1. Legislative Process Training DGS University November/December 2012

2. Today’s Focus How DGS interacts with the Legislature What the Office of Legislative Affairs does How the Legislature can affect you and your job How you can help DGS deal effectively with the Legislature

3. How the Legislature Can Affect DGS Example: AB 2442

4. The Legislative Process

5. DGS Legislative Affairs We read every bill that might affect DGS and analyze the ones that do We lobby and testify on behalf of DGS’ official positions on bills We field inquiries from the Legislature and coordinate responses—investigations, program/statistical information, and constituent assistance/complaints We prepare the department for hearings and meetings with the Legislature We coordinate reports to the Legislature

6. Analyzing Bills We read every bill with a potential DGS impact and self-assign bill analyses Other bill analysis assignments come from Agency or the Governor’s Office We analyze bills from December through September We may analyze the same bill several times as it is amended Increasingly, the Governor’s Office is asking DGS for analyses of bills affecting local government on issues within DGS’ expertise

7. Taking Positions DGS’ official actions on bills (sponsoring, taking positions) require approval from Agency and Governor’s Office If DGS does not have an approved position, we can still provide information but do not actively lobby for/against a bill Need early start to get an approved position from the Governor’s Office in time to affect the bill

8. Analyzing Bills: Potential Positions Neutral Oppose Unless Amended Oppose No Analysis Required Defer to Other Department “Support” is used only for Administration- sponsored bills. Other bills we like are “Neutral.” “Neutral if Amended” is rarely used by DGS.

9. How Do We Pick Our Position? What does the program think? How will it affect existing policy/operations? Will it cost DGS or our customers money? Is another department better positioned to handle the bill? If it’s bad, can it be salvaged with an amendment? If it can’t be salvaged with an amendment, how bad is it?

10. What We Need From You Differs depending on the bill, but these are common themes: How law, policy, and practice would change if bill were enacted Pitfalls/problems that would arise Realistic estimate of fiscal impact of implementing bill Quick turnaround (sorry!)

11. Enrolled Bill Reports DGS’ final analyses of bills that have reached the Governor’s desk Represent DGS’ confidential advice to the Governor on whether to sign or veto bill Nearly all are done in September—very busy time We get lots of follow-up questions from the Governor’s Office—please bear with us Fiscal estimate in EBR is particularly important because it may form the basis of a BCP Governor signs many more bills than he vetoes—this is why it’s important to address problems during the legislative process

12. BCPs for Enacted Legislation Budget Change Proposals (BCP) are due very soon after the Governor signs a bill If the Enrolled Bill Report does not reflect the cost of implementation, DOF may not approve the BCP Be prepared to provide detailed support for your assumptions and analysis

13. DGS-Sponsored Legislation DGS sponsors legislation on issues that directly affect the department Agency and Governor’s Office approval are required for all sponsored legislation Legislative Affairs sends a memo every summer indicating that year’s deadline for legislative proposals

14. Handling Legislative Inquiries Take down the person’s name, office, telephone number and question Courteously explain that you are referring the inquiry to Legislative Affairs Contact your assigned Legislative Affairs analyst and explain the question Be prepared to provide information and/or refer the analyst to others familiar with the matter

15. Legislative Reports Can be tedious and time-consuming, but are required by law Governor’s Office does not like legislative reports and is interested in reducing Chiefs and deputy directors—please let everyone involved know about required reports and deadlines

16. Conclusion The legislative process is cyclical; there are deadlines throughout the year Frequently short timeframes to get information to the Governor’s Office, Agency, committees, and member offices BCPs are due very soon after the Governor signs a bill Contact Legislative Affairs for any legislative inquiries, issues or concerns

17. Contact Us Bo Nishimura, Deputy Dir. DSA, OPSC 916.376.5045 Aracely Campa RESD, Energy/ Environment, ORIM 916.375.6737 Matt Bender, Manager Procurement, OLS, IT 916.376.5008 Robert Ullrey OSP, Fleet, OAH, Audits, EEO, OFS, OHR, OSPPR 916.376.5044