2 - Organizing 101: An Introduction to Influencing Decisions

You have an environmental problem and want to bring it to the attention of someone who can make a difference, someone who will change the way things stand today. How do you make your voice and opinion heard? How do you get others involved?

In this chapter we will give you the basics and point you in the direction of several comprehensive handbooks that can help you further. Most of our suggestions will help you influence decision-makers at all levels of government, from local to statewide. You can decide to work on your own, or you can decide to get others involved. Don't forget the time-tested truism: there is strength in numbers! In this chapter, unless clarified at specific points, we will assume that "you" can be an individual or a group of people.

Getting Organized

Find out all you can about the challenge you face. This will help you best decide how much you can do alone, and whether you can, or must, bring in others to help.

• Pinpoint your issue/problem.

Come to a full understanding of what is happening and who is involved. Research the history of the problem and whether other remedies have been attempted. Decide what resolution will satisfy you, and what needs to happen to fix the problem.

• Identify the decision-makers.

Determine which decision-makers have jurisdiction over your issue and who might be able or willing to help you. Depending on the issue, these individuals might work in local government, law enforcement, state government or a state regulatory board. Familiarize yourself with how their agency or organization operates, and identify opportunities for public input.

• Identify other groups.

Find out if other groups are already working on your issue or related issues. See what you can learn from them, and determine whether they can help you.

• Tally your resources.

Make an accounting of the resources you can direct toward solving your problem. Resources might include: time, money, transportation, access to expert assistance, likelihood of others joining you, and relationships with decision-makers.

• Decide: go it alone, or gather your forces?

After an initial assessment of the situation, decide whether you are going to forge on alone with the work, or if you need to involve others. A local issue might be sufficiently handled by one person asking authorities the right questions. If you can reach a solution without a demonstration of political strength, making your own case might work perfectly well. Often it takes some individual work and research before you know whether the issue is one in which others will want to get involved or be needed to make a difference. The basic tenet of organizing, and the bias of this Guide, is that there is strength and power in numbers.

• Structure your group.

Whether you are a group of three or a statewide coalition, you must decide how you will work together. Ask yourself these questions: Are we a loose group with one or two leaders who let others know when it is time to write letters, make phone calls, or show up at hearings? An organized group with officers and regular meetings and workload division among members? A coalition of already existing organizations? When the issue is "won," do we want the organization to live on to work on other issues? Who will run meetings? Who has access to phones, computers, the internet, reference materials? There are many guidebooks for starting a group or building an organization. We suggest Organize! Organizing for Social Change -- Midwest Academy Manual for Activists. (See Resources for ordering information.)

• Invite others.

Figure out with whom you most want to work, why they might want to join in, and what they will bring to your effort. Then, simply ask them. Reach out to family members, neighbors and local groups concerned about similar issues. As others join, ask them to ask others. You might also want to reach out beyond your circle of acquaintances. Consider setting up tables at local events, placing notices in local newspapers and town flyers, circulating a petition about the issue and gathering the names of sympathizers, conducting door-to-door canvassing, or holding neighborhood meetings.

• Create a plan.

You'll need an action plan and you'll need to share the workload. Make your plan flexible in order to adjust to changing circumstances. Your plan should enable you and your colleagues to divide up the workload so that it can be done in a timely way by the individuals who feel most prepared to do each task. Refer to the list of planning elements above and use the campaign planning tool from the Midwest Academy Manual. Consider all the tasks involved and create a timeline showing how they fit in the overall plan. Decide what administrative systems you will set up to stay internally organized and coordinated. (See Midwest Academy Stategy Chart.)

Influencing Decision-Makers

Whatever the issue, you will need to understand which decision-makers can help you and can bring change on the issue. For organizing purposes, it is always easier for citizen advocates to influence elected officials; these individuals depend on votes from constituents to keep their jobs. They are, therefore, more accountable to the public than those who are appointed or hired as part of the state bureaucracy. Generally, there are more opportunities for members of the public to effect change at the state legislature in which all members are elected by constituents, and fewer opportunities at the regulatory boards as part of the administrative process. Nonetheless, as detailed in Chapter 1, the Maine Administrative Procedures Act requires that the regulatory boards and agencies must allow and follow certain public participation measures as part of their processes.

State Agencies

Often a citizen advocate's first experience with an administrative agency is picking up the phone to reach someone in the agency bureau who might be able to help. Many environmental issues are resolved just between citizens and agency staff. Chapter 3 can help you find the right office more promptly; it will likely still take some calling around before you find the person who can help you.

