Want to know how the legislative process works in Olympia?
Follow this link to an uploaded 13 page word document to save you some time from having to jump from one link to another on the legislative website: http://citizensforhjm4009.ning.com/forum/topics/participating-in-the
The information can also be found at the legislative website http://www.leg.wa.gov
The TVW site is a great place to see visually how the process works. I have added a link to a video where HB2669 & HB2708 were being discussed on the floor and a roll call vote was taken on each.
TVW - view the process on HB 2669 & HB2708 go to: http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2010010091&TYPE=V&CFID=757414&CFTOKEN=14526763&bhcp=1
Other useful information: Track bills of interest:https://dlr.leg.wa.gov/user/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fbilltracking%2fdefault.aspx
This system allows folks to create a list of bills they want to track through the process. It will update the status of bills - whether they are receiving a hearing, moving to the floor for a vote and what chamber the bill is currently in. It's a great tool if folks know the bill numbers and are hawking them. As you can see, you have to set a login and must login to access your list and to see the status.
Committee hearing and schedule alerts: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/
This is a great tool - to sign up to receive an e-mail alert on committee schedules and agenda changes. For example: If folks are interesting in receiving alerts on the agendas for the House Appropriations Committee, they can sign up for a listserv for the committee and they will receive an e-mail alerting them of the agenda for the upcoming committee meeting. It's handy since the bills and a brief description of the bills are included. Here is where folks choose which listserv notifications they can receive from the House and Senate: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/#Schedule Very handy.
Contacting legislators: http://www.leg.wa.gov/LIC/Pages/hotline.aspx
This is the cornerstone of how folks can have their voices heard. E-mail has become an increasingly popular way to let legislators know how you feel on certain pieces of legislation. A word of caution: Blast e-mail containing the same language, ie: not personalized, are not well received. Legislators like to have a personal note on the legislation - it can be short and sweet, but not a blast e-mail that is the same for every person in your group. Letters in hard form are welcome as well and very helpful. Calls are great, but one thing to consider is that the legislator simply logs a person as for or against a bill. A letter or e-mail can tell a story that is more compelling and it is in writing so the member can refer back to it and have it at hearings to help make the case for their votes.
Submitting testimony/testifying at legislative hearings:
If folks cannot make it to Olympia to testify, they can send their comments/testimony in writing to the committee chair and their legislators. Contact information for legislators can be found here: http://www.leg.wa.gov/LIC/Pages/hotline.aspx. Committee member information (so folks can find out who to send their comments to) can be found here:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/committeelisting.aspx
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Testimony sent in writing should include:
· The bill number the issue is related to;
· A brief explanation of why you support or oppose the bill; and
· How the bill would impact your life/business, etc.
For those testifying in-person at a bill hearing: Make sure your comments are succinct, meaning make your points in 2-3 minutes. Telling a long story or getting sidetracked may mean you get cut off - particularly if there are lots of people signed up to testify. The chair may limit your testimony time to ensure everyone has an opportunity to weigh in on the bill, so be prepared to state your case, give a personal note of the impact of the legislation and whether you support or oppose the bill quickly. I recommend folks that get nervous write out their testimony and read it - again 2-3 minutes max. They can then leave the written script with committee staff so it is kept in the record and all members of the committee will receive a copy from staff.
Talking points from business groups and others may be available for folks, which may help folks formulate their messages.
Last, be sure to alert your local legislator that you will be in town to testify, whether they serve on the committee you will testify in front of or not. You can request a meeting with them that same day and even give them a copy of your testimony. They use your comments to help them formulate how they will vote on bills and can even use it to relay a story from in-district during floor debate. If folks aren't sure who their legislators are, here's a great tool to find out: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx