Wisconsin APRN Coalition

“I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” Florence Nightingale

Overview of this presentation This presentation provides an overview of the following: What is Grassroots Advocacy/Lobbying Ways to communicate Important steps in the lobbying process where your voice is needed How to prepare and give testimony at legislative committee hearings Other resources

What is Grassroots Lobbying? Your Legislators It is about building relationships and responding to Calls to Action! Increase legislator awareness of the APRN Modernization Act through… Meetings at home or state office Providing scripted messaging materials/talking points Scheduling legislative events such group receptions/breakfasts, coffees and/or fundraisers Inviting to job shadow to learn about your role Telling your story Attending APRN Lobby Day Following legislator on Twitter and Facebook July 2017

What is Grassroots Lobbying? Your APRN Colleagues It is about building relationships and responding to Calls to Action! Increase APRN awareness of the APRN Modernization Act through… One-on-one discussion regarding the intent of the legislation Assisting with scheduling informational meetings with other APRNs Providing standardized informational materials Encouraging colleagues to join the WI APRN Coalition so they remain engaged, aware and ready to act when requested Inviting to coffees, breakfasts/receptions and fundraisers July 2017

What is Grassroots Lobbying? Your Employer It is about building relationships and responding to Calls to Action! Increase employer awareness of the APRN Modernization Act through… Requesting a meeting with the leadership of your organization to describe the purpose and intent of the APRN Modernization Act Bringing a few co-workers to meeting to show unity but not too many that will overwhelm Utilizing scripted messaging tools for employers Asking for support and advocacy July 2017

What is Grassroots Lobbying? Your Patients and Families It is about building relationships and responding to Calls to Action! Increase consumer awareness of the APRN Modernization Act through… One-on-one discussion with your patients Presenting to consumer groups Submitting letters to the Editor or Op-ed using standardized talking points July 2017

Toolkit for influencing the passage of the APRN Modernization Act This toolkit includes the following tips related to: Messaging and communicating When your voice is needed during the legislative process Preparing and delivering testimony to legislative committee July 2017

Messaging and Communicating

Communicating with Your Legislator Email - This is the most common method of contact Subject line: “Sign-on to LRB…” or “Support AB…” Message should include: Salutation Purpose of your communication Talking points Personal story How you can be contacted Your name, credentials and home address You may need to follow-up... If you have heard from your legislator and is vague with response re-contact to ask for his/her position If you do not hear back from your legislator regarding your first contact,  Re-contact and ask for response.  You may want to include the language in your first email If the legislator is not in favor of the legislation email name and any details to wiaprncoaltion@wna.org July 2017

Communicating with Your Legislator Phone Two reasons for calling: Call to schedule one-on-one meeting either in the district or office include purpose Call to request support when it is time sensitive (WI APRN Coalition will contact you with information and instructions) Be knowledgeable about the request Use scripted materials to support your request Follow-up on your request. (If there are questions or concerns be prepared to provide answers or that you will get the answer) Follow-up with an email thanking for their time July 2017

Communicating with Your Legislator Face-to-Face Meet either in the district or office at the state capitol Prepare! Schedule an appointment and include purpose. Conduct some research your legislator i.e. city, education, career, member of which legislative committees by going to WI Legislature website. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/   Become familiar with the messaging that you are going to provide Use WI APRN Coalition standardized materials Have a personal story that you would like to tell that explains your role and scope of practice. Know where you are going (offices at the state capitol can be hard to find) and arrive early. There is an information desk located in the center of the building. Dress code for capitol meetings is business attire July 2017

Communicating With Your Legislator Face-to-Face Face-to-face meeting either in the district or office at the state capitol Dress and be professional, friendly and courteous Present your purpose of the meeting – “I want to discuss some proposed legislation that we are supporting that is good for patients.  It is the APRN Modernization Act” Provide information - Avoid use of nursing jargon – talk to your legislator as if you were teaching your patient Review who APRNs are Provide standardized talking points July 2017

Communicating With Your Legislator Face-to-Face You may meet with the legislators staff person. Do not be disappointed as staff can be more informed on the bill than the legislator. Be concise, meeting duration may be only 15 minutes Answer questions Ask about their level of support Provide the “Leave Behind” materials or folder provided by WI APRN Coalition staff Thank him/her July 2017

Communicating With Your Legislator Post face-to-face meeting Send a thank you that includes Summary of meeting topic Ask that he/she support the legislation Follow-up on how he/she will vote Monitor progress July 2017

Communicating with Your Legislator Social Media To find your legislator’s Twitter handle and Facebook go to the WI Legislature website for a listing http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ follow the links to your legislator’s website. Tweeting Your message can be only 140 characters long.   Be concise with your tweet Use the WI APRN Coalition twitter handle to  help guide the legislator on the purpose of the APRN Modernization Act Facebook Comment on position on APRN Modernization Act Use link designed for legislator audience (insert) July 2017

