viral
AdvocacyAdvocacy
What is One Voice What is One Voice Texas?Texas?
a collaborative . . .a network working together .
. .
addressing health and human services needs . . .
using public policy initiatives
CirculatoryCirculatory
RespiratoryRespiratory
DigestiveDigestive
EndocrineEndocrine
ImmuneImmune
IntegumentaryIntegumentaryLymphaticLymphatic
MuscularMuscular
NervousNervous
ReproductiveReproductive
SkeletalSkeletal
UrinaryUrinary
AdvocatesAdvocates
FamiliesFamiliesConsumersConsumers
BoardsBoardsBusinessesBusinesses
Law Law EnforcementEnforcement
Elected OfficialsElected Officials
ProvidersProviders
FundersFunders
PrioritiesPriorities
strong prevention and
early intervention programs . . .
to maximize federal funding for health and human services to . . .
“Keep Texas Dollars Working in Texas”
Focus AreasFocus Areas
Basic Needs & Community CareBasic Needs & Community Care
Behavioral HealthBehavioral Health
Children and Youth ServicesChildren and Youth Services
EducationEducationHealthcareHealthcare
Why One Voice Texas Is Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Effective …
Leverages expertise of 100s
Brings together like-minded coalitions and stakeholders to create
consistent priorities and messages
Why One Voice Texas Is Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Effective …
Recognizes health and human services as a total system with each area
dependent on others in order to create lasting change
Why One Voice Texas Is Why One Voice Texas Is Effective …Effective …
Advocacy & Lobbying
AdvocacyAdvocacy
the act of pleading or arguing by expressing a
position on an issue…
an umbrella term for activism related to a particular agenda …
expected to be non-deceptive and in good
faith
TrainingEducation
Organizing
Research
Regulatory Efforts
Lobbying
ADVOCACY
LobbyingLobbying always involves always involves advocacyadvocacy, but advocacy does , but advocacy does not necessarily involve not necessarily involve lobbying.lobbying.
Advocacy Lobbyin
g
IRS Regulations on IRS Regulations on Lobbying by NonprofitsLobbying by Nonprofits
Lobbying by a nonprofit is only the expenditure of money by the organization for the purpose of attempting to influence legislation
Nonprofits which receive federal funds must complete detailed forms to show federal funds are not used to lobby
IRS Options for IRS Options for NonprofitsNonprofits
“insubstantial part test” - default“Section 501(h) expenditure test” –
complete IRS form 5768
IRS Options for IRS Options for NonprofitsNonprofits
“insubstantial part test”◦ “no substantial part of a charity’s activities…be
carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.”
◦ Based on activities, not expenditures◦ IRS offers no absolute guidance ◦ Most tax practitioners generally advise that
charities can safely devote 3-5% of their overall activities toward lobbying.
IRS Options for IRS Options for NonprofitsNonprofits
“Section 501(h) expenditure test” – counts only cash expenditures ◦ Up to $500,000 – 20%◦ $500,000-$1million - $100,000 + 15% of excess
(See p 6)◦ Requires record-keeping
(Best source: Alliance for Justice and BolderAdvocacy.com)
IRS Options for IRS Options for NonprofitsNonprofits
Direct LobbyingDirect Lobbying
Communication◦With government officials
◦Expressing a view about specific legislation and asking for a specific action
Grassroots LobbyingGrassroots Lobbying
Communication◦With the general public◦Expressing a view about specific legislation
◦May include a “Call to Action”
During Election Seasons During Election Seasons Nonprofits Nonprofits CANCAN::
Continue normal lobbying activitiesConduct nonpartisan activities such as:
◦ Candidate Visits and Forums◦ Candidate Questionnaires◦ Testimony on Party Platforms
Activities must include all legitimate candidates for an office from
all political parties
During Election Seasons During Election Seasons Nonprofits Nonprofits CANNOTCANNOT::
Endorse or oppose a candidate for elective office
Lend space, equipment, etc. to candidates or a political party
Contribute money to a political party campaign or political action committee (PAC)
Allow staff to contribute time at the expense of the organization; it must be done on their own time
Is it lobbying?Is it lobbying? A mental health association has a
position in support of legislation to provide a range of services for homeless persons who are mentally ill.
