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 Guidelines for RPLS Legislation Memos
GUIDELINES FOR RPLS LEGISLATION MEMOS
1. Identification of Topics.
(a) New bills are listed under Status of Pending Legislation on the
RPLS website, beginning in January each year, and steps taken by the
legislature on each bill are posted daily. They are chosen for the list
by the NYSBA Governmental Relations Department (Kevin Kerwin, Assoc.
Dir), with additions from the Legislation Committee Co-Chairs. Committee
Co-Chairs (or their designees) are urged to review the status
periodically to identify bill of interest and to monitor their
progress.
(b) Legislation Committee Co-Chairs will prepare and distribute to
the RPLS XC a Legislation Chart of selected bills to aid in identifying
and monitoring them.
2. Drafting of Memos.
(a) Legislation Committee Co-Chairs, with the help of other Committee
Co-Chairs and other RPLS members, will attempt to identify bills worthy
of comment by our Section and ask Committee Chairs and RPLS members to
draft memos. RPLS members may volunteer on their own.
(b) Legislation Committee Co-Chairs will notify RPLS XC members by
email each time a memo is assigned for drafting. It is suggested that
Committee Chairs forward each email to their members if they think there
would be interested in the subject. If more than one person volunteers,
the Legislation Committee Co-Chairs will select one or more persons to
do the draft.
(c) The memo should be: (1) in support, (2) in opposition, (3) in
support if amended [specifying the amendment], or (4) in opposition
unless amended [specifying the amendment]. The first sentence or two
should succinctly state the reasons for the position taken in the memo,
including any recommended amendments. Memos should be short (1-3 pages).
The name of the drafter or drafters should appear at the end of the
memo.
3. Approval of Memos.
(a) Legislation Committee Co-Chairs will review and approve each memo
as to form (not substance). Once approved, Legislation Committee
Co-Chairs will circulate the memo to the RPLS XC for comment within 5
business days (or less in emergencies). Any comments will be dealt with
by the Legislation Committee Co-Chairs, in consultation with the RPLS
Chair as needed to resolve any disputes.
(b) In case of an unresolved conflict of opinion on a memo, the
conflict will be resolved by the RPLS Chair, in consultation with the
other officers. Consideration may be given to adding a dissenting
comment to a memo in an appropriate case.
(c) Once approved by the Chair, the name of the Chair will appear at
the end of the memo after the name of the drafter(s).
(d) The Legislation Committee Co-Chairs will then forward the memo to
the NYSBA Government Relations Department for finalization and filing
with the legislature.
(e) Copies of the memos will be displayed on the RPLS website and may
be posted on the RPLS blog and RPLS forum.
03/05/09
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