Jerry Bark Director of Parks and Recreation

City of Harker Heights TRAPS Legislative Committee Co-Chair

Mike Riggens Director of Parks and Recreation

City of Conroe TRAPS Legislative Committee Co-Chair

21st Annual

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SUMMIT August 16-19 | Camp for All | 6301 Rehburg Rd. | Burton, TX 77835

84th Session Re-cap • HB 158 (Larson/Estes) ensures 100 percent

of sporting goods sales tax revenue collected will be used exclusively for parks and historical sites

• The budget dedicates $40.8 million more than last biennium to our state and local parks

• "Texans love their parks and by an overwhelming majority want park funding to be substantial and honestly appropriated, so that their parks can remain attractive and attracting. Lyle Larson, with the support of those Texans and their elected officials, guarantees just that for generations. HB 158 is a monumental achievement.“ – George Bristol - Chair of the Texas State Parks Advisory Committee

Team Larson with Governor Greg Abbott

How does the Sporting Good Tax Funding Work?

1) “Person Most Aware” fills out National Sporting Goods Association Sporting Good Survey twice (2) each year.

a) Generate sales statistics for 26 categories for apparel and footwear and 29 categories for equipment.

2) Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller) uses statistical data based on the estimated receipts' from the taxable sales of sporting goods.

Sporting Goods Tax Funding

Formula: Estimated Tax Collected: 100% Texas Historical Commission: 6% State Parks Funded: 94% Local Grant Program Funded: $15.5M/yr. Cap

$104.8 $108.4

$112.5 $116.7

$110.8

$118.3 $122.0

$128.4 $130.6 $135.2

$15.5 $15.5 $15.5 $15.5

$55.4 $52.6

$36.1 $38.5

$54.0 $52.0

$5.2 $5.2 $15.5 $15.0

$12.9 $12.9

$0.4 $0.4

$8.5 $8.5

$-

$20.0

$40.0

$60.0

$80.0

$100.0

$120.0

$140.0

$160.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Fiscal Years

Estimated Sales Tax Collections from Sporting Goods Appropriations to State Parks and Local Park Grants

(in millions)

Collected State Parks Local Parks & COOP Grants

2015 Numbers: Estimated Tax Collected: $135,200,000 Texas Historical Commission: $ 5,002,514( 3.7%)

State Parks Funded: $ 52,000,000(38.5%)

Local Grant Program Funded:$ 8,500,000 SGT not appropriated: $69,697,486(51.6% )

2014 Numbers: Estimated Tax Collected: $130,600,000 Texas Historical Commission: $ 5,002,514( 3.8%)

State Parks Funded: $ 54,000,000(41.3%)

Local Grant Program Funded:$ 8,500,000 SGT not appropriated: $63,097,486(48.3%)

"Laws are like sausages; you don't want to see them being made." Otto Van Bismarck, German statesman, 1815-1898

GOVERNOR, LT. GOVERNOR, SENATORS, HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES

STATE AGENCIES & LOCAL GOVTS

LEGISLATIVE STAFF & LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AGENCIES

LOBBYISTS & TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

PUBLIC & STAKEHOLDERS COURTS

MEDIA

The Legislative Interim: Laying the foundation for a successful session

Get to know your legislator

• Invest time in the relationship as you would a personal friendship or business relationship

• Set up meeting(s) with member and/or staff • Invite them to an event, program or conference • Spoon-feed information in a less hectic environment • Establish a relationship so you become the “go to” person –

the subject matter expert • Find out what motivates them

The Legislative Interim: Laying the foundation for a successful session

Legislative Interim Committees • Charges given by the Speaker of the House to committees to

study and investigate in preparation for the next legislative session

• Interim committees often identify key priorities early and make important progress on those priorities before the next session begins

EXAMPLE: House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism Examine the economic impact of cultural, recreational, or tourism grants provided by the state, including any economic development grants related to cultural, recreational, or tourism industries, heritage tourism, courthouse restoration, and historic district revitalization.

The Practical Experience

• BE PREPARED! Know what your bill does, statistics, arguments as well as the opponents’ arguments

• Line up stakeholders and key advocates in committee before the bill comes to the floor

• Understand and articulate why a change is needed NOW • Have a back up plan in case you run in to problems

o Look for other bills to amend your bill on to o Know the art of compromise. Be flexible o Be realistic that it may take several sessions to have

success o Know what you can live with instead of only what you

want o Know how far you are willing to go to achieve your goal

The Practical Experience

• Never take steps in the process for granted. Just because the policy committee supports it doesn’t mean someone or group won’t try to kill it, get it vetoed by the Governor, or go to court to stop it.

• You can be right on the policy, but WRONG on the politics • Never guess at an answer • Success may come from STOPPING a bill or provision from

passing • DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY

The Practical Experience

• Sometimes you don't need to be the one delivering the message

• It pays to be quiet & listen. W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking? • You can talk a bill to death • You may have to "trade" votes to get what you want. I'll

vote for your bill if you (a) let my bill out of committee, (b) vote for my bill, or (c) kill some other bill.

