Engaging in the Legislative Process ISAC Legislative Team

Engaging in the Engaging in the Legislative Legislative

ProcessProcessISAC Legislative Team

““I’m Just a Bill”I’m Just a Bill”

2

• Idea Government agencies,

• Non-profits (i.e., ISAC)• Interest groups• You

Legislative Request FormLegislative Request Form

The Legislative Policy Request Form is to be filled out by affiliates or individual members of ISAC. The form is the official avenue through which proposals are brought to the full ISAC Legislative Policy Committee to be considered as priorities during the 2015 legislative session.

•Found on the ISAC website under Legislative Policy Committee

•Fill out completely

•Forward to affiliate legislative committee

•And ISAC

Legislative Policy Committee Legislative Policy Committee

(LPC)(LPC)

• Chaired by ISAC Second Vice President

• 30 members (two from each affiliate)

• Develop legislative objectives for ISAC’s policy team to pursue for the upcoming session

• Meet in August and September to develop legislative platform

Legislative Policy Committee Legislative Policy Committee

(LPC)(LPC)

• Assessors: Dale McCrea & Deb McWhirter• Auditors: Ken Kline & Dennis Parrott• Community Services: Lori Elam & Shane Walter• Conservation: Dan Cohen & Matt Cosgrove• County Attorneys: Darin Raymond & John Werden• Emergency Mangement: Mike Goldberg & Michael Morlan• Engineers: Paul Assman & Lyle Brehm• Environmental Health: Eric Bradley & Joe Neary• Information Technology: Micah Cutler & Jeff Rodda• Public Health: Kathy Babcock & Doug Beardsley• Recorders: Megan Clyman & Kris Colby• Sheriffs & Deputies: Don De Kock & Lonny Pulkrabek• Supervisors: Cara Marker-Morgan & Burlin Matthews• Treasurers: Jarret Heil & Terri Kness• Zoning: Joe Buffington & RJ Moore

ISAC Legislative ProcessISAC Legislative Process

• LPC develops policy statements and legislative objectives

• Policy Statements express long-term or continuing statements of principle important for local control, local government authority, and efficient county operation. These statements are designed to guide the Association in responding to public policy issues affecting county government.

• Legislative Objectives provide specific problems and solutions for legislators to address. The ISAC policy team actively pursues bills for each legislative objective.

• Top Priorities are presented during meetings with legislative leadership prior to the session.

ISAC Legislative ProcessISAC Legislative Process

• ISAC Board reviews proposals for approval at October board meeting; sets top priorities

• Membership votes on platform at Fall School

• Legislative Book Published

• Legislators contacted

• Meetings with Leadership/Governor


• Legislator sponsors the bill

• Bill drafted, assigned SSB (Senate Study Bill), HSB (House Study Bill)

• Subcommittee meeting

• Assigned HF (House File), SF (Senate File)

• Standing committee meeting


9

• Floor debate: first chambero Bill passes by a constitutional majority

(51 Representatives, 26 Senators) – to second chamber

o Fewer than a constitutional majority – bill is defeated


10

• Floor debate: second chambero Bill passes without amending – to Governoro Bill is amended – back to originating

chamber for approval of amendmentso Chambers can’t agree – conference

committee

Along the WayAlong the Way

11

• Amendments

• Caucusing

• “Funnel”o Deadlines for bill requests, bills voted out of

committees, amendments filed

o After the final funnel date, only certain bills remain alive:• Appropriations, Ways and Means, Government Oversight• Bills sponsored by leadership• Conference committee reports• Other

Governor Governor

ActionAction

12

• Vetoo Veto – Entire billo Item veto – Appropriations bills onlyo Pocket veto – Governor’s failure to take action

within 30 days

• Signatureo In general, the Governor has 30 days from the

end of session to sign a bill into lawo A bill goes into effect July 1 unless otherwise

specified in the bill

Conference CommitteeConference Committee

• 10 members (5 House, 5 Senate) from both political parties

• Analyze points of disagreement in an attempt to reach a compromiseo If compromise – a report that includes the

compromise portion of the bill is presented to both chambers

o Neither chamber can amend the reporto If no compromise – second committee appointedo If still no compromise – bill failso If report is adopted, chambers vote again on the billo Once approved, sent to Governor

Iowa General AssemblyIowa General Assembly

• House – 100 Representativeso 57 Republicans (Republican controlled)o 43 Democrats

• Senate – 50 Senatorso 24 Republicanso 26 Democrats (Democrat controlled)


• House – Key playerso Speaker of the House (Rep. Kraig Paulsen)o House Majority Leader (Rep. Linda Upmeyer)o House Minority Leader (Rep. Mark Smith)

• Senate – Key playerso President of the Senate (Sen. Pam Jochum)o Senate Majority Leader (Sen. Michael Gronstal)o Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Bill Dix)


• Other Key Playerso Caucus staff (partisan)

• House/Senate Democrat, House/Senate Republican research staff

• Write bill summaries, assist in responding to constituent concerns, assess political implications of proposed legislation

• Many have 20+ years experience (more than most legislators). . .lots of influence

Legislative Services Agency Legislative Services Agency

(LSA)(LSA)

• Computer Support

• Legal Serviceso Bill/amendment drafting

• Fiscal Serviceso Fiscal Noteo NOBA (Notes On Bills and Amendments)

Fiscal NoteFiscal Note

• Outlines the monetary effects of pending legislation

• Required for all legislation having a fiscal impact of $100,000 in a fiscal year or $500,000 in a five-year period

• Required, regardless of fiscal impact, if requested by a legislator

• Can make or break legislation

General Assembly Home General Assembly Home

PagePage

Bill Tracking ToolsBill Tracking Tools

ISAC Legislative Bill ISAC Legislative Bill

Tracking ToolTracking Tool

• http://affiliates.iowacounties.org/bills/

Get Involved!Get Involved!

• It’s Your Righto Iowa Constitution – Article I. Bill of Rights.

Section 20. Right of Assemblage – Petition: “The people have the right freely to assemble together to counsel for the common good; to make known their opinions to their representatives and to petition for a redress of grievances.”

1. Through Your Legislative Liaison

2. Through ISAC’s Legislative Policy Committee

3. Contact Legislators Directly



• Contacting your legislatoro County Day at the Capitol – March 11, 2015o Phone callso E-mail (clearly state your subject in the subject

line)o Letterso Forums


• Get to know your legislatorso Build credibilityo Become a resource of informationo Attend meetings and events

• Know the institutional elementso Majority/minorityo Leadershipo Legislative process


• Assess the political climateo What is the mood of session?o What are the salient issues?o How legitimate are your goals?

• Respect Your Opponentso There are more than simply your interests

being presentedo Stick to issues and factso Stay away from “he said/she said” traps


• Be on the offensiveo Make sure your legislative platform is clearly

defined and supported by the county/organization

o Make sure appropriate legislators are fully informed

o Circulate accurate but brief information

o Be sure your organization and supporters are ready to respond to legislators’ concerns and questions


• Important Axiomso Honesty is not the best policy. . .it’s the only

policy!

o Remember, today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s ally

o Be patient, courteous

o Legislative staff are important

Major Legislative Issues for Major Legislative Issues for

20152015

• Mental Health and Disability Services

• Multi-residential Property

• Records Request

• Road Funding

Questions?Questions?

Jamie CashmanISAC Government Relations Manager

[email protected]

Lucas BeenkenISAC Public Policy Specialist

[email protected]

Documents

Engaging in the Legislative Process ISAC Legislative Team