what does it mean to say that staffers often function as gatekeepers for legislators

State Legislators: Who They Are and How to Piece of work With Them: A Guide for Oral Health Professionals

March 2018

Why Should You Care Nearly the State Legislature?

Because of the variety and complication of the policy issues before them, country legislators oftentimes rely on their staff, researchers, experts in the field, lobbyists, practitioners and community members to gather information and develop policies that address a need or respond to an opportunity (such equally new federal funds). Legislators have access to enquiry through legislative staff or research organizations such every bit the National Conference of State Legislatures; however, they too rely on experts in the field—people similar you lot—for information and firsthand perspectives about the furnishings of laws and public funding of oral wellness programs.

This guide is designed to:

• Aid oral health professionals and directors understand how state legislatures piece of work and how state legislators gather information and develop policies related to oral wellness.
• Identify how people exterior the state capitol—specifically, local oral health providers or members of community-based organizations—tin can communicate effectively with their elected leaders and provide constructive input through the legislative process.

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) - Dental

HPSA scores are adult for use by the National Wellness Service Corps to determine priorities for the assignment of clinicians. The college the score, the greater the priority. State policymakers can use this data to inform policy. Information as of Jan. 1, 2018

Source: Health Resource and Services Administration

Understanding Legislatures and the Legislative Procedure

Land legislatures vary from state to state, with differences in the number of legislative members and staff, fourth dimension spent in session, legislative procedures, political makeup and so on. Despite these differences, however, the full general legislative process is similar across states. This section summarizes the basics of the legislative process, including how bills become laws, and the people involved in the legislative procedure. It is important to know how the process works to communicate effectively with its participants!

Legislative Process

The legislative process—in theory—follows a anticipated, rational path that goes something similar this:

• A legislator introduces a nib;
• The bill is assigned to a committee;
• The committee holds public hearings;
• The commission acts on the bill (eastward.g., apology information technology, sends it to the full House or Senate for debate,
• or kills it);
• Legislators contend the beak's merits, may amend information technology, and vote it upwardly or down;
• If information technology is approved, the bill then goes to the other bedchamber, where the process is repeated;
• If the neb is amended during consideration by the second chamber, such changes must be approved by the first chamber, and it may get to a conference committee to resolve differences between the two chambers;
• Once enacted past the legislature, the governor may sign information technology, veto it, or in some states, let it become law without explicit approval through signature;
• If the governor vetoes the bill, the legislature may sustain or override the governor's veto.

In addition to an understanding of the legislative process, it is of import for stakeholders to engage in the budget process. The upkeep process may fund oral wellness and public wellness programs, and the budget can directly affect oral health policy.

While these are the steps in every land (except Nebraska, which has one bedchamber), the human being factor is a significant part of the legislative process. "Missing from the preceding list of steps in the legislative game is the human being equation," Tommy Neal wrote in NCSL's 2005 book, "Learning the Game: How the Legislative Process Works." "State legislators come from all walks of life and bring with them a smorgasbord of priorities, agendas, alliances, personalities and biases."

Members and Staff

Many professionals support and collaborate with legislators, and each has a specific part in the legislature.

• Legislators: The nation'south 7,383 state legislators were elected to correspond the constituents in their districts. Legislators are policy generalists, non experts on most problems, although they may have expertise in one or more than policy areas. Regardless, they vote on bug from A to Z—agriculture to zoning—and may do good from your firsthand feel of working in oral health. Sure legislators hold positions of authority within the legislature, including the speaker of the Firm and the president of the Senate, the majority and minority floor leaders and whips, and committee and conclave chairs. Knowing the leadership'south agenda can also inform stakeholders about shared policy priorities and which proposals
• Legislative Staff: Legislative staff members play important roles in the legislative process. Many legislatures, for example, use a permanent, nonpartisan staff to provide research on specific legislation that may be considered during the legislative session. Some states have a divide enquiry staff for each bedroom, while others employ a single shared enquiry staff. In addition, legislatures employ other staff members, including legal staff, librarians and fiscal analysts. Some have personal staff, simply not all. In the 15 states with term limits, legislative staff have become the keepers of institutional memory.
• Others in the Mix: In addition to legislators and staff, diverse other people interact with land legislators, among them constituents, lobbyists, country agency officials, local government officials and statewide associations.

