Rethinking LRC

September 20-21 2024

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Purpose

• To provide background on the importance of CASB advocacy work
• To inform the CASB Membership of the “Rethinking LRC” work to date
• To get feedback via the google form questionnaire that this “Rethinking LRC” work is on the right track for CASB Membership

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• Today is directionally informative – Not intended for a deep dive or troubleshooting – only clarifying questions
• This work will NOT impact Delegate Assembly this year

Background

• CASB’s 3-Legged Advocacy Approach – Playing Offense and/or Defense

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• CASB Board of Directors
• Authority through CASB Bylaws and Policy

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• CASB Legislative Resolutions Committee (LRC)
• Authority through CASB Policy
• Develop resolutions, with recommendations or rationales, for membership consideration at the Delegate Assembly
• Review all member-provided legislative resolutions and, if desired, provide rationales or make recommendations for membership consideration at the Delegate Assembly
• Advise the CASB staff during the course of the legislative session
• Coordinate its focus with the CASB Federal Relations Network (FRN) and CASB’s own state level legislative network

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• CASB Membership
• Authority through CASB Bylaws
• Voice through Delegate Assembly

Background (continued)

• CASB BOD Advocacy Role
• Historical
• Engagement has been BOD personality and staff compatibility dependent
• Now
• Desires more legislative process/advocacy engagement
• LRC Advocacy Role
• Historical
• Slowly moved from quarterly “sit and get” towards more active engagement
• Now
• Desires more legislative process/advocacy engagement
• “Rethinking LRC” Subcommittee of the LRC
• Small group working towards potential options for improved effectiveness/efficiencies in terms of CASB Advocacy
• This group met 19 times since February 2024 to develop processes/products for feedback

Definitions

• CASB-Legislative-Agenda-At-A-Glance
• Encompasses Annual Priorities/Bill Ideas (1-3) and Platform
• Embodies values provided through CASB Standing Resolutions (2025)
• CASB Standing Resolutions transitions to CASB Legislative values (future years)
• Annual Priorities/Bill Ideas (1-3)
• Specific short-term goals with legislative solution(s).
• This would give CASB a target to start the session and topics and/or issues for all members to talk about and advocate for. CASB would still be flexible to change or add priorities depending on what comes up during the legislative session.
• Platform - “What we want”
• The opinions and viewpoints about topics, as held by our organization. This could take the place of our Standing Resolutions and 2024 Key legislative priorities documents.
• A party platform is a set of principles, goals, and strategies designed to address pressing political issues. Each party's platform is broken down into “planks,” or declarations that speak to each specific issue. Each “plank” contains a deep dive document (DDD) for even more details on the issue.

Why Are We Going Through This “Rethinking” Exercise?

• Desired by CASB BOD as expressed at Jan 2024 Retreat

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Strengthening LRC & FRN (excerpt from Jan 2024 CASB BOD Retreat Minutes)

“President McCrary led a discussion on improving the strengths of the Legislative Resolutions Committee (LRC) and the Federal Relations Network (FRN). Members discussed various strategies, including message testing and reviewing recurring issues. Concerns were raised about the timing of the delegate assembly and the need for effective communication between the LRC and the Board. The Board also discussed the importance of the Board streamlining the resolution review process.”

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• To clarify roles, responsibilities, communication protocol, and timeline touch points
• To develop consistent use and understanding of terminology
• To improve processes and timelines for better efficiencies and effectiveness in order to further elevate advocacy efforts
• To improve CASB member communication, education, confidence, and engagement

LRC/Delegate Assembly Timeline

• Start with LRC/Delegate Assembly timeline adjustments to better align CASB advocacy preparations with General Assembly legislative timelines
• Transition from linear “Fall Delegate Assembly to Wrap Up” mindset to continuous improvement advocacy cycles
• Evaluate communications between CASB BOD, LRC, LRC subcommittee and CASB Membership.
• Use a periodic, comprehensive review process to inform any necessary adjustments in process, timelines and events.

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CASB-Legislative-Agenda-At-A-Glance

• Encompasses Annual Priorities/Bill Ideas (1-3) and Platform

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• Annual Priorities/Bills (1-3) - Specific short-term goals with legislative solution(s).
• Platform - What we want as an organization
• Additional Levels of Detail
• Plank Details - Our why & how for what we want.
• This document will take each bullet point from the Platform Plank and give insight, examples and/or how we would like it done.
• Deep Dive Document (DDD)
• Documentation and resources to back up our why or how.

Next Steps

• Continue to tighten Delegate Assembly timeline
• Continue to improve “in session” LRC meetings
• Continue to improve timeline for the resolution development process
• Continue to develop annual CASB platform
• Continue to develop “LRC CORE” concept, guidelines, and policy language
• Continue to develop more deliberate advocacy activity at CASB events (i.e., education opportunities to legislative/ballot action development/execution)

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• Bring membership inputs back to CASB BOD and staff for further feedback/direction

CASB LRC/FRN Thoughts

• On the right track – Continue with effort
• On the right track with tweaks – Continue with effort
• Off the rails – Need extensive regroup with CASB BOD/Members – WHOA!

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• Feedback Questionnaire