Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC): A committee that follows bills as they are discussed during the interim session and through the legislative session. Members sit on commissions and work with the commissioners on the different bills and issues. At LAC meetings, these issues are discussed and suggested positions are voted on and then taken to the executive committee for ratification.
Legislative Contact: Each region, council, and local PTA should have one person who is designated as their legislative contact. This person would initiate all legislative action for their region, council, or local PTA.
Legislative Fiscal Analyst: This is an employee of the state who works with the budget office. Their duties are to oversee and determine a fiscal note on each of the bills.
Legislative General Counsel: An employee of the state who works with each of the Legislators to be sure that their bill is properly written and ready to be filed.
Legislative Network: A phone tree or email list by which each region, council, and local PTA contacts their members to let them know of issues which need to be addressed by their members.
Take Action Network: A network of members who have joined on the state or national level and wish to participate in contacting their local representatives on issues during the state legislative session and on the national level as the Congress and Senate meet.
Nonpartisan: PTA organizations do not support one candidate or party over another. We discuss issues, not parties or participants.
Resolution: Statements which have been voted on by PTA members and by which PTA takes stands on issues during the legislative session.
Standing Committee: A committee of legislators who are assigned to listen to testimony, take public input, and then decide whether a bill warrants full debate on the floor of the House or the Senate.
PTA Advocacy Conference: Conference held in the fall of each year. At this conference all leadership and members can receive training in their positions.
PTA Business and Resolutions Meetings: Meeting held in conjunction with the Leadership Convention or Advocacy Conference. At these meetings, all business, such as bylaws, resolutions, and position statements, come before the body of members for debate and vote.
Weekly Bill Sheets: A list of the bills which the commissioners have chosen to follow through the legal process. This sheet lists the bill, a short explanation of the bill, the position PTA has taken, and the action on the bill as it goes through the process.