1. Be a part of the collective voice of your profession!
VDHA Rally Day 2017
Be a part of the collective voice
of your profession!

2. What is Rally Day?
An opportunity to join hygienists from around the state to educate legislators regarding bills affecting the dental hygiene profession and the population we serve.
A structured day dedicated to meeting legislators face to face as oral health and consumer advocates.

3. Who Participates in Rally Day?
Senior dental hygiene students from around the state
Practicing dental hygienists
A powerful show of over 200 students and professionals

4. What Is Lobbying?
The presentation of ideas, thoughts and opinions, and points of view to policymakers, legislators, state agency directors, and dental board members.
An attempt to influence the decision-making process.

5. Lobbying
The building of personal relationships between VDHA and policymakers.
Legislators can impact our profession by passing laws that determine how and where we practice.

6. Lobbying Helps legislators make more educated decisions.
Legislators cannot be experts on every issue so we can serve as a resource.

7. Key Practice Issues Direct access to dental hygiene care
Scope of practice
Reimbursement

8. What Influences the Scene?
Election year/primaries
Governor’s priorities/campaign promises
Political agendas of each party
State budget
How your bills fit into this environment
Controversy

9. Key Visits
Visiting ALL assigned legislators is important, but if you are in districts of key legislators, your visits are even more influential. Determine priorities.
Some have key leadership roles that shape the legislative agenda.
Others serve on key committees that vote whether a bill moves forward or dies.
House Health, Welfare and Institutions
Senate Education and Health

10. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills start as ideas from legislators, constituents, special interest groups, etc.
Bill introduction
Committee process
Assigned to subcommittee
Hearings
Many ways to “kill” a bill
Tabled, passed by indefinitely, continued to next session, stricken, no hearing, defeated
Floor
“Crossover”
Governor’s action
Veto session

11. Resources Identify Your ‘Home’ Legislators
(or google “VA who is my legislator”)
General Assembly Website
Legislation and Voting Records (when available)

12. Lobbying Tips
Know legislators’ office numbers at the General Assembly Building before your visit.
Review your appointment times.
Review VDHA fact card and talking points!

13. How to Lobby
Be there on time at the General Assembly to start the Rally Day program.
Meet your legislator with a short prepared message or be ready to leave a message in his/her office if they cannot meet.

14. Talking to Virginia Legislators
Greet the secretary or legislative aide and state whether you have an appointment.
Try to talk to your legislator or their legislative aide personally rather than leave a message.
Sign their guest book.

15. Meeting with Legislators
Be polite and friendly.
Dress professionally; wear comfortable shoes.
Are you a constituent? Let them know!
Be brief and concise.
Thank them for their time.

16. Meeting with Legislators
Do not speak negatively with anyone who opposes our legislation, point of view
Instead, clarify our position with accurate points to back it up.
Listen to what they legislator’s response is and record it on paper, if possible, and return it to your faculty or Susan Pharr, VDHA Regulations and Practice Chair
Take note of the legislator’s attitude.

17. Meeting with Legislators
Exchange ideas and correct misconceptions.
Ask for clear answers, but do not be too pushy.
Leave your business card if you have one.
If you do not know the answer to a question, tell the legislator that an VDHA representative will get the answer.
Write it down and return to Susan Pharr.

18. Prevention Messages Tooth decay and gum disease are preventable.
Prevention is:
Cost effective
Keeps people pain-free
Helps people stay healthy
Dental hygienists are best educated in health promotion and disease prevention .

19. HB 1474 Talking Points
The VDHA and the VDA worked together last session to pass legislation to expand remote supervision to new settings, such as health clinics, schools, nursing homes, etc. to help serve more patients.
Since implementation of the new law, we discovered a few minor issues that need to be fixed to ensure it can work as intended.
HB1474 makes technical adjustments to ensure that more Virginians are able to access to oral health care. VDHA and VDA both support HB1474.
More specific talking points will be provided on Rally Day.

20. Meeting Follow-Up
Send your legislators a thank-you note for taking the time to speak with you.
VDHA will have CE forms available after the meetings.
There will be a group photo for all to put in the media.

21. Thank You!! See You on Rally Day!
Contact Information:
Trish MacDougall:
Susan Pharr: