©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Michael P. Aitken March 17, 2010

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program. Presentation Overview  Overview of SHRM’s Government Affairs Program  Federal Public Policy Overview  Complying with State Lobbying Laws  Introduction of GA Staff and Responsibilities  Open Discussion/ Q & A Session

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program Federal Public Policy Member Advocacy Regulatory/ Judicial Affairs State Public Policy

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program Determining SHRM’s Public Policy Priorities  Political Climate  Burning/Hot Issues  State Legislative Director Input  State Council Determination

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program Developing Public Policy Statements  Policy positions are set by the SHRM Board.  Position is developed through:  Member Surveys  Focus Groups  Special Expertise Panels  Currently reviewing all of our public policy statements and process.  Public policy statements guide both our federal and state activities.

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program Key HR Issues in 2011  Health Care Reform  Workplace Flexibility/Leave Benefits  Labor-Management Relations  Civil Rights Protections  Credit Check  Weapons in the Workplace

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting Government Affairs Program Advocacy Program  SHRM is organized as a 501(c)(6).  Registered as lobbyist organization under the Lobby Disclosure Act.  Federal Relations staff are registered as lobbyists.

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting State Affairs Programs Public Policy Process  State Affairs Activity  Consistent with SHRM Public Policy Statements  State Legislative Directors contact staff/staff alerts State Legislative Directors  Staff Recommendation  State Legislative Directors request assistance  Work with State Legislative Directors on  Strategy

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting State Affairs Programs Characteristics of an Effective State Program  Compliance with state lobbying laws  Consistent communication process  Engaged advocacy efforts

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting State Affairs Programs State Lobbying Registration Laws  State requirements vary widely – important to check your state  What is “lobbying?” Examples of some definitions and triggers:  “Communicating by any means” to influence legislation (e.g., Ind.)  Expenditure thresholds: e.g., spending $100/year (Ala.)  Time thresholds: spending more than 20 hours/year lobbying (N.J.)  Grassroots activities: spending at least $100/year on communications that encourage others to contact their lawmakers (Kan.)  “Directly communicating” with state officials (Tex.) Note: A state may use more than one of the above as a trigger (e.g., you must register if you spend more than $500 to communicate by any means to influence legislation)

©SHRM State Legislative Director’s Meeting State Affairs Programs State Lobbying Registration Laws  Examples of exempted activities:  Testifying at a legislative or agency hearing (invitation may be required)  Providing written comments to proposed regulations  Individuals contacting lawmakers “solely on their own behalf”  Providing information only about pending matters  Individuals/entities who do not meet the expenditure or time thresholds Note: if you hire a lobbyist, the lobbyist must register; your organization may also be required to register as a lobbyist- employer.

©SHRM Final Comments/Q & A Session