Provides info on the legislation and the association’s support in an alert and other communications to its members
Includes NO request for members to contact legislators, nor does it give names, addresses or way to contact legislators
Is it lobbying?Is it lobbying? A child-placing agency provided
information on a bill that would reform child welfare services and its position on it in a letter to members of the state legislature.
The letter did not ask the legislators to support the legislation.
Is it lobbying?Is it lobbying? A local organization focusing on
attendant care for the elderly and disabled was invited in writing by the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee to testify on legislation being considered by the Committee.
The groups’ Board Chairperson testified in support of the legislation, maintaining that the measure would improve the safety and well-being of individuals receiving attendant care.
Effective Advocates Effective Advocates Need:Need:
Knowledge of the legislative
process and rules
Knowledge of the issues and how to identify issues which require public policy change
An understanding of when, why and
how to communicate with elected officials and decision makers
Texas Government
Texas Constitution
State Statutes
Appropriations/budget
Texas Legislature
DFPS
DARS
DADS
DSHS
Texas Legislature
The Texas LegislatureThe Texas LegislatureTwo legislative
bodies:◦Texas State Senate
◦Texas House of Representatives
Biennial sessions___ calendar days Special Sessions -
limited to 30 calendar days
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The Texas LegislatureThe Texas Legislature
Texas Senate ___ Members, ½ elected
every 2 years for 4-year terms
Lt. Governor, elected every 4 years; presides over the Senate
Senate elects President Pro-Tempore who presides in absence of Lt. Governor
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The Texas LegislatureThe Texas Legislature Texas House ofRepresentatives
___ members, elected every 2 years
Speaker of the House, elected by House each session; presides over the House
Speaker appoints House Speaker Pro-Tempore, who assists Speaker & presides in Speaker’s absence
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Pre-filing started November 12th (First in line = better chance of making it through)60 days into session is the deadline for filing (without 4/5 vote)Mid-April is final pushDeadlines in May for passage of bills in House & SenateMay 27th end of session
The Texas LegislatureThe Texas LegislatureHouse & Senate Rules
Established at the beginning of each Legislative session
Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House make all committee appointments, chairmanships and assignment of bills to committees
Speaker of the House may vote on all legislation
Lt. Governor may only vote to break a tie
Legislative CommitteesLegislative CommitteesMost health & human services legislation is
assigned to: House
◦Human Services Committee
◦Public Health Committee
Senate◦Health and Human
Services Committee
Legislative CommitteesLegislative Committees Committee
consideration of a bill = where most of the work is done
Committee members (and their staff members) = first point of contact
www.legis.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership
DefinitionsDefinitions Bill: a proposed law for consideration by the legislature HB: House Bill SB: Senate Bill CSHB: Committee Substitute House Bill CSSB: Committee Substitute Senate Bill
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/billnumber
How a Bill How a Bill BecomesBecomesLaw Law in Texasin Texas
How a Bill How a Bill BecomesBecomesLaw in TexasLaw in Texas A committee does not
have to take action on every bill referred to it
A bill not reported on by a committee is considered dead for the session
A committee may refer a bill to a subcommittee
How a Bill How a Bill BecomesBecomesLaw in TexasLaw in Texas A committee or
subcommittee has five options for a bill:
◦ Pass the bill as is◦ Pass the bill with
amendments◦ Pass a substitute
bill◦ Table the bill◦ Vote against
passage of the bill
How a Bill Becomes How a Bill Becomes Law in TexasLaw in Texas
• Anyone may draft or suggest legislation – legislators, state agencies, advocacy organizations
Most bills are drafted by professional staff members of the Texas Legislative Council
How a Bill Becomes How a Bill Becomes Law in TexasLaw in Texas
• An example …
Identify the IssueIdentify the Issue◦Can the issue bring diverse groups together in support of the issue?
◦Can you clearly identify the decision makers?
◦Is the objective achievable, even with opposition?
◦Is the issue easy to understand?◦And most importantly, does the issue really address the problem?
Research the IssueResearch the Issue◦Who else in the community is
working on this issue?◦How can we work together?◦Is there an organizational or social
way to solve the problem other than a change at the policy level?
◦Who might be opposed to the issue?
ConnectConnect◦Who cares about this problem?◦Who has the power to change the
public policy?◦Who is a decision maker?◦What steps need to be taken to influence the decision maker to make the change?
