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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Review draft Board Policy No. BP ___ – Legislative AdvocacyNumber: BP XXX Related Admin. Procedure AP XXX Authority: Board of Directors Effective: Revised: Reviewed: Initiating Dept./Div.: ?? BOARD POLICY Central Contra Costa 8. tir Sanitary District LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY www.centralsan.org PURPOSE To establish a process for the District to take a position on legislation when appropriate. POLICY It is the policy of the District to take positions on legislation when appropriate, and that the District's position on legislation shall be developed in accordance with the process set forth below. PROCESS In furtherance of the above policy, the following process shall be followed in determining when and how the District will take a position on legislation: 1. The General Manager shall develop a process to review pending legislation and assess its applicability to the District. This process will rely on the District's numerous membership analyses including, but not limited to the: California Association of Sanitation Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Association of California Water Agencies, WateReuse, California Special Districts Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, and State/local chambers ("Member Organizations"). The District may also use other resources, as appropriate, in making the assessment. 2. The assessment shall characterize legislation as: • Having direct impact on the District • Being of general interest to the District, or • Having no interest or applicability to the District Number: BP XXX LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Page 2 of 3 Direct Impact on the District or Special Sianificance to the Board of Directors If legislation is deemed to have a direct impact on the District or Special Significance to the Board of Directors and is considered policy: A. The General Manager shall present the legislation to the Board when there is: a) "Call to Action" by a Member Organization(s), or b) the legislation will be heard at a California Senate or Assembly committee or Congressional committee where a legislator that serves on that committee also represents the District's service area, The action may include a recommendation from the General Manager for the position to be taken by the District. This recommendation may or may not align with the position taken by Member Organization(s). B. The District's Board of Directors, in consideration of the General Manager's input, shall determine the position to be taken by the District. General Interest to the District If legislation is deemed to be of general interest and applicability to the District, and/or a position has been taken on the legislation by one of the Member Organizations and that Member Organization requests that the District take action advocating its position, the General Manager may take a position consistent with the best interest of the District. If the General Manager does so, a summary of the actions taken and any correspondence sent in support of positions taken by the Member Organization, shall be communicated to the Board of Directors as soon as practicable. Havina No Interest or Applicability to the District If legislation is deemed to have no interest or applicability to the District, no action will be taken by the General Manager. When Time -Sensitive Action is Necessary If the General Manager determines that it is critical for the District to take a position on legislation and there is insufficient time to follow the process outlined above, the General Manager is authorized to take a position on behalf of the District that is in the best interests of the District, and notify the Board as soon as practicable following the decision. The General Manager will keep each Board member informed throughout the process. Number: BP XXX LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Page 3 of 3 3. If the District takes a position on legislation, it shall be one of the following positions: A. Support: The legislation, if passed, will have a direct and positive effect on the District. B. Support if Amended: C. Neutral: The legislation, if amended to address specific shortcomings identified by the District, will have a direct and positive effect on the District. The legislation neither has a positive effect nor detrimental effect on the District. The District shall identify its position as neutral, if asked. D. Oppose Unless Amended: The legislation, unless amended to address specific shortcomings identified by the District, will have a direct and detrimental effect on the District. E. Oppose: The legislation, if passed, will have a direct and detrimental effect on the District. 4. The General Manager will express a position other than neutral by one or more of the following ways: letter, email, in-person, telephone communications, and/or similar efforts in support of the District's taken position. 5. At the end of each legislative session. the General Manager will produce a summary report on kev legislation relevant to the District. [Original Retained by the Secretary of the District]