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Citizen Lobbyist Training November 15, 2017

Where: Training is 10:00AM – 12:00PM Legislative Services Building – Room LSB-B 200 East 14th Avenue, Denver THIS IS THE BUILDING SOUTH OF THE CAPITOL

Our Colorado Senior Lobby (CSL) Citizen Lobbyist Training is “non-partisan citizen lobbyist training” for someone who wants to influence policy and not just discuss policy. Colorado Senior Lobby was organized in 1980 as a non-partisan organization committed to enhancing the life of seniors through education and analysis of legislation as it impacts seniors, along with encouraging citizen lobbying by Colorado Senior Lobby members and members of the community to testify on bills.

The resources presented today and highlighted in this handout are available on our website.

www.ColoradoSeniorLobby.org

Click here to access our Citizen Lobbyist

Resources

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PowerPoint Presentation - Legislative Training 2017 - with Jeanette Hensley & Rich Mauro

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PowerPoint Presentation - Legislative Training 2017 - with Jeanette Hensley & Rich Mauro

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PowerPoint Presentation - Legislative Training 2017 - with Jeanette Hensley & Rich Mauro

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Highlights from the PowerPoint

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Are you receiving our eNewsletter? Our eNewsletter is free!

Have you joined Colorado Senior Lobby for 2018? Membership information is posted online!

www.ColoradoSeniorLobby.org

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Glossary of Terms - Continued

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing LTSS (Long Term Services & Supports) Acronym List (as of June 2012)

Source: John Barry at John.R.Barry@state.co.us or (303) 866-3173

AAA – Area Agency on Aging ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act ADRC – Aging and Disabilities Resource Center AR – Authorized Representative ARCH – Adult Resources Care and Help (Colorado’s name for ADRCs) BH – Behavioral Health BHO – Behavioral Health Organizations BI – Brain Injury BUS – Benefits Utilization Systems CBLTC – Community-Based Long Term Care CCB – Community Centered Board CCDC – Colorado Cross-Disabilities Coalition CCT – Colorado Choice Transitions (Colorado’s name for its Money Follows the Person grant) CDHS – Colorado Department of Human Services CDASS – Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services CDOT – Colorado Dept. of Transportation CDHS – Colorado Dept. of Human Services CDPHE – Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment CES – Children’s Extensive Support waiver CFC – Community First Choice option CHAFA – Colorado Housing & Finance Authority CHRP - Children’s Habilitation Residential Program CLASS Act – Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act CMHC Community Mental Health Center CMHI – Colorado Mental Health Institutes CMHIFL – CMHI at Ft. Logan CMHIP – CMHI at Pueblo CMHS – Center for Mental Health Services (federal) CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CO-ACTS – Colorado Access to Community-Based Transitions & Services CTS – Community Transition Services DBH – Division of Behavioral Health DCWS – Division of Child Welfare Services DCR – Designated Client Representative DD - Developmental Disability DDD – Division for Developmental Disabilities DHHS - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services DHS/SS – Local County Dept. of Human Services or Social Services

DME – Durable Medical Equipment DOH – Department of Housing DOLA – Dept. of Local Affairs EBD – Elderly, Blind and Disabled FMS – Financial Management Service HCBS – Home and Community-based Services HCBS – DD Home and Community-based Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities HCPF - Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing HRSA – Health Resources and Services Administration HUD – Housing and Urban Development ICF/ID – Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (new name) ICF/MR – Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (old name) IHSS – In-Home Support Services IMD – Institutions for Mental Disease JBC – Colorado Joint Budget Committee LCAs – Local Contact Agencies LHAs – Local Housing Authorities LTC – Long-Term Care LTCAC – Long Term Care Advisory Committee LTSS – Long-Term Services and Supports MDS – Minimum Data Set MFP – Money Follows the Person MH – Mental Health MHC – Mental Health Center MHI – Mental Health Institute MI – Mental Illness NF – Nursing Facility NFAC – Nursing Facility Advisory Council NH – Nursing Home OCR – Office of Civil Rights OLTC - Options for Long Term Care PACE – Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly PAD-CO – Parents of Adults with Disabilities in Colorado PAR – Prior Authorization Request PASRR – Pre Admission Screen and Resident Review PDPPC Participant-Directed Programs Policy Collaborative POC – Plan of Care OBHH – Office of Behavioral Health & Housing

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Glossary of Terms - Continued

RC – Regional Center RCCF – Residential Child Care Facility RFI – Request for Information RFP – Request for Proposal SCRC – Systems Change for Real Choices grant SED – Serious Emotional Disturbances SEP – Single Entry Point SHHP – Division of Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs SLS – Supportive Living Services SMI – Serious Mental Illness

SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility SPMI – Serious and Persistent Mental Illness SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance SSI – Supplemental Security Income SUA – State Unit on Aging TBRA – Tenant-Based Rental Assistance TCA – Transition Coordination Agency TRCCF – Therapeutic Residential Child Care Facilities ULTC-100.2 – Uniform Long Term Care Assessment Form

Tips for Lobbying your Colorado Legislator

(What Works and What Doesn’t) By Former State Representative Dianne Primavera

1. Tell the truth, don’t provide any “alternative facts”. Remember, each legislator comes to serve with a limited background. There is no way they know all the issues or facts for each aspect of Colorado law. They are relying on you to educate them.

