Be Informed on the Legislative Process - Part IV

 Part IV:  How can DKG State Organizations evaluate bills in their state legislatures?

The DKG California Education Law/Policy Committee has established a bill evaluator program to evaluate legislation in California. This program could be replicated by other states. In keeping with the state’s legislative priorities, the legislative advocate selects bills for consideration by DKG members. The selection of bills could be done by a Legislative Coordinator or Legislative Chair. Members throughout the state apply to be bill evaluators and then are offered an on-line bill evaluator training each year. The Legislative Coordinator sends the bill numbers to the bill evaluators, who can study the bills they choose to review. There is a link on the California legislative website which offers a bill’s number, the date a bill was introduced, its title, its author, the text, its history, any amendments, and its status in the legislative process. Bill evaluators are also encouraged to contact the author’s office staff to learn more about the legislation. After reviewing the information, bill evaluators complete a Google form which asks for the bill number and its title, the basic provisions of the bill and its background, and arguments for and against the bill, as well as groups supporting and opposing the bill. The evaluator also suggests a position that DKG California might take in relation to this legislation. The position might be to support, oppose, or watch the legislation. The Educational Law/Policy Committee then reads the bill evaluators’ recommendations and contacts members to write letters of support as needed.

Other states may wish to evaluate legislation in their states and can get more information about the bill evaluator program.

·         Go to dkgca.org and click on “Committees.”

·         Go to the Education Law/Policy Committee. 

·         Go to Legislative “Resources” and click on “Bill Evaluator.” 

Information about the bill evaluator program and the Google form that bill evaluators submit are included on that link.