Affiliate Leadership Workshop Agenda NEHA Government Affairs Ohio

Affiliate Leadership Workshop

Agenda • • • NEHA Government Affairs Ohio Environmental Health Association Minnesota Environmental Health Association Texas Environmental Health Association National Conference of State Legislatures

NEHA Government Affairs Joanne Zurcher jzurcher@neha. org

Ohio Environmental Health Association www. ohioeha. org Carrie Yeager, RS OEHA President Garrett Guillozet, MPA, RS/REHS, AEMT OEHA Past President

OEHA Overview: Ø Nearly 600 Active annual members which represent about 45% of all Ohio sanitarians Ø Annual Full Member Dues: $60. 00 Ø Members are from 70 out of 88 Ohio counties Ø Registered as a 501(c)(6) Education Association in Ohio Ø A business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit. Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues. To be exempt, a business league's activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons. Ø Hold 4 District Educational Conferences per year Ø 1 Annual Education Conference/Business Meeting Ø 2 Legislative Update Meetings per year Ø 11 Board Members consisting of President, Past President, President Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, 4 District Directors

OEHA Public Affairs: Ø OEHA is one of 5 major public health associations in the state Ø Association of Ohio Health Commissioners (AOHC) Ø Ohio Association of Boards of Health (OABH) Ø Ohio Public Health Association (OPHA) Ø Society for Ohio Public Health Educations (SOPHE) Ø Monthly Public Affairs meetings to discuss current/pending/proposed legislation Ø Work annual together to create a list of public health priorities for the state Ohio

OEHA Legislative and Government Affairs: Ø Starting nearly a decade ago, OEHA formally contracted with a government affairs organizations to ensure consistent representative among Ohio’s government Ø Currently, we utilize the services of Hicks Partners for representation and lobbying efforts Ø Specialized in Public Health/Environmental Health policy Ø Annual cost of approximately $21, 000 Ø Provide both proactive and reactionary services for our members

OEHA Legislative and Government Affairs: Ø Ø Provide immediate feedback on new/proposed and pending legislation Work off of existing relationships with policy makers and elected officials THEY DO THIS WORK FULL TIME! Help provide background information on political climate

Minnesota Environmental Health Association 2019 -2020 Jenni Lansing | Legislative Committee Co-Chair Mike Melius | President

MEHA Overview • 425 Member (May 2019) • 11 Board members • 14 Committees • ~$50 k association budget • Membership dues and conferences are primary revenue sources • Membership dues $40/year • 2 Conferences per year • $50 k+ in scholarship trust fund 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

MEHA Committees • Conference Planning • Finance • History • Legislative • Membership • Communications • Nominations 7/8/2019 • Outreach • Publicity & Marketing • Registration • Resolutions • Scholarship • Student • Technology Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

MEHA Partnering Organizations 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

MEHA 501(c)(6) History • March 1961 - MEHA initially formed as MN Society of Professional Sanitarians • September 1973 – MN tax exempt status received • March 1974 – Federal tax exemption forms submitted (501 c 6 selected) • July 1974 - Federal tax exempt status received “Sanitarian Registration became law in spite of being a very political issue at a time when other professions were also attempting mandatory requirements for state licensing. ” 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

Basic Comparison: 501(c)(6) & 501(c)(3) 501(c)(6) Charitable contributions Member dues and fees Assets must be dedicated to charitable purpose No requirement to dedicate assets Lobbying and political activities are significantly restricted Wide-range of lobbying allowed (% of dues related to lobbying are non-deductible) For educational purposes only; please consult legal, tax, and association management professionals 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

MEHA Legislative Committee Chair 2018 -19: Jenni Lansing, Valerie Gamble • This committee is responsible for providing MEHA members up to date information on current and potential legislative changes. This is accomplished through bill summary work shared through the e-blast, and providing regular legislative updates to the website. Additionally, this committee strives to provide education on the general governmental process and its role in environmental health. • Pre Legislative Session Committee chairs and members meet to review goals for the legislative session, assign tasks, and review the bill tracking process. We also review how to do bill tracking, how to get updates (run through the state legislative website) and how to write up summaries. • During Session Legislative committee members will track active bills related to environmental health as identified by agency and city legislative liaisons. Select bills may be summarized for the e-blast and website. The committee will provide members with information on how to contact their representatives, including a sample-letter. 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

MEHA Legislative Committee Continued Legislative Committee Chair 2018 -19: Jenni Lansing, Valerie Gamble • Directly after session The committee will hold a session wrap up meeting to summarize bills that were tracked. This summary would be provided to the MEHA members through the e-blast and the MEHA website, and would include what passed, what failed, and other pertinent information. • Occasional Activities Government 101 training will be offered every few years at one of the MEHA conferences. This will cover the basic MN state government process and how to get involved with the process as it related to environmental health. Additional activities such as a MN state capitol complex tours and opportunities to meet legislative members. 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

Thank you! Mike Melius Jenni Lansing Melius. michael@co. olmsted. mn. us Jenni. Lansing@minneapolismn. gov 507 -328 -7453 612 -673 -3023 7/8/2019 Minnesota Environmental Health Association | mehaonline. org

Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA) Legislative Strategy Presentation Christopher Sparks, MPA, MPH, RS Interim Chair, Committee on Legislation and Guidance

TEHA NEHA Affiliate since 1971 Over 900 Members 6 Chapters North Texas Chapter (Dallas-Ft. Worth Area) South Texas Chapter (Border – Mc. Allen – South Padre) East Texas Chapter Panhandle West Texas Chapter (Amarillo- Lubbock -El Paso Areas) Central Texas Chapter (Austin-San Antonio Areas) Gulf Coast Chapter (Houston Area)

