JILL GRANDirector of

Public Policy & Advocacy

Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association

jill@fadaa.org

UNDERSTANDING FLORIDA’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPECREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY

Government in Florida The Florida Budget 2015-2016 Budget and Legislative Policy Highlights How a Bill becomes a Law Perceptions of Mental Health and Co-occurring

Disorders Understanding Advocacy Understanding the Legislator’s World Building Relationships How to Craft a Message Communicating with Lawmakers Advocating at the Community Level

UNDERSTANDING FLORIDA’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPECREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY

CongressU.S. Senate: 100 members of the U.S. Senate; Each state has two Senators U.S. House of Representatives: 435 members of the U.S. House; Florida has 27 House districts Executive Branch of FL GovernmentFlorida’s Cabinet: Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs CommissionerAgencies: There are 36 state agencies Legislative Branch of FL GovernmentSenate: 40 SenatorsHouse of Representatives: 120 House members Judicial Branch of FL GovernmentFlorida Supreme Court5 District Courts of Appeal20 Judicial Circuits

Just like the federal government, Florida has three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, & Judicial

FLORIDA’S GOVERNMENT

SENATE 4-year staggered terms “Eight is Enough” Current Republican majority 26 Republicans 14 Democrats At least 8 seats will have new

Senators in 2016 election (20%) -4 Republicans term-limited in 2016-4 Democrats term-limited in 2016 -New district maps may result in a gain of one Republican district and one Democratic district (net loss of 0)

HOUSE 2-year terms “Eight is Enough” Current Republican super-

majority (2/3 control of Chamber)

81 Republicans 39 Democrats At least 35 seats will have new

Representatives (18%) in 2016 -14 Republicans term-limited in 2016 - 8 Democrats term-limited in 2016 - New district maps may result in a shift of incumbent House members running for Senate seats

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

FLORIDA’S BUDGET The Legislature’s only Constitutional

requirement is to pass a budget each year.

The fiscal year runs from July 1–June 30.

As passed, Florida’s Budget for FY2015-2016 was $78.698B

The Governor vetoed $461.4 million The final budget adjusted for vetoes

and supplemental funding totaled $78.396B

FLORIDA’S BUDGET:A BROAD GLANCE

Appropriations by Category Health & Human Services

$22.9 B =

29.2%

$33.0 B = 42%

$516 M = .7%

$4.2 B = 5.4%

$13.4 B = 17%

$4.4 B = 5.6%

Education = $22.9 BHuman Services = $33.0 BJudicial Branch = $516 MCriminal Justice = $4.2 BNatural Resources = $13.4 BGeneral Government = $4.4 B

DCF9.69%

APD3.57% Elder

Affairs2.60%

DOH9.36%

Vet-erans0.28%

Health Care

Admin74.51%

DCF = $3.0 billionAPD = $1.2 billionElder Affairs = $298.7 million

Breaking the silos: blended funding for children’s and adult MH ($269.7m) and SA ($227.5m)

Managing Entity administration identified ($21.3m) Block grant funding authorization ($39m) 2 new Community Action Teams (18 total) Family Intensive Treatment expansion ($2.4m) Forensic Flex Bed expansion (16 beds added) Increase funding to restore competency ($978,000) Mental Health transition bed expansion ($4.73m) Statewide central receiving facilities ($10m)------------------- Expand SA & Co-occurring Community Treatment Beds

($1.59m) Mental Health Reentry Pilot for offenders (50 beds) Specialized training for judges on SAMH ($100,000) Crisis Intervention Team training ($800,000) Vivitrol ($3 million)

FLORIDA’S BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

HB954 – Baker Act Notification (notifying requirements to parents if child has been placed for involuntary examination)

HB79 – Crisis Stabilization Units (requiring database on utilization of beds)

HB335 – Scope of Practice (authorizing physician assistants and ARNPs to initiate and approve for release of Baker Act in hospital setting)

HB1069 – Problem Solving Courts (authorizing the transfer of a defendant to another county for participation in a problem-solving court)

SB378 – Juvenile Justice (expanding frequency of juvenile civil citation to three citations)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

Stigma of Disease Fix Yourself - Will Power & Self Control “Them” Rather than “Us” Issue Criminal Justice Problem Not Fully Integrated into Mainstream

Healthcare, But Getting There When it Becomes Personal, it Becomes

Real

PERCEPTIONS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE & MENTAL HEALTH

What is Advocacy? -Activity by an individual/group whose goal is to influence public-policy Why Bother? -Concerned citizens make the best spokesperson. Politics is Not a Spectator Sport! -Successful groups know that increased public involvement works. Legal Considerations…Advocating vs. Lobbying -Provide information -Educate lawmakers on problems in your community -Helping lawmakers understand the difficulty in funding -Provide opportunities for lawmakers to meet with those in treatment and recovery.

UNDERSTANDING ADVOCACY

Legislators are Neighbors-You or someone you know probably has personal connection-Discover common interests and values you both share-Make an effort to build on them Complexity of a Legislator’s Job -Represents a community with varying interests-They live in a world of COMPROMISE -They are expected to know something about everything -Constituent’s goals vs. personal values -Loyalty to political party -Personal friendships -Varying perceptions on a complex issue Demands on Time

-In high demand-Career in addition to legislating-Family

UNDERSTANDING THE LEGISLATOR’S WORLD

Understand the legislator Understand the district Be familiar with the legislator’s record and position in the legislature Remember that everything is local Recognize the legislator Keep in touch with the legislator year

round Support their efforts

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Who is your target audience?

What do you hope to accomplish?

What do THEY care most about?

Maximize on your “Story” Fit your “Story” into what will most appeal to them

HOW TO CRAFT A MESSAGE

Remember the Legislative Staff-Legislators rely heavily staff Face to Face Meetings with Legislator -Focus on a single issue -Speak clearly, brief, and provide materials -Always send a follow-up letter Written Correspondence

-Be sure to spell your legislator’s name correctly -Focus on single issue-Type/write briefly, clearly and on letterhead -Support your statements with facts -Always be polite

The No No’s -Never threaten a lawmaker -Never remind them of broken promises -Avoid communicating too often -Avoid using technical jargon.

COMMUNICATING WITH LAWMAKERS

Cordial -Greet with a smile -Thank a legislator for time and leadership

Credible -Provide accurate information -Be honest, especially when representing an opposing view.

Convincing -Speak with passion and confidence -Be firm and direct

Clear -Stay focused -State a problem AND a solution -K.I.S.S.

EIGHT COMMUNICATION TIPS

Concise -Keep meetings and letter brief -Know all sides of an issue -Be able to articulate an opposing view Creative -Present your message in a way that will be remembered -What’s your “Story”? Coalitions and Partners -Identify community partners -Expand the group and let the legislator know of your broad- based support. Celebrate Victories -Let your legislators know of your successes no matter how small -Thank them for their leadership. Look for ways to publicly thank them, too.

EIGHT COMMUNICATION TIPS

Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association

www.fadaa.org

THANK YOU…