General information
This material was prepared in March 2013 and updated in 2021 by Jeri Meeks.
The document includes extensive input from Alan Johnson, a past Legislative /
ASRS Liaison.
The Governmental Liaisons act as agents of the Board to provide information and advocacy in relation to the Arizona Legislature and other associated sub-organizations. Per the ASURA Bylaws, the Liaisons are charged to exert influence on targeted agencies and specific bills, as approved by the ASURA Board and in consultation with the ASURA officers.
Membership
The Liaisons serve at the pleasure of the ASURA Board. At least one Liaison is registered as a Lobbyist for the organization. There is generally more than one lobbyist.
The ASRS Liaison serves on both this council as well as the Health Insurance council and information about liaison is shown to the right.
Meetings
The Arizona Legislature is in session from January through May/June.
Areas of concern
ASURA has been concerned chiefly with legislation in the Arizona Legislature in three areas:
- ASU, usually its annual budget.
- Protecting ASRS retirement benefits. and
- Various issues involving public education at the pre-university and community-college levels and senior care.
Gathering information
In the late fall the Legislative Liaisons survey information for prospective legislation of interest to ASURA. By early January, the Council submits a list of bills to support or oppose to ASURA's Board for their approval.
Supporting or opposing a bill
The Liaison has the right to support or oppose a bill. Executing this right involves one or more of the following steps:
- The Liaison, at a minimum, will first express support or opposition for the bill on the AZleg.gov website or in committee hearings. The Arizona State Legislature's website enables any citizen to find out committee assignments, including dates, times, room location and broadcast links (if available). The website provides a "request to speak" function to comment on a bill in a particular committee meeting. The Liaison simply types in his/her statement (briefly) and it will be transmitted to the whole committee.
- The Liaison may choose to speak to the committee in person. He/she indicates this in his/her request. He/she attends the meeting, and may be allowed to speak if the committee chairperson opens the floor for public comments. Even if the Liaison doesn't choose to speak in person, attendance at meetings is an important sign of support or opposition.
- After a bill proceeds from committee hearings to "floor" votes, the Liaison may want to e-mail particular legislators with support for or opposition to a bill. When e-mailing it is important to use a personal and not ASU e-mail address.
- The Liaison may want to do more in which case he/she may make appointments with individual legislators ahead of the hearing of a bill or may organize ASURA members to write letters, send e-mails (using personal not ASU e-mail addresses), or telephone advocacy to legislators.
Being informed, showing up at the Legislature, and mentioning that ASURA has hundreds of members produces some recognition of our organization and its wishes.
Working together
ASURA's current Bylaws list one Legislative Liaison person. This job often requires multiple people working together to track and respond to legislation. When studying what to support or oppose, the group can test out their views on each other. It is also helpful to have multiple people attend the Legislative session(s) when bills that have been identified as concerns are being presented. The Liaison could seek help informally or an ad hoc Council could be initiated. It is desirable that the four ASURA Liaisons (Legislature, ASRS, ADOA Health Insurance, and ASRS Health Insurance) work together.