Posts Tagged ‘assembly’

  1. May
    18
    2012

    Speak out! It actually matters


    by Katie O'Neil in Category: Advocacy,PACE

    Today more than ever, your voice matters in Sacramento!  With all the cuts that have to be made in our State’s budget it is critical that you help shape where those cuts are.

    Governor Brown has offered another state budget proposal called “the May Revise” and now the Legislature will get down to business and make decisions that will impact your classrooms and the children enrolled in your center.

    Help your State Senator and Assembly Representative get ready to make the best decisions for child care! Every voice counts to make sure that every Legislator knows that early care and education matters.

    At the PACE Action Center you can personalize a letter from directors, teachers, and other program staff and in just a few steps send it to your Legislator.  Just enter your zip code below and edit the letter as needed to best express your concerns to your local Legislator(s).  PACE has met with Legislators on multiple occasions and they tell us how important and how much effect the letters really have.

    Spread the word, tell the parents enrolled in your center, and surrounding community members that they can send a letter from the PACE Action Center too!!

    If you can’t afford a 50% reduction in reimbursement rates it is time to urge State Legislators to support early care and education today!

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  2. Mar
    30
    2012

    Tools of Effective Citizen Advocacy


    by Katie O'Neil in Category: Advocacy,For The Adults

    With all the changes and cuts going on in Sacramento we wanted to give you some quick tools to be an effective advocate for early care and education. Your voice is more important than ever!

    Find out about issues or legislation important to you:

    The best source is probably the media.  Newspapers, radio and TV all report on legislation of concern to Californians.  Most organizations and interest groups publish newsletters.  Many of these public interest groups have advocates in the Capitol who have access to the most up-to-date information.

    In addition, your legislators district office staff can help you track down legislation of interest to you.  To receive copies of bills you can also write directly to the Legislative Bill Room, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.  They will provide you with one copy of up to 100 bills free of charge.

    PACE also tracks bills of interest to our membership at our Public Policy Action Center.

    Stay Current – Bills are often amended!  There are also official legislative publications found in public libraries at senate.ca.gov.

    • Senate (Assembly) Daily File – printed each day with the agenda and bills set for hearing.
    • Senate (Assembly) Weekly History – indicates the status of each bill
    • Senate (Assembly) Daily Journal – the official record of each day’s proceedings
    • Legislative Index – the complete listing by subject matter of all bills introduced

    Types of Legislation:

    SB – Senate Bill (AB – Assembly Bill) – bills require a majority vote.  If there is a fiscal impact, they require a two-thirds vote.

    SCA (ACA) – Senate (Assembly) Constitutional Amendment – requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and a vote by the people.

    SCR (ACR) – Senate (Assembly) Concurrent Resolution – relates to general matters of concern to the Legislature.

    House Resolutions – matters of concern to one house.

    Communicate with your legislator:

    Letters are extremely effective.  Give your legislator all of the reasons why you support or oppose a particular piece of legislation.  Be sure to include your name and address.  Send it to either the State Capitol office or to the district office.  Telegrams, postcards, petitions, phone calls and personal letters all help.

    When to contact your legislator:

    Each bill is heard a minimum of four times before passing the Legislature – in the policy committees and on the floor of each house.  However, you should contact your legislator as early in the session as possible.

    Go online:

    The California State Senate is online.  By accessing the Senate website at senate.ca.gov you can:

    • Find the full text of bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments, their status, history, votes, analyses and veto messages
    • Access links to other state agencies and media websites
    • Get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs)
    • Listen to and watch live Senate hearings, floor sessions and press conferences
    • Find out about the day’s scheduled events, agendas of upcoming hearings, floor session schedules, the Legislative calendar and deadlines
    • Look at a glossary of legislative terms
    • Visit senators’ web pages
    • Find a roster of addresses and phone numbers
    • Find out who your senator is
    • View district maps
    • Get information about Senate and Assembly committees

     

    You can make a difference for early care and education today!

     

    This information from “A Citizen’s Guide to Lobbying” compliments of Senator Mark DeSaulnier

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