Time Spent in Session

States vary in how long legislators are in session, from well-nigh yr-round legislatures like California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to sessions that last less than two months in Florida, Louisiana, Utah and Wyoming. Still others encounter every other year (Montana, Nevada, N Dakota and Texas). Knowing when your state legislature is in session is critical. Meet NCSL'southward State Legislative Session Agenda for more than information.

Rules of the Game

Every state has formal rules that affect the process, including requirements most how many bills a legislator can introduce in a session, the deadline for introducing bills, and the procedure for assigning bills to a committee. Agreement the rules that govern the process in your state is important since they determine the timing and period of bills through the legislative procedure, and shed light on pressure legislators may face up to prioritize issues.

If y'all desire to provide input on a specific bill earlier a specific committee (the appropriate committee for oral health issues varies by topic and state), you need to know when committee hearings have place and the rules for presenting testimony. While the process may seem cumbersome, the rules were designed to protect confronting a blitz to judgment and ensure that policies are reviewed by many people earlier going into consequence.

The Importance of Elections and Partisan Limerick

For oral health professionals looking to communicate with legislators, do non underestimate the role of elections and political makeup inside each state and across the nation. In 2016, 5,917 of 7,383 state legislative seats nationwide were up for ballot. In the same election, just 12 states chose governors. Well-nigh 1,263 of the elected legislators were new to the legislature after the 2016 elections. On average, xx pct of legislators are new each election cycle, which can pose a challenge for them to larn nigh wide-ranging policy issues, budgets and the legislative process in short order.

See the political makeup of the state between 2010 and 2018 above. These maps tin modify overwhelmingly in just one ballot. Understanding this context tin can be critical to effective advice with state legislators.

The day after an ballot, people in the state legislature confront new colleagues, shifts in the residuum of power and executive priorities. Strategies for communicating may demand to alter to fit new homo or political realities. Furthermore, any work you did to educate legislative leaders, commission chairs or your ain representative terminal year will need to be updated and repeated.

How to Communicate Finer With Legislators

Those who want to contribute data to the legislative process should empathise the constraints that touch on how legislators respond to public policy issues or proposals. Although at that place are many constraints, the skilful news is that most legislators run across themselves as students. Oral wellness is ofttimes simply a blip on the political radar, just you can be the "blip" enlarger! Challenges include the following:

• Curt learning curve. Nearly 20 percent of legislators are new later on each ballot, so it may be a challenge for them to learn about broad-ranging policy problems, budgets and the legislative process in short order.
• Term limits. In the 15 states with term limits, there may be few experienced boyfriend legislators with institutional retentivity and deep policy knowledge to share with new legislators. On the other hand, this need for education presents opportunities for people and organizations to share data on a broad range of policy topics.
• Information overload. Legislators make decisions well-nigh hundreds of policy topics each session. States vary in how many bills are introduced each yr, from a high of 16,000 in New York to a depression of 500 in Wyoming. While legislators are not totally involved in every bill that comes before them, they do need to know enough to vote. In add-on, the oral health policy area too offers a wide range of topics—from federal funding to licensing, instruction policy, guidelines, workforce development and public health. Existence cognizant of this information overload is a key to effective communication with legislators.
• As well few public resource. Since the Bully Recession, some states have struggled with budget shortfalls. There are many reasons why revenue growth may autumn behind spending demands in large state programs similar Medicaid, education, etc.
• Timing matters. An platonic time to meet with legislators is when they are not in session because they accept more time for learning and connecting. However, it is never a bad time to appoint them. Because of the nature of most country legislatures, state legislators also have other jobs that they go back to following session, and may live some distance from the state capitol. Catching them when their focus is on country legislation tin can be beneficial, even if the best chat may happen between sessions. Visit NCSL'south 2018 Country Legislative Session Calendar page to meet your country's schedule.

4 Strategies for Constructive Advice

ane. Establish Contact and/or a Human relationship with Key Legislators

Identify the committees of jurisdiction and the legislators on these committees who have the greatest influence apropos oral health issues. This may be the committee chair, interested committee members, or perhaps even your own representative. Contact central legislators, meet with them, and identify yourself as a knowledgeable and dependable resource. In short, establish yourself as the "become-to" person for oral health issues.

