 |
The Legislation Committee works with our lobbyists, Kerry Marsh and Associates, to track legislation pertinent to our responsibilities as Town Clerks. We filter through the hundreds of bills that are forwarded to us throughout the year by Kerry’s firm and make a collective decision on which bills we feel would have the greatest impact on us as a whole. These are then brought to the Executive Committee at our regional business meetings. Based on the consensus of that body, a decision is made to support, oppose or simply watch a bill. On critical
issues your officers, members of the Legislation Committee and lobbyists may meet with bill sponsors to forward our position.
Additionally, if there is a consensus of your Executive Committee that certain legislation would positively impact Town Clerks, we seek out sponsors to foster our goal. Such was the case in 2006 when we wanted full authority to appoint and specify the duties of the Deputy Town Clerk. The bill was ultimately drafted, adopted and made into law, aligning our authority with that of Highway Superintendents and Tax Receivers.
You have a very important role in this process. Many of you have developed good relationships with your local legislators. Your Presidents will send out, what we call a “Legislative Alert”, seeking your support on certain issues. When you receive an “Alert” from your area District Director it is very important that you take the time to reach out to your local legislators and express your opinion, via letter, fax or e-mail. Our collective voices have made it possible to achieve success where individual efforts would have failed. Your Legislation Committee depends on you to help make our positions known. By working cooperatively with our peers and area legislators we have had our voices heard and achieved success on many levels.
| |