2. State clearly what problem you are trying to solve. If they can’t understand the problem, they won’t know if the proposed bill will help fix it or hurt it.

3. Tell your story when you testify – personal stories about how this bill will impact your life. 4. Understand both sides of the issue; what will the other side say? Is there a compromise? 5. Legislators receive lots of emails. If you are going to send one, keep it short and concise, focusing

on the issue. If the email is long, and the legislator gets many of them, it loses its impact. They will just scroll to the bottom to see if the writer is one of their constituents. If you are not in their district, your message may get deleted. Worst thing is form letters – once you read the first one, you skip the rest of them, even if it may contain a little bit different info or personal story.

6. Make sure to lobby your legislator from your house and senate district. They want and need to hear from you. If you don’t get a response, try a different way to contact them, i.e. no response from email, try snail mail, no response from snail mail, try a phone call, no response from a phone call, try a post card, if still no response, go to their town hall meeting or a location where you know they will be.

7. Tell your legislator how the issue will impact their district. They are there to be your representative, voice and to help everyone within their district.

8. Be prepared to educate your legislator on the issue. Remember they come from all different backgrounds; odds are that they are not familiar with senior issues and needs.

9. When the session first starts, it is easier to get in touch with your legislator, but once things get moving, in March and April, it is harder to be able to reach your legislator. They will be busy in committees, meeting with stakeholders, working on compromises and amendments to bills. The summer is the best time to talk with your legislator.

10. Food is good! Legislators are always hungry. Providing a lunch is a good thing. If you send any correspondence to your legislator, make it short, concise, succinct and to the point. Making it eye catching is a benefit.

11. When you testify in committee, keep it short and succinct. If someone has already said it, don’t repeat it. Each legislator is allowed to originate five bills only each session; but, is allowed to co-sponsor other bills originating from other legislators.

12. Remember, this is a citizen process; you have the right to be there and to make your voice heard. We all own the problems and the solutions.

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Motions that Bring a Question Before the Assembly Again By Jeanette Hensley, Board Member Colorado Senior Lobby

1. Take from the Table = resume consideration of a main motion

2. Rescind, Repeal or Annul = cancel something that has been previously adopted

3. Amend Something Previous Adopted = proposal to modify wording or text previously adopted

4. Discharge a Committee = if a question has been referred or a task assigned to a committee that has not made a final report the committee may be discharged to allow the Board to take action or to drop the motion

5. Reconsider = within the same meeting a motion has been voted on the question may come before the assembly again as if it had not been voted on

Tips on Testifying

By Ed Shackelford, President of Colorado Senior Lobby Everyone has a first time at testifying in the Colorado State Capitol. My first time I signed up on the wrong sign-in sheet for testifying! So here are some general tips on being a good citizen lobbyist down at The Capitol:

1. Have confidence to go in front of the legislators. It can be an intimidating environment, in an intimidating building but remember that you belong there, and legislators want to hear from citizens and organizations impacted by bills.

2. Arrive with plenty of time so you can find the right committee room.

3. Sometimes there are overflow rooms for those testifying.

4. The Capitol has a library in basement. When the legislature is in session, agendas are available for the Senate and House. The agendas will tell you what bill hearings are happening that day and in what room. (Room assignments sometimes get changed. Check with Sergeant at Arms at desk outside committee rooms to verify.)

5. When you go to sign in to testify there are multiple sign in sheets. Be sure to use the sign-in sheet for the bill you want to testify on.

6. You will be treated with respect when you testify, however you could also get some difficult questions from the committee.

7. No food is allowed in committee rooms but you can have a capped water bottle.

8. The Sergeant-at-Arms - The Sergeant-at-Arms is elected by the members of the Legislature and plays an integral role in maintaining order and decorum in the Capitol. In addition to various ceremonial duties, the Sergeant-at-Arms’ Office is responsible for assigning meeting rooms, taking/delivering messages for Legislators, running the Legislative Page program, supervising custodial staff, and operating the Capitol Police Department. (They will also go behind the committee and take pictures for individuals)

9. You can take pictures in the Capitol.

10. If you are going to testify, you need to clarify if you are testifying for Colorado Senior Lobby or as an individual citizen.

11. Realize that the legislators may be using computers and phones to do other business. Their email boxes are usually overflowing and they may not see your transmittal.

Have questions? Want to be more involved with senior issues? Call or email Colorado Senior Lobby! - www.ColoradoSeniorLobby.org Ed Shackelford –720-353-3775 – President@ColoradoSeniorLobby.org