In some states, the best way to reach legislators may be past building a relationship with primal people on their staff. Follow up by contacting them periodically as a reminder that you are interested in beingness a resources. A adept time to contact them, for example, might be on the heels of newly released data; you lot tin help them interpret the data and discuss ways the legislature might address issues the information highlights.

Some other mode to develop relationships with legislators is to engage in legislative oral health caucuses. Oral health caucuses allow stakeholders to access legislators with a professed interest in oral health. Many meetings are open up to the public and provide a venue to discuss oral health problems that are important in your state or customs. The box above outlines key features of legislative oral health caucuses.

If your professional chapters restricts y'all from such activities, consider making similar contact with your own organization'due south governmental relations staff, other influential people who are allowed to contact legislators or connecting with a community-based advocacy group to offer your expertise and assistance.

Keep in Mind

• Learn the budgeting process from the governor to the legislature as early every bit possible. The before programs yous care almost get into the budget, the more likely they are to remain there.
• Become legislators' source for information. In a higher place all, be trustworthy. Legislators do non like surprises.
• Cut to the hunt with your information, brand sure your facts are correct, be honest almost the pros and cons of policies, and be responsive—legislators ofttimes need concise information fast.
• Develop a compelling narrative. Oral wellness frequently receives footling publicity and is not ever understood. Curtailed facts and powerful personal stories can illustrate why oral wellness is a pressing country business.

Oral Health

• The committees of jurisdiction for oral health issues vary by country. Typically, oral health legislation goes through the wellness and/or public health committees in each sleeping accommodation. This means there are several cardinal legislators and legislative staff worth communicating and edifice a relationship with.
• Information technology is also of import to know if your state has a land oral wellness plan and, if so, what the legislature's role is. Learn more from the CDC on land oral wellness plans.

Oral Health Caucuses: State Highlights

Oral wellness caucuses may engage in a range of activities or discussions about improving oral health in your land. Identifying the champions, the issues, and modes of engagement and communication of the caucus are disquisitional components in developing a relationship with state legislators.

Massachusetts started the first legislative oral wellness caucus in the nation in 2005. Over the years, the conclave worked with oral health stakeholders to prioritize certain oral health services. Legislative champions may choose to reach out to their constituents through local media outlets to explain why an issue is important to them. Oral health stakeholders might also choose to highlight the piece of work of legislative champions for their own members or constituents.

The bipartisan oral health caucus in the Missouri General Assembly was created in 2013. The Missouri Oral Health Coalition, which is fabricated up of many stakeholders, helped initiate the caucus by reaching out to legislators. The coalition raised land-level oral health concerns with the caucus, which spurred legislation and funding allocations for oral health. The bipartisan caucus'southward accomplishments include reinstating the country dental director and facilitating access to local oral wellness services.

2. Network With Others

Equally the adage goes, it's not always what you know, but who you know that counts. Getting data into the hands of legislators may be more about the relationships you have—with the media, state agencies, foundations and other stakeholders—than your direct relationship with a legislator. Informing a network of individuals tin can efficiently and effectively raise awareness about a wide range of oral health issues.

Furthermore, oral health issues cantankerous many jurisdictions and involvement areas, among them health, insurance, licensing, workforce development guidelines, Medicaid and public health. The broader your coalition, the more back up a lawmaker can expect amid his or her colleagues.

Proceed in Listen

• Build a network and speak as a group.
• Collaboration can be difficult. Agree to disagree, but come together on a couple of shared top issues and support those priorities with a mutual voice.
• Proceed individuals and groups with similar interests apprised of your activities, fifty-fifty if they are not function of a formal collaboration. You may detect additional areas where you can back up each other if the lines of communication are open.
• Connect with people who have skills and expertise—east.g., data analysis, communications, community-building or policy—who tin can help get your message across. Develop and maintain relationships through traditional means and networking through social media.
• Develop a arrangement for communicating important information to your network. Provide information regularly about topics that matter to them, including new resources and funding opportunities.

For ideas and resources on how to develop a local or statewide network, enquiry organizations in your community and build communication infrastructure for your network, visit the DentaQuest Foundation'south Oral Health 2020 Network, which is a nationwide network of oral health providers and stakeholders.