Sometimes the issue is part of a larger, longer process either at the Legislature or at a state agency or regulatory board. Agency staff and regulatory board commissioners are not influenced in the same way legislators are. The process is not as straightforward. You can request information; you can give information. You can be persistent about pushing your point in calls or meetings with agency staff, or in following up after a regulatory hearing. The working sessions and drafting processes, however, are not open to continuous review and comment by the public the way they are in the Legislature.

If you have made repeated calls to a state agency for information and have had little response, contact your legislator and ask him or her to help out by calling the agency. Legislator's phone calls are generally returned quickly by agency staff and can help jumpstart some solution to your problem. If your own legislator is not supportive, consider whether a legislator representing a nearby district might be helpful.

Don't hesitate to involve the local media; making the issue public can hasten the chances of solving it. Publicity can also bring allies you might not have known existed. Call your local media -- papers, radio stations -- find out who covers environmental or natural resources issues, tell them about your situation. As always, have a clear message about the current situation, the solutions that are possible, and the effect of the problem on local people. (See Media Tips for Organizers and Chart of Media Contacts, Appendix C.)

State Legislators

Maine has a relatively large legislature for its population: 186 voting legislators for a little over a million people in the state. Maine legislators have no staff unless they serve in one of the ten leadership posts. This means that whether in the halls of the State House or at home at the local shop on weekends, our legislators are very accessible. It also means that they can benefit from and are often grateful for information and opinions about issues when you choose to share them -- as long as you do it respectfully.

Legislators are busy humans like the rest of us. When given a chance to find an appropriate time to talk, they will listen hard and genuinely try to find a way to help a concerned citizen. It is important to be respectful and yet clear and specific about what you are asking them to do.

Remember, "Five is a flood!" As an environmental advocate was once told by those in state government, five constituent letters, calls or emails to a legislator on a given topic is considered "a lot" of citizen interest in most circumstances. Citizen advocates can bring attention to an issue simply by communicating with legislators.

Never shy away from contacting your legislators either about a vote at the Legislature or some local issue that concerns you. You and your neighbors elected them and it is part of their job to be responsive to your queries. Before you contact them, it helps to understand their current roles in the Legislature (committee assignment, leadership post, etc.); and their previous voting records on similar issues. If you are calling about a bill currently under discussion at the Legislature, know as much as you can about the bill and where it is in the legislative process. (See Lobbying Toolbox.)

Contacting Legislators

• Meetings

There is nothing like meeting face-to-face with a legislator and having time to explain an issue in detail. The best bet for quality time is to try to meet in the area that is convenient to your legislator's home. This also ensures that you can get other local people to attend if desired. Legislators are also quite accessible at the State House, although they tend to be distracted by activities in the chamber, in their committees, and in the hallways. If you call ahead and offer to meet at their convenience, most legislators will do what they can to accommodate the needs of their constituents. Never be late for an appointment.

• Phone calls

You can call legislators at home as long as you are respectful of their home life and schedules. You can find your legislator's phone number online at:

(See the Lobbying Toolbox.) You can also call legislators at the State House and leave a recorded message. Most legislators call back within a few days. Constituents are always called first! Leave your name, town, phone number, issue or LD number, and request that they call you back.

• Personal letters

Legislators read their mail, especially mail from their constituents -- the more personally written the better. Using a form letter or postcard is better than nothing but does not carry the weight of an individualized letter. State the intent of your letter immediately including the name of the bill, the LD number and the committee to which the bill has been referred for public hearing. Include some background that shows your personal connection to the issue, such as a pertinent anecdote, especially if it highlights the importance of the issue to your district. Be short and to the point -- a single page is the most effective. If you need to include more information, put it at the end where the legislator can refer to it as needed. Close with thanks and appreciation for the legislator's time. Finally, give your name and address, phone and email so that they can reach you.

You can mail letters to either their home addresses (available online at the above sites) or the State House address.

• Email

Between half and three-quarters of legislators read and use email regularly. This percentage has been steadily increasing in the last few years. For those who do use it, email is the preferred method of corresponding with constituents and others who want to reach them. For advocates with computers this is by far the easiest and fastest method of communicating with one or many legislators. Often you will get responses in under 24 hours on weekdays. The legislative web page will show the personal email of the legislator as well as their assigned legislative email address. If you do not get a response from an email within days, it is prudent to turn your email into a printed letter and mail to the legislator because he or she may be one who chooses not to use that system. Here are the standard legislative email addresses formats:

• Outreach to all legislators

The legislators who represent you in the House or Senate will be the most responsive to your information. However, you can also communicate with a broader legislative audience -- for example, all legislators on the committee which is discussing your issue, or all legislators in the House once a vote is pending. Although the words of constituents have the most impact, other legislators will still receive and consider your information. Opportunities to reach all legislators include the following:

-- Deliver your testimony in front of a legislative committee -- in person if possible. Legislators are generally most interested in the testimony of "regular people" so you should be assured an attentive audience. (See A Guide to Participating in Public Hearings; Chapter 3, page 32.)

