Keys to Successful Request Legislation

1. Keys to Successful Request Legislation

2. The best public policy is made when you are listening to people who are going to be impacted. Then, once policy is determined, you call on them to help you sell it. - Elizabeth Dole

3. Success isn’t about getting a pre-determined number of bills passed each session. • Success happens when legislation is well thought out, well communicated, well planned and is considered only when all other options have been explored (i.e., resources or administrative).

4. STAGE 1 Identifying the concept/need

5. What is the problem/situation? • Identify the need for change. • Develop the concept for addressing the change. • Does the change need legislation?

6. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 1 To assist in exploring and developing the concept/need, monthly meetings will be held involving: • The Assistant Secretary • Fiscal Staff • AGs • Program Staff • GCR Staff • Communications Staff

7. STAGE 2 Identify interested parties/stakeholders

8. Determine who is interested Definition of a Stakeholder • A person or group with an interest, involvement, or investment in something. For example: • External stakeholders could be citizens, other state agencies, tribes, local government, businesses, or providers. • Internal stakeholders are other divisions or administrations in the department.

9. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 2 Through monthly team meetings GCR will offer guidance on identifying stakeholders.

10. STAGE 3 Communicating with Stakeholders

11. You have the opportunity to change both the perception and reception of the concept and establish a more comprehensive scope by learning about your stakeholders.

12. Communicate your concept with stakeholders • Determine the most effective way to communicate with your stakeholders. • Determine their issues and concerns. • Do not rely on guesswork; go out and talk to your stakeholders. • Refine your concept appropriately. • Accept that their issues and concerns may change over time.

13. One approach with stakeholders that can backfire is when you: DECIDE on the concept/need ANNOUNCE the solution DEFEND the approach you have chosen • A more effective approach for success in on-going communication, including feedback, with stakeholders. • Knowing stakeholder concerns will assist in assessing any future opposition.

14. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 3: Through monthly meetings GCR will offer guidance and strategies on how to communicate your concept to stakeholders and help you assess and adjust your concept accordingly.

15. STAGE 4 Drafting Legislation

16. Drafting legislation • Identify the RCWs that are affected. • Use clear, concise language for additions or revisions. • Distribute proposed draft language to your stakeholders for comments. • Encourage comments & feedback. • Provide annotated explanation to stakeholders for each RCW section change explaining why you are making the change and what will be the effect of the change.

17. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 4 The responsibility of GCR is to: • Coordinate between programs & the Code Reviser in drafting proposed legislation. • Assist in the construction of a narrow title. • Schedule meetings with Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Cabinet/Assistant Secretaries for review & approval of proposed request legislation. • Coordinate with other divisions/administrations for review of proposals.

18. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 4 (cont.) GCR will: • Coordinate with other state agencies for review of proposals and seek fiscal notes. • Determine if request legislation should be co-requested with another agency.

19. STAGE 5 Approval by the Governor

20. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 5 Government & Community Relations will work with programs to meet the Governor’s deadlines. • Request legislation with a fiscal impact is due to the Governor’s Office on September 1. • Request legislation that does not have a fiscal impact is due to the Governor’s Office on September 30.

21. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 5 (cont.) Complete packets include: • Statement of Need & Intent • Completed Stakeholder Plan, including comments from each stakeholder, who was contacted, the date of contact & their comments or position. If they had concerns what, if anything, are you changing and why. The Governor’s Office will follow-up with stakeholders. • Code Reviser draft bill • Fiscal note (including other agencies, if necessary) • Letter from Assistant Attorney General

22. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 5 (cont.) • GCR will coordinate with programs on follow-up questions and revisions from the Governor’s Office. • GCR will notify administrations/divisions upon approval of the Governor.

23. STAGE 6 Legislative Process

24. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 6 • After the Governor’s approval, GCR will seek legislative sponsorship and work with legislators & staff throughout the legislative process. • GCR will schedule meetings with Assistant Secretaries or their designee, and key legislators & committee staff to discuss request legislation.

25. Tips on Meeting with Legislators • Be specific. The meeting is a short briefing on what the request legislation does. • Inform the legislator or staff who is opposed to the request legislation. • Use simple language. • Don’t use acronyms. • Stay away from bureaucratic jargon.

26. Tips on Testifying in Hearings • Know your audience. • Be aware of the length & type of presentation requested or needed. • Use simple language and be very concise - prepare a 1-2 minute presentation. • Don’t use acronyms. • Stay away from bureaucratic jargon. • If you don’t know the answer to a question, tell legislators you will get back to them with the answer. Do not make something up.

27. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 6 (cont.) • If your request bill is referred to a fiscal committee, testimony should relate to the fiscal impacts. • GCR will work with programs & legislative staff if amendments are required in a committee or on the floor of the House or Senate.

28. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 6 • When the request legislation passes the legislature, GCR will write recommendation letters to the Governor asking that he sign, veto or partially veto the bill. • GCR will notify programs when the Governor is going to take action on your request legislation for photo opportunities.

29. STAGE 7 Implementing Legislation

30. Government & Community Relation’s Role in Stage 7 • GCR will produce the Action Required Report for divisions/administrations to review, which will include the effective date of the legislation. • The Action Required Report will be updated periodically to monitor progress on the implementation of the legislation. • Stakeholders should be involved and informed of the implementation of the legislation.

31. Stages to Successful Stakeholder Work Stage 1 - Identify the concept/need Stage 2 - Identify the interested parties Stage 3 - Communicating with stakeholders Stage 4 - Drafting legislation Stage 5 - Approval by the Governor Stage 6 - Legislative process Stage 7 - Implementing legislation

32. Teamwork is essential. It gives them someone else to shoot at. - Unknown