Educate the public◦Become a useful resource (data &
stories)
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/
Effective Communicat
ion
A 2008 Congressional Management Foundation report revealed:Nearly half of US adults had contacted Congress, more than 80% of them at the urging of a third party organization.
Suggestions to bridge the Suggestions to bridge the Advocacy GapAdvocacy GapAbandon list building through
messages to Congress. (Activists should be real with their actual rep.)
Invest in making higher impact activities easier for advocates.
Get deep into districts, shifting away from Washington, DC.
Abandon the notion of “Congress.” Embrace Members of Congress.
Know yourselfKnow your audience
Know your message
Know your channels
Turn right at North Loop Fwy W 0.1 mi
Take the ramp on the left onto I-610 W 0.4 mi.Take the exit onto I-610 S 8.6 mi
Take exit 4B to merge onto S Post Oak Rd 3.9 mi
Turn left at W Orem Dr 2.1 mi
Turn right at Buffalo Speedway 0.6 mi
Your Your preference?preference?
Know yourselfKnow your
audienceKnow your message
Know your channels
What Makes Them Them
Birth Order
Personality Type and
Temperament Learning Style
Phase of Life
Spiritual Development
Culture
Gender
Generational Concerns
Social/economic/
educational experience
Texas Legislatur
eSenate = 19R & 11D
House = 95R & 55D House = 43
freshman
Senate=6 freshman
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1359322560-Getting-To-Know-A-Local-Lawmaker-Rep.-Phil-Stephenson.html
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/
Committee
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/
Know yourself
Know your audienceKnow your
messageKnow your channels
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For every dollar spent on prevention you save $7 in
intervention services
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Know yourself
Know your audience
Know your messageKnow your
channels
Committee
Public Testimony
Personal VisitsLetters
Phone CallsEmails
Representa
tiveor
Senator
Public
Committee
Staff
Advocate
White paper
Talking points
Press release / Editorial
Website Twitter OtherFacebook
EmailEmail Not the most effective method of communicating with legislators Try not to send a letter as an attachment Use only when time is of the essence Identify the message’s subject in the “Subject” line, e.g., House Bill 2 Do not “stuff” a legislator’s inbox – messages will be ignored
Contact your rep or member of the appropriate committee
Provide personal info
Briefly explain your perspective. Use facts and anecdotes. Use bill number.
Don’t copy and paste the same email message “stuffing” the email box
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Cause◦ Members? Public? Legislators? (the “who”
matters)◦ Focus on purpose, not a person/politics
Engage/educate Direct or grassroots lobbying
Cautions – ◦ “Likes” and “Follows”◦ Commitment of time, research, etc.
ConsistencySee Alliance for Justice
Developing Issues
OrganizationalOrganizational Strengths/ChallengesStrengths/Challenges
HousingHousing for special populationsFinancial StabilityFinancial Stability
AccessAccess to community-based mental health services
Accountability, permanency Accountability, permanency for youth in child welfare system
FinancingFinancing for educationMedicaidMedicaid expansion,
women’s healthwomen’s health, immunizationsimmunizations
Legislative PrioritiesLegislative Priorities
Program/Policy Program/Policy ChallengesChallenges
Health & Human Services – related needs
1,000 new people 1,000 new people per day move to Texas2nd in nation with
under age 18 under age 18 population 7th in nation in child child povertypoverty1 of every 4 1 of every 4 Texans is Texans is uninsured uninsured - Highest number in nation
Program/Policy Program/Policy ChallengesChallenges
Low Taxes and Limited Government
Texas is increasing sales of services, not products
~25% General Revenue supports HHS, primarily Medicaid
Current budget did not recognize population growth or increased costs or utilization
$4 B shortfall (GR) in current budget for Medicaid ($12 B all funds)
Low reimbursement rates make it difficult to build capacity for critical Medicaid services
To Create Change:To Create Change:
Identify the problems
Find/suggest
solutions
Advocate for changes
Advocates who attempt to fix everything run the
risk of changing nothing in the process.
Never doubt that a small Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful group of thoughtful committed citizens committed citizens
can change the world. can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.that ever has.
Margaret MeadMargaret Mead
Laurie Glaze, LMSWExecutive Director5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 6000Houston, Texas 77056713.333.2232 (phone)lglaze@onevoicetexas.orgwww.onevoicetexas.org
Karen CampbellCommunications832.474.9008 kccomm@hotmail.com
www.onevoicetexas.org