TEHA – Legislative Strategy Committee on Legislation and Guidance (Standing Committee) Texas Strategy Group Bi-Annual TEHA Day at the Capitol

TEHA - Strengths Texas Strategy Group Monitors Legislation Meets with Legislators and promotes positive solutions Provides guidance and recommendations Having a Standing Committee on Legislation and Guidance Weekly Conference Calls during Legislative Session for Lobbyist updates and strategy As a part of Strategy, prepare White Papers and Talking Points Collaborative work to testify on Bills as a Team Bi-Annual TEHA Day at the Capitol Participants from all Chapters Engage Legislators

TEHA – Accomplishments Sponsored and Passed Legislation HB 2755 (2019) Collaborated to defeat Legislation Raw Milk (2019) Won compromises on Farmers’ Market license fees (2019) Won compromises on who can obtain licenses at Farmers’ Markets (2019) Won compromises to stop the expansion of Cottage Food (2017) Won Compromises to stop the elimination of the Code Enforcement license in Texas (2015) Won compromises to maintain the State Approval and Accreditation of Food Service Manager and Food Handler Courses (2015)

TEHA – Lessons Learned Being reactive limits effectiveness Becoming known only for what we are against Ill prepared for an onslaught of bills Expansion of Cottage Food Bi-Annual TEHA Day at the Capitol Better coordination and planning off session Development of a better Strategic Plan by the Committee Have Legislative priorities of our own White papers and other policy research off session for anticipated legislation

TEHA – Future Consideration Texas Strategy Group Use our lobbyist more effectively off session Engage legislators off sessions Identify Legislators to sponsor more bills or modify statues favorable to EH Partner with a Retired Sanitarian in Austin area to testify on bills Improve use of our Website and Increase our Social Media presence Get our Members Engaged Especially for TEHA Day

Thank You! Questions

ADVOCATING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TO STATE POLICY MAKERS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS 2018 AND 2019

NCSL OUTREACH TO STATE LEGISLATURES 6, 211 Attendees to NCSL Boston Legislative Summit 1, 203 State Legislators 1, 111 Legislative Staff 13, 003, 731 Visits to NCSL Website 67 Webinars 49 Trainings or Testimony before Legislative Committees 10 issues of State Legislatures Magazine 335, 000 visits to Social Media

STATE LEGISLATURES 2019 Current Composition Republicans Democrats Other Legislators (7, 383 total) 3, 830 / 52% 3, 446 / 47% 107 (Independent, Other or Undecided) Chambers (98 total) 61 / 62% 37 / 38% Nebraska Unicameral Legislatures (49 total) 30 / 61% 18 / 37% 1 divided legislature State Control (49 total) 22 / 45% 14 / 29% 13 divided states

STATE LEGISLATURES’ PROFESSIONALIZATION EFFECTS Greater capacity Ability to make decisions independent of executive, lobbyists Stable membership Allows for more voices, more interests represented Decentralization and fragmentation Avoids Policy gridlock

STATE LEGISLATURES’ “DEPROFESSIONALIZING” FORCES Term limits Limits on taxing and spending authority Staff reductions Ethics/campaign finance laws that prevent openess Anti-government attitudes Decline of trust of government

NON-PARTISAN FORCES OF EFFICACY State constitutions and rules such as single subject requirements for bills, limited sessions with effective deadlines, requirements for balanced budgets, and the fair and consistent application of rules. Governors and legislative leaders who are able to see the big picture, communicate and work together effectively, and make efforts to treat the minority party fairly and value their input. Empowered committees that deliberate effectively and make efforts to incorporate minority party ideas. Personal relations, cultures and traditions among legislators that promote interparty communication and engender trust and respect. Nonpartisan staff. A determination/requirements to get things done, unlike Congress

CONSTRAINTS ON INTERACTIONS WITH STATE LEGISLATURES • Not allowed to initiate contact with legislators • Communication via legislative liaison – no direct interaction • Legislators who reach out directly do not receive calls back • Direct communication is monitored or must be documented • Have to constrain information to that which is within the context of the food safety agencies’ mission. • Cannot lobby or advocate for food safety • Cannot contact legislators to promote idea or policy

APPROACHES TO INTERACTION WITH LEGISLATORS • Field trips / tours of facilities • Providing information and information products that address legislators areas of • • • interest or districts Provide unbiased, scientific information Face to face meetings, ad-hoc meetings, visiting offices of legislators Cultivation of personal relationships Establishing trust by delivering more than is asked for on time and within budget Stakeholders advocating for state agencies’ products and services Talk with legislators about how you can help them achieve their goals

DO NOT: • Communicate with state legislators via the media • Do not advocate or take sides in politically-charged issues • Don’t issue political statements • Don’t talk to legislators as if they are experts in your field • Don’t invite them to technical meetings; that will simply bore them • No freebies (calendars, notepads, etc. ), no mass distribution of maps, publications, etc. • Don’t assume legislators care to be educated about your agency’s mission or importance

COMMUNICATING WITH LEGISLATORS Involve legislators early in the planning process Educate legislators before the legislative sessions Know the political circumstances; parties matter less than personalities Have either money, votes or credible information Present information on costs of effort or program Translate data into meaningful information Be succinct Never surprise a legislator Speak with one voice Relationships are all-important

WHY WE NEED LEGISLATURES POVO SEM PARLAMENTO É POVO ESCRAVO People without parliament are people in chains. Motto of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) Legislative Assembly Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Doug Farquhar, JD Program Director for Environmental Health National Conference of State Legislatures Denver, CO Doug. farquhar@ncsl. org 303. 856. 1397 NCSL

THANK YOU!