-- Meet with House and Senate leadership of both parties -- stay in touch with their staff throughout the process. Know where they stand and why and which legislators will follow their leads.

-- Distribute fact sheets to all members of both or either chambers of the Legislature. A legislator from each chamber must "sponsor" the communication, and that sponsorship must be clearly typed at the bottom of the sheet (for example: "Distributed at the request of Senator X and Representative Y").

-- Stand in the hallway of the third floor of the State House under the dome, identify legislators as they walk by, and approach them about your issue. Be respectful of their time. Be sure to thank any legislator with whom you talk, no matter the outcome.

-- Say thank you. You never know when you will need to work with a legislator, a legislative committee, a regulatory board, or their staff again. Be polite, and thank them for their time and attention.

• Group activities

Remember, there is strength in numbers. Coordinated activities will make it clear that more than just a few people share your point of view.

-- Ask to hold a special education session for the committee on your issue. Work with the committee chairs and clerks to arrange a time before or after regular committee sessions. Try for a lunch-time event in the committee room.

-- Host events at the State House. Many interest groups, conservation organizations among them, bring their issues, materials, booths and allies to the State House to deliver information to legislators and to encourage their members to talk directly to legislators. Billed as "education days" or "lobby days," these events keep the Hall of Flags and other public areas of the State House full of special booths, posters, video presentations and free food many days during the legislative session. Such events are particularly effective when coupled with a program that teaches citizens about key issues and about lobbying techniques. With help from staff who are accustomed to the State House scene, many people who might not have ever "lobbied" a legislator before are given the tools to do so on that day. To reserve a public space at the State House, call the Clerk's office at 287-1400, and reserve as far ahead as possible.

-- Set up letter or email campaigns to make sure, at some strategic moment, as many legislators as possible get multiple messages to support or oppose the issue you are working on.

-- Use email to set up a phone campaign. Email is the most efficient method to reach quickly lots of citizens, and you can attach background information and phone scripts. Each recipient then uses the phone to call and leave messages for his legislator. As easy as email is to use, advocates should not forget the power of personal contact once the organizing has been done by email. Organize supporters to make as many phone calls to legislators as possible at the likely time of the debate and vote on the issue. These messages will get to legislators at their seats in the chamber where they vote.

-- Use the media to tell the story of your issue to a wide audience. (See Media Tips for Organizers.)

Governor

We have focused to this point on influencing legislators, a complex and essential step. The legislative advocacy and media work you have undertaken will build momentum for your position, but do not overlook reaching out to the Governor. His support or opposition can make-or-break your issue.

Know the position of the state agency in charge of your issue and consider what communications are taking place between the agency and the Governor's office. Meet with the Governor's staff early to learn their position. Schedule a small group of members of your coalition to meet with the Governor. If the Governor supports your position, solicit his help in promoting it. If the Governor's office is opposed to your position, it is better to know as soon as possible and prepare.

If there is any question of as to whether the Governor will sign or veto a bill, focus your organizing on his office. Work with the bill sponsor to get information on the issue to his staff well before the bill reaches the Governor's desk.

Vetoes are rarely overturned, since a two-thirds vote in each chamber is required. Nevertheless, you may find yourself working to overturn or uphold a veto. Organize your constituency to contact their legislators one last time in support of your position. The Governor has ten days (exclusive of Sundays) to sign or veto bills enacted by the Legislature. Veto Day is therefore held ten days after the adjournment of a legislative session to give the Legislature the chance to address action taken by the Governor on bills during the last days of the session. If no bills were vetoed in that period, no Veto Day will be scheduled.

Influencing Rulemaking

The work doesn't stop when a bill passes. You'll need to be prepared to protect the policy from future changes, and you'll need to participate in the implementation of the law. Some laws call for the creation of study or advisory committees. Work to ensure that your position is represented. As outlined in Chapter 1, rulemaking is the process by which laws are implemented and enforced. Because implementation and enforcement are critical to laws regarding environmental protection, knowing how to influence the rulemaking process is important.

