Dale Burnett

1
A STATE AGENCY PERSPECTIVETALKING TO LEGISLATORS

• Dale Burnett
• Executive DirectorTexas Structural Pest Control
  Board

2
INITIAL RELATIONSHIP

• You are not equal
• Your agency, program and job donot exist without
  their approval
• Stereotype state employee images exist (are you
  shocked?)
• You know more about your agency/program than they
  do
• They know more about statewide priorities,
  statewide budget issues and why the voters
  elected them

3
ROUTES

• Communication routes with legislators are not
  altogether different. Public testimony would be
  a noteworthy difference.
•  

4
ROUTES (continued)
5
OPPORTUNITIES

• A legislator requests information regarding fire
  ant treatments.
• How sweet! Can you say softball?
• As always, provide accurate,
• concise, and timely information.
• A short call or email follow-up would demonstrate
  attention to customer service and effectiveness.

6
OPPORTUNITIES (continued)

• A legislator requests information about your
  agencys licensing requirements.
• Hmmm. Where could this be going? Why
  speculate?
• A cover letter with a simple chart or graph would
  be great. 

License
7
OPPORTUNITIES (continued)

• A legislator requests information about an
  enforcement case.
• Remember that most of the time they are calling
  because they have to call.
• Explain your standard procedures in a nice
  way that assures them that you are reasonable,
  thorough, and gather facts in an unbiased manner.
• Follow-up at the conclusion of an enforcement
  case.

8
OPPORTUNITIES (continued)

• At a legislative budget hearing, a senator asks
  you about details in your increase in budget
  request.
• You knew the hearing was coming. Surely you
  PREPARED.

9
OPPORTUNITIES (continued)

• They might disallow the increase without a
  question, but you knew they would not approve the
  request without questions.

Thank them for their interest and then explain
upside of funding and downside of not funding.
Funding should be directly tied to mission.
Dont whine. Despite your best preparation, if
you do not know the answer state that you get
back to them. Then do so in a timely fashion.
10
OPPORTUNITIES (continued)

• Your agency is voluntarily, or involuntarily,
  getting media attention.
• Will this immediately impact one legislative
  district or multiple districts?
• Is the story really big? Or is this a
  holiday story that is run for lack of other
  news?
• Depending on these answers, you might want to
  give legislators and governors office advanced
  notice.

11
OPPORTUNITES (continued)

• An unlicensed applicator threatens to call
  his/her legislator.

Call the legislators office before the
unlicensed applicator calls . Briefly explain
requirements. Explain you wanted to give them
advanced notice that you are doing your job but
someone might call.
12

• The odds are very strong that they will side
  with you. Follow-up after issue is completed.

13
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP

• You are STILL not equal.
• Your agency, program and job STILL only exist
  with their approval.
• You STILL know more about your agency/program.

14
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP (continued)

• They STILL more about statewide issues and the
  voters that elected them.
• However, with accurate, timely, honest,
  courteous, prepared responses, you should
  develop rapport and maybe.just maybe.reduce the
  stereotype state employee image and help your
  agencys mission.