1. Wisconsin APRN Coalition

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Messaging and Communicating

10. 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
If the legislator is not in favor of the legislation name and any details to
July 2017

11. 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 thanking for their time
July 2017

12. 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.  
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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Communicating with Your Legislator Social Media
To find your legislator’s Twitter handle and Facebook go to the WI Legislature website for a listing 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

17. Important timeframes when you need to contact your legislator

18. 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

19. 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 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 s for information and instructions
July 2017

20. 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

21. Testimony: prepare, deliver & follow-up

22. 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.”

23. 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.

24. Providing Testimony At Committee Hearing Preparation
Prepare – You can request assistance in preparing your testimony by contacting the WI APRN Coalition Lobbyist
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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Access to resources presented in this toolkit

32. 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