• Influencing the Rulemaking Process

Citizens working on an issue that requires rulemaking need to understand the process, and be vigilant about making their voices heard within the appropriate venues provided by MAPA. The process can be complicated, with intense focus on certain scientific data or legal language. Legal or scientific technical assistance from professional experts can be of great value for citizens engaged in issues that go to administrative rulemaking. With or without such assistance, citizens have an important role to play in offering information and viewpoints to the decision-makers at this stage of the process. There are several ways you can influence the rulemaking process:

Working with Your Legislator: Ten Rules for Concerned Citizens

1. Consider yourself an information source. Your legislators have limited time, staff, and interest on any one issue. You can fill the information gap.
2. Tell the truth. There is no faster way to lose your credibility than to give false or misleading information to your legislators.
3. Know who is on your side. It helps your legislators to know what other groups, individuals, state agencies and legislators are working with you on an issue.
4. Know the opposition. Anticipate the arguments the opposition will use and who they will likely be. Provide your legislators with this information and with the answers and rebuttals they will need.
5. Share personal connections with your legislators. If you have friends, relatives, or colleagues in common let them know. It will help them remember you.
6. Don't be afraid to admit you don't know something. If your legislators want information you don't have or ask something you don't know, be honest and then offer to get the information that will help them.
7. Make a specific demand. If you want a vote, information, answers to a question -- whatever it is -- make sure you ask for it directly and get an answer.
8. Follow up. Find out what action your legislators took on the issue in question. Thank them for the support or ask for an explanation as to why they did not support your position.
9. Don't burn any bridges. Be sure that no matter what happens on the issue, you leave on good terms with your legislators. You will work best with your legislators when you have built a relationship with them. At the State House, your strongest opponent on one issue may be your strongest ally on another.
10. Remember... YOU ARE THE BOSS! Your tax money pays for legislators' salaries, pays for the paper they write on, the phones they use. YOU are the employer and they are the employees. You should be courteous and respectful, but don't be intimidated. They are responsible to you and nine times out of ten, you'll find that legislators are grateful for your information and perspective.

Additional Ways to Influence Public Policy

• Join an environmental group.

Joining a local or statewide conservation organization is a basic way to stay informed and help to preserve our natural resources. (See Appendix B for a list.) Many organizations have "rapid response" networks you can join in order to reach decision-makers quickly on key issues. One free grassroots conservation network that alerts you by email about important Maine environmental issues is Maine Environmental Citizens Online (ECO), operated jointly by a coalition of groups. For more information, go to the Maine ECO website: http://maineeco.e-actionmax.com

• Serve on a Board, Commission or Other Committee.

One way to influence public policy is by serving in an appointed position on a board, commission or advisory group. The Governor makes approximately 1,000 appointments a year of which only about 100 require confirmation by the Legislature. There are numerous professional regulatory boards as well as standing and ad-hoc advisory or study committees to which the Governor, Senate President and House Speaker have appointment power. Accepting an appointment to one of these lower profile positions can be a springboard for consideration for another appointment later on.

Some board or commission posts wield enough power to be of interest to many people and groups. A citizen's chance of being chosen for such a spot is greatly improved if there is a persistent, strategic effort made by individuals or groups who have a strong relationship with the Governor or his staff.

In either case, the basic steps to follow are the same:

When the Governor's choice is made, it is listed on the "Nominations" clipboard outside the Governor's office, and publicly announced. If the appointment is one of those that require legislative confirmation, the Governor's nominee goes through the Legislature's confirmation process with the help of Governor's staff.

• Hold your decision-makers accountable.

Find out how your elected officials vote on environmental issues, and let them know how you feel about their work. One way to track their voting record is the Maine League of Conservation Voters' Environ-mental Scorecard.

• Run for office yourself.

There are many opportunities, from Board of Selectmen to State Representative or Senator to Governor. Choose an office, make a plan, gather your supporters and make a run for it. Make environmental protection one of your top priorities!

For more information click here for the Midwest Academy Strategy Chart.

Media Tips for Organizers

How to Use Newspapers

News Stories

Local weekly newspapers and daily newspaper reporters on your local beat are looking for local stories. You can help them to do their job, but they are not necessarily on your side, although they should want to report on your side's views. If you do not already know, call the papers to find out which reporters are covering your story. It is worth your time to develop relationships with these reporters and keep them up-to-date on your issue. If your issue is site-specific, offer to take reporters to the site.

Letters to the Editor

This is the most widely read part of the paper. These letters help show broad community support for your side of an issue, heat up a debate, make an issue newsworthy, and keep the drumbeat going between news events. A broader audience will read and be persuaded by the letters if a variety of people write from different perspectives. Letters focusing on public health, fairness, jobs and economics, the threat to the environment and so forth will work for different readers. Keep your letter to one double-spaced page (250 words) and limit it to one major point supported by two or three arguments. Use your own voice and explain what you believe, why it matters to you, why your neighbors should care. Mail, fax or email it to the newspaper.

