Lobbying 101 Amber Lenhart, MPH Health Policy Specialist Spokane Regional Health District 1/30/2020
Presentation Overview • Can SRHD lobby? • Why not? • How do we know if we’re doing it? • What can we do then?
Caveats THIS PRESENTATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR TAKE THE PLACE OF LEGAL OPINION OR LEGAL GUIDANCE. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Can SRHD Lobby? No.*
SRHD is prohibited from lobbying • Special purpose districts can lobby only if they have an elected board • Public funds cannot be used for lobbying
How do we know if we’re doing it? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Direct Lobbying RCW 42.17A.005 (22) through (35): “Lobby” and “lobbying” each mean attempting to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Washington, or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other legislative enactment of any state agency under the state administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
Direct Lobbying IRS Definition: • Communication directly with legislator or staff • On specific legislation • That reflects the organization’s view on the legislation
Direct Lobbying IRS Definition: Face-to-face meetings with • Communication legislators or staff, directly with letters, emails, or legislator or staff phone calls • On specific legislation • That reflects the organization’s view on the legislation
Direct Lobbying IRS Definition: Bills that have been introduced, specific • Communication legislative proposals directly with not yet introduced, legislator or staff and ballot measures • On specific legislation • That reflects the organization’s view on the legislation
Direct Lobbying IRS Definition: Does not include regulatory actions, • Communication executive actions, directly with school board legislator or staff decisions, zoning • On specific legislation board decisions, • That reflects the corporate actions, organization’s view institutional actions on the legislation (e.g., hospitals, universities)
Direct Lobbying IRS Definition: Communication is rarely completely • Communication neutral directly with legislator or staff • On specific legislation • That reflects the organization’s view on the legislation
Grassroots Lobbying IRS Definition: • Communication to the public Includes tweets, advertisements, speeches, • letters, etc. • On specific legislation • That reflects the organization’s view on the legislation • And includes a call to action
What can we do then? • WAC 390-05-271(1) and (2) clarify that an individual can express his or her own personal views, and that a public office or agency can make an objective and fair presentation of facts relevant to a ballot proposition if such action is part of the normal and regular conduct of the agency.
What else can we do? Take advantage of exceptions: • Subsequent Use Distribute information broadly to the public • (outside of legislative session and without a call to action) • Nonpartisan analysis • Invitation to testify from committee chair
Examples of Education vs. Lobbying • Health Impact Assessment • WA BOH Health Impact Reviews • Oral or written assistance provided in response to a written request by a governmental body, legislative committee or subcommittee
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Lobbying or Not? An SRHD employee doorbells and volunteers for a phone tree for a candidate on the weekend
Lobbying or Not? SRHD signs on to a letter encouraging legislators to adopt Just Cause Protections for renters, and related legislation has been proposed at the state level
Lobbying or Not? Staff attend a forum with legislators on behalf of SRHD and during a side conversation with a state Representative remind the elected official that a specific proposed bill would help SRHD clients
Lobbying or Not? An SRHD program creates a webpage listing policy solutions to address youth vaping— including banning flavored vapor products— and provides a link to a web form to contact a legislator
Lobbying or Not? SRHD staff meet with Spokane Public School Board members and ask the board to approve changes to school siting and redesign standards to support public health
Lobbying or Not? SRHD staff are invited to participate on a committee drafting language for a bill that will be proposed during the upcoming legislative session
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