Important timeframes when you need to contact your legislator

Legislative Process When Your Help Is Needed Lobbyist Work Your Work Get legislation drafted The APRN Modernization Act Lobbyist will let you know the names of the legislators to thank. Find bill sponsor for Senate and Assembly Lobbyist will contact you to contact your legislator to request sponsor. Solicit co-sponsors through memo (occurs in days to weeks) Contact your legislator asking he/she sign-on as co-sponsor Legislative draft is assigned a bill number and Committee Begin contacting your legislator asking that they support bill July 2017

Legislative Process- When Your Help Is Needed Lobbyist Work Your Work Work with Coalition Committee to develop lobby day Attend 10/12/17 APRN Lobby Day for briefing and meeting with your legislator Work with legislative committee chair to schedule public hearing If you are a constituent of committee chair, request public hearing Notify APRNs of hearing and prepare testimony, messaging Testify/register in support, or email legislator and committee Follow up with bill sponsor: next steps, voting out of committee If a constituent of a committee member, contact them Notify APRN coalition members of miscellaneous needs Watch emails for information and instructions July 2017

Legislative Process When Your Help Is Needed Lobbyist Work Your Work Work with house leadership to get bill scheduled for full vote Wait for updates from the lobbyist regarding next steps Notify APRNs of date that the bill is scheduled for full vote Contact legislator to request voting for the bill; come watch Repeat the process to get bill through the other house Follow the same process Monitor for Governor concerns; notify APRNs of bill signing date Attend bill signing and than Governor July 2017

Testimony: prepare, deliver & follow-up

Purpose of a public hearing The purpose of a public hearing is to educate and inform a committee of the Legislature regarding bills it is considering. People testify at hearings for various reasons, which usually include one or more of the following: To describe the purpose and effect of a bill. This kind of testimony is typically provided by the author of the bill, though it is sometimes given by a representative of a state agency or advocacy group that worked with the author to develop the bill. To express support for or opposition to a bill. Most speakers will indicate a position on the bill. However, some will speak “for information only, neither for nor against.”

Purpose of a public hearing To provide information about a bill that the committee or author may not know. This information may include: Further background information and context regarding the bill. An explanation of how the bill affects the speaker or others, individually. An explanation of what might be unintended consequences of the bill. To suggest improvements to a bill. Suggestions may be general ideas or may be specific recommendations of how the wording of the bill should be changed.

Providing Testimony At Committee Hearing Preparation Prepare – You can request assistance in preparing your testimony by contacting the WI APRN Coalition Lobbyist wiaprncoaltion@wna.org Know the legislative bill “APRN Modernization Act” Review and know the important talking points Prepare written testimony Make copies for each committee member If you are one of the committee members constituent contact his/her office letting them know that you will be testifying Know the location of hearing room Know time of public hearing Know if other legislative bills will be on the agenda July 2017

Providing Testimony At Committee Hearing Hearing Day Dress in business attire Review committee hearing agenda Fill out public hearing form Name or number of the legislative bill Your name and home address Indicate if you are testifying and “in support” or “in opposition” Give this to hearing committee staffer/page When called on to testify, provide copies of your testimony to the staffer/page July 2017

Waiting To Testify Silence cell phone Restrain from conversations When the APRN Modernization Act bill is up for testimony Listen to what others have to say Take notes and strategize your counter-points to opposing views Prior to your being called on, try to confer with lobbyist to determine if you need to refute any of opposing views When you are called on to testify be ready to avoid repeating what has already been said but be prepared to tell your story to provide illustration to support previous points July 2017

Providing Your Testimony When you are called on testify Bring your materials Sit down and check the microphone to make sure it is on Greet the committee chair and members Let them know that you have submitted written testimony Thank chair for holding a hearing on bill number/The APRN Modernization Act Acknowledge a committee member if you are his/her constituent Tell them who you are, what you do and why you are testifying July 2017

Providing Your Testimony Testifying Describe the purpose of the bill and what the bill does for patients/consumers Tell your story Be Brief (under 5 minutes) and try not to read a statement Use words such as “I agree with the previous speakers point on…” rather than repeating points Describe why you disagree with point(s) made by previous speaker Summarize your remarks at the end Ask for their support and thank them

Answering Committee Questions Following Testimony When you are called on testify… You may be asked questions Think about your answer Remain polite – avoid nursing jargon and make this a teachable moment Refer to your position or personal experience or other related talking points that support your answer to the question July 2017

Post-Testimony Stay around and listen to the rest of the testimony If your legislator is on the committee he/she may want to talk to you about the issue. Be willing to discuss or clarify You may want to schedule a follow-up meeting Try to debrief with the lobbyists and colleagues Give yourself time to reflect on the strengths of your testimony and what you may want to do differently next time. July 2017

Access to resources presented in this toolkit

Resources and References A Citizen’s Guide to participation in the Wisconsin state legislature. APRN Modernization Act legislative bill. How a bill becomes law APRN Modernization Act – Talking points for legislators Schematic of APRN Modernization Act Talking points describing each of the four APRN roles Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education