The Evolving Advocate
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Transcript of The Evolving Advocate
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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