Legislative

1

• Legislative
• Basics
• Resources and Avenues
• And
• Role of the Legislative Chair

2
If you speak up for a child, you are a child
advocate.

• Nancy Amidei
• Civic Engagement Project

3
Advocacy vs. Lobbying

• Advocacy Speaking up to plead a cause, make
  the case for another.
• Lobbying Attempting to influence decisions of
  legislators about a pending piece of legislation
  (discussing an issue is not lobbying).

4
What does a leg chair do?

• Help determine State PTA goals at Legislative
  Assembly Oct. 3rd 4th
• Survey unit before attending
• Do not have to vote like unit, but need to
  understand units concerns
• Lots of training
• Lobby the legislature
• Focus Day Jan/Feb
• Bring members from your unit
• More people means more influence
• People dont need to know anything, we can do all
  of the talking
• But legislators love to hear from constituents
  that they havent heard from before
• Legislature is MOST influenced by number of
  people coming to Olympia
• Email
• Representatives typically believe one email
  counts for 10 voters
• The more people that send email, the more
  influence we have
• Educate Your community

5
Role of the Legislative Chair

• Educate
• Email
• PTA meetings
• Newsletters
• Motivate
• How important it is to speak up
• How easy you will make it for them
• Focus on issues that are important to your
  community
• Activate
• Encourage people to act, to email, phone or
  attend a meeting with legislators

6
Message

• Each Meeting
• Educate on one of top 5 priorities
• Motivate Each voice Truly makes a difference,
  focus on topics important to your school
• Activate
• Brief on how to respond to action alerts
• How to make hotline calls
• Invite to attend Roundtable and Focus Day

7
Email Communication

• State Email resources www.wastatepta.org
• Action alert sign-up
• Grassroots sign-up
• Legislative listserv sign-up
• Build email lists
• Use PTA Board email lists
• Pass around sign up sheet at PTA meetings
• Put sign up form in first day packets
• Have sign up booth at Taking care of biz days

8
Email tips

• Identify that you are PTA members
• Forward to personal email lists
• Personalize the messages

9
PTA Meeting Communication

• 5-10 minutes on every agenda
• Builds trusting relationships
• Keep the message simple
• Have a handout

10
Newsletter Communication

• Have a regular column
• Website has newsletter articles provided
• If you are using kid mail, then you can educate
  and motivate, but to activate you will have to
  check with your school district

11
PDC

• The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) watchdogs
  government entities for lobbying or campaigning
  violations
• It is a violation to use government property to
  lobby or campaign
• Kid mail (newsletters going home in backpacks)
  cannot contain lobbying information

12
Legislative Basics

• PTA is NON PARTISAN We advocate for the health,
  safety, education, protection and general welfare
  for all children.
• You must work with people from both parties and
  any can be allies.
• 49 Senators elected to 4 year terms
• 98 Representatives elected to 2 year terms
• In Odd Years 105 day regular session.
• In Even Years 60 day regular session.
• Governor can call special sessions.

13
Important Websites

• PTA www.wastatepta.org
• State Legislature www.leg.wa.gov
• OSPI www.k12.wa.us
• School Directors www.wssda.org
• Stand for Children www.stand.org
• WEA www.wa.nea.org
• League of Education Voters www.educationvoters.or
  g

14
PTA Leg Leadership

• State Legislative Director, Paul Cheek
  ptalegdir_at_wastatepta.org
• Region 2 Legislative Chair (RLC), TBD