The Evolving Advocate

Some thoughts on emerging issues…

leadership

Is often achieved with a quixotic combination ofHard workGutsChanceHopeNaiveté Intellect

But leadership is maintained by

A sustaining visionA supportive communityAn open mind to innovationA commitment to qualityFinding a negotiable balance

between the philosophy that inspires and the structure that enables.

Achieving the Balance

Mission Driven work is a blend of

WhyHow

Why?

Why is the heart of the work - those issues and ideas that clarify, challenge and expand our understanding of our work. It serves to deepen our desire and sharpen our focus to end sexual violence

How?

And how is the head - or the method - of the work, the mechanical and structural considerations that frame our day to day endeavors.

Thesis + Antithesis = Synthesis

While often considered oppositional forces intellect and passion should enjoy a symbiotic relationship where our heart shapes practice and our head creates the foundation new endeavors.

Thinking about the Heart

What are some issues that have challenged, changed, expanded our understanding of the work?

Prison rape?New collaborations?The use of the word ‘accuser’?Trafficking?Sexual exploitation of minors?Feminist pornography?Rape in a time of war?Public health?Sex offender management?

Considering the How

What are structural issues that have promoted our success or hindered our efforts? Have some of our earlier novel ideals resulted in positive or negative unintended consequences?

Promoting diverse agency / movement leadership

stable fundingStruggle for agency visibilityDocumenting our successesMaintaining, nurturing and growing staffBalancing prevention / intervention workEmerging initiatives (FJC)agency work vs. / with other systems

work (SANE / SART, VW)External challengers (Father’s Rights)

Setting Priorities

Setting Priorities

Instructions:Every person has been given 6 dots

(3 for issues and 3 for structure)Identify your top priorities in each

category (issues and structure)You could choose three separate items in

eachYou could vote thee times for one itemYou can lobby and discuss your priorities

while the vote is open!

Guidance for Next Steps

Guidance for Next Steps

Six issues have been identified as priority leadership items

Choose one group to participate in (no more than six E.D.’s per group)

Answer the questions at each table

Changing the World

NFP Systems Advocacy, Lobbying and interacting with

policy.

www.irs.gov

Public Policy work is not exclusively lobbing

Organizations can freelyConduct educational meetingsDistribute educational materialsOtherwise consider policy issues

As long as they are not advocating a position related to a specific piece of policy / legislation.

www.irs.gov

Lobbying is not prohibited for a 501 (c) 3

In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

www.irs.gov

Who is the focus of Lobbying?

CongressAny state legislatureAny local council or similar

governing body

www.irs.gov

About what?

ActsBillsResolutions Legislative confirmations /

appointmentsReferendum / ballot initiatives

www.irs.gov

But not..

Executive actionsJudicial actions Or administrative actions

Expressing positions on these kinds of actions is not considered lobbying.

www.irs.gov

You are lobbying if:

You contact, or urge the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting or opposing legislation

The Formula

You (or asking the public to)+ persuade a legislator / employee+ to adopt a certain position+ on a specific initiative ________________________= lobbying

www.irs.gov

501(c)3’s absolutely can not

Participate (directly / indirectly) with any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for office

Donate to these campaigns

www.irs.gov

501(c) 3’s should be careful when:

Conducting voter education activities such as report cards, election guides and campaign forums

Encouraging participation in the electoral process such as a ‘get out the vote’ drive

These activities must be conducted in a non-partisan manner.

www.irs.gov

When Lobbying…

Agencies can not use state or federally granted funds for this purpose

Think critically about how much time you are really spending on the act of lobbying - 10 minutes? 20 minutes? Track this time carefully.

Make sure to track any agency resources you might be using (fax, postage, long-distance, supplies)

www.irs.gov

For Agency Leaders

These rules are not intended to curb free expression when leaders are speaking as individuals - and should be clear when they are speaking personally.

However, leaders can not make partisan comments in official publications or functions.

In your packets:

All of the information cited Information related to candidate

forumsMeasuring and substantiating

lobbying activity IRS memo related to campaign

season participationForm 5768 (h) election

CALCASA Legislative Briefing

Our Agenda

Sponsored ItemsAB 261 Elimination of Statute of Limitations

[DEAD this session - will be reintroduced]SB 153 Victim Services

Priority Policy AreasServicesPrevention / EducationSentencing / Offender AccountabilityCommunity Safety / Offender Management

SB 153 Victim Services: Background

Rape Crisis Centers have only two state funding sources:$50,000 from the General Fund3.5 M from the Penalty Assessment

Fund which represents a 30% portion of the Victim Witness Fund

Think about that!

The State of California makes less than a $1.90* per victim yearly contribution to sexual assault victim services - and this rate has not changed in over a decade!

Currently

Californians who incur fines and penalties (felony and non-felony) pay into the California Penalty Assessment Fund - in FY 2004 / 05 the fund collected $150M

LAO and POST 2005

To Whom?

Restitution $48.1MFish and Game $.7MDriver Training $38.4MPeace Officer Training $38.4MCorrectional Training $11.8MVictim Witness $12.9Prosecutor / Defender Training $.85MTraumatic Brain Injury $.986M

Does Anyone Here have a Drivers Ed Program in

their County?

No? Didn’t think so…

Much of the Drivers Education money (38.4M in FY 04/05) has been moved into the general fund and spent on a variety of criminal and non-criminal justice programs -

SB 153 keeps Penalty Assessment Money Where

it BelongsIt reallocates much of the fund and

increases funds forVictim witness (and RCC’s)Child Advocacy CentersDA / Defense Training

The other funds are held harmless

What this means for RCC’s

This change in the assessment is anticipated to result in an additional $1.7 - 1.9M for sexual assault crisis centersDepending on the changes to the

funding formula this could be an additional $15,000 - $40,000 per center.

Questions you might hearall of these are on your FAQ Sheet

Isn’t this Bill a hit to the General Fund?

This bill is not a hit to the “General Fund” it keeps the money in the statutorily directed, legislatively intended fund created specifically for public safety purposes - the Penalty Assessment Fund.

Isn’t the current allocation working now?

Despite massive increases in financial commitment to offender management and supervision, California Rape Crisis Centers have not seen an increase in state funding in over a decade.

The State Penalty Assessment should fund programs that benefit the entire state - not just individual districts.

What do the other members of the fund

think?All of the recipients of the current

penalty assessment fund dollars stand united behind SB 153

What difference would the additional $$ make?

?