Randy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs The New Jersey - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

 Debra L. Wentz, Ph.D., CEO of NJAMHAA  Randy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction  Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) is a statewide trade association representing  nonprofit behavioral health agencies founded in 1951. Represents 180 hospital-based and freestanding providers  of mental health and substance use treatment services throughout New Jersey.  NJAMHAA members help children and adults with mental health and substance use issues more than one million times annually.  Employ approximately 98,000 members of New Jersey’s workforce

 NJAMHAA’s mission is to champion opportunities that advance its members’ ability to deliver accessible, quality, efficient and effective integrated behavioral healthcare services to consumers who have mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders, and their families. NJAMHAA is committed to recovery and wellness for all people.

 Presentation Overview:  How to engage Legislative Representatives and their staff to advance your advocacy.  Understand the Legislative process and opportunities for advocacy within that process.  Understand the New Jersey Budget Cycle  Give you tools to successfully advocate.  Questions and Answers  Role Play

Legislature :  Two Houses and Membership  Power Structure  Committee Structure

 Senate:  Senate President  Senate Majority Leader  Chairs of Key Committees  Assembly:  Speaker of the Assembly  Assembly Majority Leader  Chairs of Key Committees

 Senate:  Budget and Appropriations  Community and Urban Affairs  Education  Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens  Judiciary  Law and Public Safety  Labor  State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation

 Assembly:  Appropriations  Budget  Health and Senior Services  Human Services  Judiciary  Labor  Law and Public Safety  Regulated Professions  Military and Veterans’ Affairs  Regulatory Oversight and Gaming  Women and Children (NEW)

 Idea Developed A legislator decides to sponsor a bill, sometimes at the suggestion of a constituent, interest group, public official, or the Governor. The legislator may ask other legislators in the same House to join as co-sponsors.

 The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) drafts language at the direction of the legislator.  Introduction and First Reading: During a session, the legislator gives the bill to the Senate Secretary or Assembly Clerk, who reads the bill's title aloud.  Bill is printed and made available to the public.

 Committee Reference  Posted by Committee Chair  Committee may Amend Bill  “Die in Committee”  Advocacy Opportunity  Second Reading  Bill has Cleared Committee  Bill has Been Referenced Without Committee Review  Can be Amended on the Floor  Third Reading – FULL VOTE!

 Note on the Third Reading  Read Aloud and Considered on the Floor  Cannot go Through 2 nd and 3 rd Reading on Same Day Without a Super-Majority Vote

 Second House  Identical Process  Same Version Must Pass BOTH Houses  If Bill is Amended in One House It is Returned to the Other House Until Identical Versions Pass  Pass Both Houses – Off to the Governor’s Office

 Governor’s Options  Sign Bill  No Action – Bill Becomes Law in 45 Days  Conditional Veto  “Pocket Veto” – Last 10 days of Legislative Session (allows the bill to be vetoed without direct action)  Absolute Veto  Requires Super-Majority to Override

 The New Jersey Budget Cycle operates on a Fiscal Calendar Year (ex. FY 2015)  The fiscal year runs from July 1 st – June 30 th  The budget follows the regular legislative process with some additional constitutional requirements

 Governor has two constitutionally required addresses to the State Legislature:  State of the State Address – 2 nd Tuesday of the year  Budget Address – On or before 4 th Tuesday of the year  Budget must be passed and signed into law by July 1st

 Governor Introduces Proposed Budget  Legislature holds hearings on proposed budget  Public testimony  Budget resolutions  Legislature introduces its Budget Bill  Goes to Governor for action after passing both houses

 Governor  Sign Budget – becomes law  Veto Budget – continues legislative process  Line item veto – eliminate specific lines of funding  Legislature would need a super-majority to override any vetoes

 Know Your Representative  Get to Know Their Staff  Write Effective Advocacy Letters  Meeting Request  Why You Are Important  Why Your Issues Matter to Your Representative

 Be Prepared, Be Early, Be Flexible  Have a Realistic Agenda  Issues Clearly Layed Out  Know In Advance Who Will Speak on Each Topic  Have Identified Solutions and Actions to Request  Have Realistic Expectations

 Reinforce Your Message by Following Up Early  An Effective Follow Up Letter  Thanks for the Meeting  Re-cap any Promise of Action  Tie Into the Importance of the Issue  Offer Yourself as a Partner and a Resource

 Letter to the Editor  Public Hearings

 New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) www.NJAMHAA.org  New Jersey State Legislature http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/  Governor Christie’s Office http://nj.gov/governor/