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State Legislative Director’s Meeting Michael P. Aitken • March 17, 2010

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program.

Presentation Overview

Overview of SHRM’s Government Affairs Program

Federal Public Policy Overview

Complying with State Lobbying Laws

Introduction of GA Staff and Responsibilities

Open Discussion/ Q & A Session

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program

Federal Public Policy

Member Advocacy

Regulatory/Judicial Affairs

State Public Policy

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program

Determining SHRM’s Public Policy Priorities

Political Climate

Burning/Hot Issues

State Legislative Director Input

State Council Determination

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program

Developing Public Policy Statements

Policy positions are set by the SHRM Board.

Position is developed through:

Member Surveys Focus Groups Special Expertise Panels

Currently reviewing all of our public policy statements and process.

Public policy statements guide both our federal and state activities.

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program

Key HR Issues in 2011

Health Care Reform

Workplace Flexibility/Leave Benefits

Labor-Management Relations

Civil Rights Protections

Credit Check

Weapons in the Workplace

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingGovernment Affairs Program

Advocacy Program

SHRM is organized as a 501(c)(6).

Registered as lobbyist organization under the Lobby Disclosure Act.

Federal Relations staff are registered as lobbyists.

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingState Affairs Programs

Public Policy Process

State Affairs Activity

Consistent with SHRM Public Policy Statements State Legislative Directors contact staff/staff

alerts State Legislative Directors Staff Recommendation State Legislative Directors request assistance Work with State Legislative Directors on Strategy

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingState Affairs Programs

Characteristics of an Effective State Program

Compliance with state lobbying laws

Consistent communication process

Engaged advocacy efforts

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingState Affairs Programs

State Lobbying Registration Laws State requirements vary widely – important to check your state

What is “lobbying?” Examples of some definitions and triggers:

“Communicating by any means” to influence legislation (e.g., Ind.) Expenditure thresholds: e.g., spending $100/year (Ala.) Time thresholds: spending more than 20 hours/year lobbying (N.J.) Grassroots activities: spending at least $100/year on communications

that encourage others to contact their lawmakers (Kan.) “Directly communicating” with state officials (Tex.)

Note: A state may use more than one of the above as a trigger (e.g., you must register if you spend more than $500 to communicate by any means to influence legislation)

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State Legislative Director’s MeetingState Affairs Programs

State Lobbying Registration Laws

Examples of exempted activities:

Testifying at a legislative or agency hearing (invitation may be required)

Providing written comments to proposed regulations Individuals contacting lawmakers “solely on their own behalf” Providing information only about pending matters Individuals/entities who do not meet the expenditure or time

thresholds

Note: if you hire a lobbyist, the lobbyist must register; your organization may also be required to register as a lobbyist-employer.

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Final Comments/Q & A Session