Legislation and Proposition Positioning Guidelines
The Legislative Committee (Committee) shall be responsible for the development of the CSDA’s legislative agenda. The Committee shall review, direct, and assist the CSDA Advocacy and Public Affairs Department with legislative and public policy issues.
Committee Makeup:
The CSDA Board President shall appoint members to the Committee. Additionally, the Special District Risk Management Authority may appoint one representative to serve as a voting member of the Committee. All members of the Committee shall be appointed to a term of no longer than one calendar-year. There shall be no restriction as to the number of terms a member may serve.
No more than 40 individuals from CSDA member agencies in good standing may serve on the Committee, including no more than nine CSDA Board Members. The CSDA Board President and Vice-President shall serve as ex-officio voting members on the Committee.
The Special District Risk Management Authority (SDRMA) may also appoint a voting representative to the Committee and that individual shall not be counted toward the 40-person maximum when appointing Committee members.
Only CSDA Board Members appointed to the committee will receive travel reimbursement for attending Committee meetings. Only travel to regularly scheduled ‘in-person only’ Committee meetings that is in accordance with CSDA policies will be eligible for reimbursement.
Individuals are appointed to the Committee in their capacity as a board member or an employee of a CSDA member in good standing. If a Committee member is not reelected or is no longer employed by the CSDA member listed on his or her committee application, he or she will be automatically removed from the committee. In the event an individual resigns or is removed from the Committee, the quorum threshold is adjusted accordingly.
Resignations from the Committee shall be made in writing to the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director.
Committee Member Responsibilities:
Members of the Committee must meet the following commitments:
- Attend all Committee meetings. If unable to attend a meeting, the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director shall be notified prior to the date of the meeting.
- Attend the Special Districts Legislative Days conference. If unable to attend the conference, the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director shall be notified prior to the date of the conference.
- Attend the CSDA Annual Conference and Exhibitor Showcase. If unable to attend, notify the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director.
- Thoroughly review each Committee meeting packet and accompanying staff recommendations prior to all meetings.
- Vote on CSDA legislative positions based on the impact to the association and all special districts collectively.
- Respond to CSDA “Calls to Action” on priority legislation.
Attendance Requirements:
With the exception of the CSDA Board President and Vice-President, who serve ex-officio, members of the Committee will be automatically removed under the following conditions:
- Two consecutive unexcused absences, inclusive of the Special Districts Legislative Days conference.
- Three cumulative absences (excused or unexcused) within one calendar year, inclusive of the Special Districts Legislative Days conference.
Meetings attended by a “substitute” on behalf of a Committee member shall count as an absence for purposes of attendance requirements.
Refer to CSDA Board Policy 2.17 for a definition of excused absences. Notwithstanding attendance requirements, the CSDA Board of Directors may remove a member of the Committee at its discretion at any time.
Guest Participants:
Those wishing to attend meetings of the Committee who are not members of the committee are expected to RSVP in advance to the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director. All CSDA members and approved guests are welcome to attend Committee meetings. Guests may speak at committee meetings when recognized by the Chair.
While “substitutes” for committee members are welcomed and encouraged when a committee member is unable to attend, they shall be treated as guest participants. Substitutes and other individuals who are not duly appointed members of the Committee may not vote and do not count toward quorum.
Establishing a Quorum
A quorum is a majority of the Committee members. A quorum may be established in-person, via webinar, via teleconference, or any combination thereof. A quorum shall be established prior to the Committee taking any formal actions. Once a quorum is established, it remains in place until the meeting is adjourned.
Voting Threshold:
All formal actions of the Committee, including the adoption of positions on legislation and recommendations for propositions, shall require a majority vote of committee members present and voting.
Process for Adopting Positions on Legislation:
- Newly introduced legislation is reviewed by CSDA’s Advocacy and Public Affairs Department as it is introduced. Bills directly affecting and of notable interest to special districts are tagged and presented to the Committee with a staff recommendation. Committee members may request the Committee’s consideration for a position on additional relevant bills and should provide advanced notification of such requests to the Committee Chair and Advocacy and Public Affairs Director whenever anticipated.
