Legislative Process Training

DGS UniversityNovember/December 2012

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

How the Legislature Can Affect DGS

• Example: AB 2442

The Legislative Process

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

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

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

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.

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?

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!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Us

Bo Nishimura, Deputy Dir.DSA, OPSC

916.376.5045

Aracely CampaRESD, Energy/

Environment, ORIM916.375.6737

Matt Bender, ManagerProcurement, OLS, IT

916.376.5008

Robert UllreyOSP, Fleet, OAH, Audits, EEO, OFS, OHR, OSPPR

916.376.5044