3. Heighten Awareness Through Information and Resources

Why is education so central? Because fifty-fifty experienced legislators demand admission to current data and objective analysis on rapidly changing issues. Oral health professionals tin play a function in raising awareness almost issues affecting children and adults in each legislative district. When they're non at work in the land capitol, legislators interact with the community in diverse ways and often organize multiple venues for a "give and take" with their constituents—at town hall meetings, online blogs and conversations, and other settings.

Another method to brainwash policymakers is to enhance important issues with the people and organizations that legislators rely on for information, including legislative staff, researchers, the media, foundations and charitable organizations, state agencies, membership organizations and others.

For country employees, this might hateful ensuring that your government relations person knows your priorities and has your nearly contempo data to share with legislators. Although this may seem i pace removed, it may be an effective strategy, specially if the information is coming from a trusted source for the legislator.

Keep in Mind

• Prioritize the issues that are about critical to you and about relevant to the current environment. Avoid information overload!
• Make suggestions about topics that others with access could highlight for legislators. For example, consider identifying the hot topics of the day or explaining what new legislators demand to know well-nigh oral health. Or piggyback on major news events, such as new federal actions. (Meet box at the end of department iv)
• Let people know what information you take and what you lot can get. Keep it readily available and follow up promptly if they call. Establish rapport.

4. Frame Your Message

At any given time, one issue or a small group of predominant issues or decision-making ideas may drive the actions of a country legislature. For many years, states accept been dealing with tight budgets; therefore, focusing on effective and efficient strategies is often the filter through which legislators evaluate all proposals and funding requests. As a result, it is important to frame the message by addressing several cardinal points.

• How does the issue impact individuals, families and businesses in the commune and country (specifically, what are the costs and benefits related to a specific program or neb)? What is the render on investment?
• Understand and respect that some lawmakers volition not exist receptive to using tax dollars to promote oral health.
• What are best practices? Has a program or strategy been implemented elsewhere with positive results? Could it be replicated here?
• What are the consequences of not interim?
• Would new efficiencies brand programs more effective or less costly?

For more data on how some stakeholders frame oral health issues, consider resources from the Frameworks Institute, such as the "Watch Your Mouth Campaign" or "Getting Stories to Stick: The Shape of Discourse on Oral Health."

Consider the linguistic communication or image you lot apply to increase the odds that people volition pay attention to your message. People bring their ain experiences and frames of reference to conduct, and the words or images y'all apply can decide whether your audience will be open to the message or turn away from it. Creating receptive listeners requires that you pay attending to how you frame an issue so people experience that it benefits everyone. Ideally, letters should all align with "large ideas" or shared beliefs, such as responsibility, prevention or success. Many people accept the perception that dental care is secondary to traditional health intendance. Utilise your expertise every bit an oral wellness professional to brand the connection between the health of the rima oris and the health of the body.

Go on in Mind

• Craft the bulletin to the times. If the upkeep is the primary concern, frame the issue in terms of how much coin it costs, where the money comes from and its return on investment. For instance, school-based sealant programs are cost effective and prevent tooth decay.
• Make the message relevant. Good oral health is critical to overall health. In addition, people who suffer from molar decay and missing teeth report lower self-esteem and are less probable to discover piece of work, which creates a drag on the economy.
• Address the effects on constituents and/or the district. It is possible that the only time a legislator discusses oral health is when he or she gets a call from a constituent with a major upshot. That result may be relevant to a lot of oral health stakeholders, or simply that one person. Highlighting how the oral health program works, not just for that 1 person, simply for all the legislator's constituents tin can lead to more comprehensive policy changes, rather than policy band aids.
• Humanize the upshot. Addressing the economic effect is important, simply remember that legislators are taxpayers and customs members, and may exist parents who respond to stories about kids and families they know and intendance most.
• Leverage headlines and media coverage to communicate your bulletin. Think virtually information and resources you take that could inform policymaking around that issue.

For More than Information

• For more information on state legislatures and oral health issues, visit www.ncsl.org
• Children's Oral Health
• Oral and Dental Health
• CHIP Dental Coverage
• Oral Health Intendance in Rural America
• Oral Health Care and Coverage During Pregnancy

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Source: https://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/HTML_LargeReports/OralHealth_3.htm

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