- The Committee decides which position to adopt on a bill and assigns a priority (see list of formal positions and description of priority levels below).
- Bill positions and priorities may change throughout the year, depending on circumstances such as amendments taken to bills. If circumstances warrant a change, Advocacy and Public Affairs Department staff will update the Committee and recommend any potential changes to a bill’s position or priority for the Committee’s consideration.
- In time sensitive situations, Advocacy and Public Affairs Department staff may request from the CSDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) a position or change in position or priority on a bill. The Committee and Board of Directors shall be updated on any changes in position or priority as soon as possible. Positions on legislation shall only be taken by the CEO when necessary due to urgent circumstances and insufficient opportunity to obtain a formal vote of the Committee.
- If a bill is particularly controversial and the Committee cannot come to a decision on a position or priority, the CSDA Board of Directors will make the final decision.
Process for Adopting Positions on Propositions:
- Propositions of interest are brought to the Committee’s attention by the Advocacy and Public Affairs Department or by members of the Committee or Board of Directors. The Committee reviews the proposition and makes a recommendation to support, oppose, or maintain no position.
- The Board of Directors makes the final decision on what position to take on the proposition, taking into consideration the Committee’s recommendation.
List of Formal Positions:
Support: A position given to bills and propositions that would be a benefit to special districts’ ability to serve their communities.
Oppose: A position given to bills and propositions that would be a detriment to special districts’ ability to serve their communities.
Support if Amended: A position given to bills that would be a benefit to special districts’ ability to serve their communities, so long as specific amendments are taken to the bill. If the requested amendments are taken by the author, Advocacy and Public Affairs Department staff may recommend changing CSDA’s position to support.
Oppose Unless Amended: A position given to bills that would be a detriment to special districts’ ability to serve their communities, unless specific amendments are taken to the bill. If the requested amendments are taken by the author, Advocacy and Public Affairs Department staff may recommend changing CSDA’s position to neutral.
Support in Concept: A position given to bills that could benefit special districts, but for political, policy, or other reasons do not warrant or lend themselves to a full support position.
Concerns: A position given to bills that could be a detriment to special districts, but for political, policy, or other reasons do not warrant or lend themselves to a full oppose position.
Neutral: A position given to bills that have been sufficiently amended to remove CSDA’s support, opposition, or concerns.
Watch: A position given to bills that directly affect special districts, but do not provide a significant benefit or impose a significant detriment to special districts; bills that are in spot bill form on a subject area that concerns special districts; and bills that are of notable interest to special districts, but do not warrant an active position or expenditure of CSDA resources.
Sponsor: A position given to bills that have major importance for all or nearly all special districts and warrant major CSDA resources. As sponsor, CSDA would typically draft the proposal, including bill language and background materials, as well as secure a legislator to author the legislation. CSDA would serve as the lead supporter of the legislation and would make the bill a top priority in terms of lobbying, grassroots, and media outreach efforts, as appropriate.
Description of Priority Levels:
Priority 1: Bills given a “1” priority have a major importance, directly impact all or nearly all special districts statewide, and set a critical precedent. These bills receive comprehensive advocacy by the Advocacy and Public Affairs Department. This may include extensive testimony in committee, lobbying of the Legislature, grassroots mobilization, and media outreach, as appropriate.
Priority 2: Bills given a “2” priority have a significant impact on the special district community, set a critical precedent that is relevant to all special districts, or have major importance to a majority of CSDA members without being a detriment to other types of special districts. CSDA sends a position letter or signs on to a coalition letter, and lobbies the Legislature and provides testimony in committee as time permits.
Priority 3: Bills given a “3” priority have a notable effect on special districts, impact one CSDA member or a minority of special districts, or set a meaningful precedent, but are determined to be a lower priority for CSDA resources. Advocacy and Public Affairs Department staff may choose to not write a position letter on these bills, but may sign on to a coalition letter. Committee testimony or lobbying of the Legislature will be conducted at staff’s discretion.