Advocacy 101 - Austin, TX - January 2013

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


Recognizes health and human services as a total system with each area

dependent on others in order to create lasting change


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


“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.


“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)


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

140

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

150

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

73

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)[email protected]

Karen CampbellCommunications832.474.9008 [email protected]

www.onevoicetexas.org

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Advocacy 101 - Austin, TX - January 2013