Year-Round Duties and Responsibilities of the Local Unit Legislation Chair and Committee

May through August 
Upon appointment/election of the Legislation committee chair and committee members, the committee shall outline the activities for the upcoming year, which includes preparing and submitting a budget for the coming year. Committee members should attend the annual state PTA Leadership Training Conference (LTC). Workshops are presented on the Proposed Legislation Program (PLP) and other legislation topics. In August, committee members can attend the the Legislation/Education Conference. The Leg/Ed Conference is generally a 'topic specific' event and is not considered basic PTA training.
Attending both events is a legitimate PTA expense and should be included in the Leg Committee budget to send at least one (1) committee member to both events. Both events are also open to the general membership. The local committee should also continue to address current local issues and prepare for the new PTA year in September . 

September/October
The Local Unit Legislation Chairman shall attend the District Fall Legislation meeting in their respective districts to prepare for presentation of the PLP to the membership for the vote. The District Legislation Chair and/or District Director shall present the program and answer questions. The Leg Chair then presents the PLP to the membership for vote. Members are encouraged to vote their conscience - this is the individual member's opportunity to have a 'voice' in what shall constitute the program presented to the General Assembly when they convene.

The votes are tallied and the Chairman forwards the results to the respective District Director before the deadline established by the District. The District Directors then report the district tallies at the Pre-Convention Board Meeting. The final tally is announced during Convention.

November/December
Attending the annual State Convention provides an opportunity for the local committee to participate in the presentation of RESOLUTIONS with legislative intent. These Resolutions become part of the Legislation Program (LP) and the Resolutions adopted by the voting delegates should be reported to your members.

During the month of December, the Legislation Chairman can enjoy the holidays - you may be very busy when the General Assembly convenes in January. January and February are crucial months for the PTA Legislation Program.

January/February
Plan to attend PTA Day at the General Assembly, held in January/February during the General Assembly session. Attending PTA Day gives members an opportunity to meet with their Legislators while in session to advocate for the current PTA Legislation Program.

During the session, the state chairman may call upon the local chairman to contact their members, calling you to 'action' to phone, email or write letters to your legislators. All members can monitor the General Assembly activities online for bills related to the PTA Leg Program, current positions and other bills of interest to the PTA in the Legislation section.

This is also the time to be thinking about items you want to see included in the LP for the next year. Those ideas need to reach the State Chairman by March 1.

March/April
In March, each PTA receives the final report from the State Legislation committee and the Preliminary Proposed Legislation Program (PPLP) for the next year. The PPLP is developed by the state committee from items submitted by March 1 for consideration. Please review the PPLP and be prepared to attend the Spring Legislation meeting in your district.

April brings the District's Spring Legislation meeting. All local chairmen should attend and bring any suggested changes to forward to the state PTA via the District Director. The PPLP will then be debated and voted on, including suggested changes from the districts, by the Board of Managers at the Spring Board of Managers Meeting in early May. The items adopted by the BOM shall become the PLP and will be sent to all local units prior to the Fall District Legislation Meetings.
And the process starts over from the beginning.....

Contact the Legislation Committee Chair: - legislation@vapta.org