The Texas Recreation and Park Society’s (TRAPS) primary objectives in

the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature:

1. Support passage of legislation that would provide a fair and equitable distribution of the sporting good sales tax revenues for state and local parks.

2. Oppose legislative appropriation riders that set Texas Recreation and Parks Accounts (TRPA) funding No. 467 & Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account No. 5007 funds for specific projects or locales.

3. Support passage of legislation that would create a constitutional dedication of sporting goods sales tax revenues for use in state and local parks that would directly benefit parks, recreation, open space, trails and tourism.

4. Support the pass through of federal dollars used for parks, recreation, open space, trails, and tourism from any of the following, but not limited to, the United States Department of the Interior Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the Sport Fish Restoration Boat Access program and the United States Department of Transportation Recreation Trails program.

5. Support legislation that would directly benefit parks, recreation, open space, trails, tourism, health and wellness (i.e. utility corridors and mobility).

6. Oppose legislation and/or unfunded mandates that would be detrimental to parks, recreation, open space, trails, and tourism (i.e. non-use of eminent domain for recreational purposes).

2016-2017

Legislative Platform

Pre-Legislative Session Visits

• The earlier visits can be accomplished, the better, so long as there are follow-ups with the legislators and their staff

• Remember that in the crunch of the session, staff become very important

• Be prepared. Have a package of materials with a brief executive summary ready to give to the official or staff.

• To the degree possible, try to put a good representative group of visitors together. There is strength in numbers and constituents are key.

• Legislators are busy in the off season, they do have other jobs and obligations

• Be respectful of the office. Getting mad or overly argumentative is a surefire way to be shown the door – literally or figuratively – and it’s hard for

anyone to get back in

• Try to measure the degree of support

Pre-Legislative Session Visits - Continued

• If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest and tell them you don’t and tell them you will get back to them as soon as possible. Then contact me or someone else in the know and get the answer back to them. It is the best follow-up!

• Drop them a thank-you note and have each member of the group do so

• As developments occur, either send them the information or drop it by the office

• Try to arrange a state and/or a local park visit for the elected officials and staff. This is particularly relevant for those local parks that have received TPWD grants.

a) Special invitation to dedications, grand openings and special events. If you let them speak briefly them will most likely show.

b) Be ready for them, treat them like royalty.

• While all of this is going on, try to find out as much about the official as possible. Who supports them? What are their personal interests, particularly in the outdoors. Who are their friends? Somewhere in all of this, there are probably mutual friends or interests.

• Finally, please let your Legislative Committee know how you progress and

the results.

“The mission of the Texas Parks Coalition is to advocate a unified message to fully restore funding for the State of Texas Local Park Grant Program that represents Texas local governments, non-profit organizations and multiple agencies with an interest in creating local park opportunities that are essential for livable communities and lead to a healthier, more active population and a general improvement in the quality of life in the State of Texas. “

Partners Texas Recreation And Parks Society (TRAPS) Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Houston Parks Board Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation (TPRF) American Society of Landscape Architects Texas Municipal League (TML) Special Olympics Texas Greater Gulf Coast Parks & Recreation Dir. Assoc. Texas Public Pool Council (TPPC) United States Tennis Association Texas Chapter Odessa Parks Foundation Texas League of Conservation Voters Texas Trails Network Texas Coalition for Conservation Texas Independent Trail Region American Camping Association SPARK, School Park Program Association of Rural Comm. in Texas Austin Parks Foundation Bike Texas Dallas Parks Foundation Dallas/Ft. Worth Directors Assoc. National Sporting Goods Association River Legacy San Antonio Parks Foundation Texas City Manager’s Association Texas Nursery and Landscaping Assoc. Texas Trees Foundation Texas Turf Grass Association West Texas Park People State Parks Advisory Committee

TRAPS / TMPRTA Affiliate Conversion • February 18, 2014 > TRAPS Board voted on the

amendment to the bylaws which will allow TRAPS to become the parks and recreation affiliate of TML upon formal approval of the memberships of TML.

• June 2014 > TML Board of Directors approved a

resolution that went to the membership for formal vote of approval.

• October 3, 2014 > Approval for TRAPS to be the parks

and recreation affiliate for TML. TRAPS assumes a seat on the TML Board at the conclusion of the annual TML meeting.

Plan to attend: 2017 Parks Day at the TEXAS Capitol

January 25, 2017

Your Responsibility:

• Adopt local resolutions • Attend Parks Day at the Capital and bring numbers

o Get staff, commission & boards, councils, friends involved

• Identify local champions in your districts • Invite local representatives to public events • Resource:

o Lobbyist o Contacts o Influence o Advocacy Boards

• Legislative Committee will provide you the message and the leadership; we need your commitment and support to move it forward when called upon. o Prepare, react, be present to support or fight for the State and local

parks issues.

21st Annual

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SUMMIT August 16-19 | Camp for All | 6301 Rehburg Rd. | Burton, TX 77835