Op-eds

These pieces are longer than a letter to the editor, and usually appear on the page opposite the editorials, hence the name "op-ed." Although fewer members of the general public read op-eds, more decision-makers do. An op-ed allows you more space in which to lay out your arguments and target a certain group of decision-makers (those you know or assume will read the newspaper to which you submit yours.) Decide in advance who on your side will write the op-ed; the name of the writer will affect the credibility assigned to the message. The op-ed works best if it is two to three double-spaced typed pages (600-750 words). Mail, fax or email it to the op-ed editor with a friendly note.

Editorials

Editorials are the official position of the newspaper; like op-eds, they primarily influence decision-makers. Daily papers usually have editorial boards, staff who will listen to your side of an issue. Call first for an appointment; bring your best spokespeople and a printed sheet with a bulleted list of your best arguments. For most local weeklies, you will only need to discuss your issue with the editorial writer and/or publisher. It is hard to predict whether or not the editorial board will take your side. You can always write letters and op-eds in response to whatever they write.

How to Use Radio and Television

Editorials

Radio and TV stations sometimes also run editorials. You can talk to the people who are in charge of editorials at the station to try to influence them to broadcast editorials on your side of an issue. The station may support your side, and, if they don't, you can request equal time to present a rebuttal. The station can tell you the standard length and format for rebuttals.

Talk shows

Talk shows offer an opportunity for in-depth coverage of an issue. Find out what shows are available and what format they use. Some are panel discussions of statewide issues with opposing viewpoints (like MaineWatch on Maine Public Television). Others use an interview format with a news reporter, producer, or public affairs reporter -- many radio stations use this format. Some are pre-recorded; some shows run at six o'clock Sunday morning. You will need to evaluate whether the format and exposure will work for your issue and which spokespeople can do the best job.

TV news

Call the TV assignment editor at a station when you think you have a newsworthy story. TV news crews thrive on visuals and stories associated with a place. Show them your site or provide charts, graphs and other visuals whenever you can.

Radio news

Call the station or stations with which you want to work and ask for the News Director. Once you tell him or her about your issue, they may be prepared to interview you over the phone. They may also want to tape your comments for a later broadcast.

When you talk to radio or television staff, remember the elements of the best stories for broadcast news. The stories are happening right now or happened today. You have some facts about what is happening or just happened. The story is interesting to others for reasons you can explain. The issues involved are not overly complex and can be explained and grasped quickly. In addition, broadcasters love to get a "scoop" and cover stories that won't break in the newspapers until the next morning.

Holding a Press Event

You may want to stage a media event if your issue would benefit from broadcast news coverage or you want to provide photo opportunities to the media in order to make an announcement. Send out a one-page "news advisory" in advance to newsroom staff at newspapers, radio and television who are likely to cover the event based on the issue and location.

If you have materials you want reporters to have in advance, include them as background information. Make follow-up phone calls the day before and, when possible, the morning of the event. Prepare media packets that contain key elements of your story, for example: a news release with quotes, statements by various folks participating, contact information for key spokespeople, graphics, bullet sheets about the issue.

Your spokespeople should be prepared to talk individually with reporters after the event itself. Be aware of other news against which you will be competing for "air time." Research what days of the week are best and what venues are convenient and visual, particularly if you are seeking television news crews. Use visuals whenever possible and vary your spokespeople. A broad coalition of groups with diverse interests can carry a message more effectively than a single face.

Lobbying Toolbox

These documents are valuable tools for the citizen activist. Most are available on the Legislature's website, a remarkable tool for comprehensive, accessible, timely information about the Legislature. (www.janus.state.me.us/legis/) The first four are also available from the House Clerk (287-1400) or Secretary of the Senate (287-1540.) Sources for others are listed with them.

• Advance Calendar for Legislative Sessions

These tell you when legislators are in their chambers and what issues they will be considering. Available online at:

• List of Committee Assignments

Tells you the committee on which your legislator serves, and which legislators will decide the bills of interest to you. Online at:

• Legislative Register and Seating Chart

The Register is a convenient handbook showing photos of all legislators along with contact information, committee lists, house, senate and joint rules, staff lists, and more. The seating chart is a map of the House and Senate chamber seating arrangements with photographs of all legislators. Although most of the information contained in them is available online, these handy publications are not.

• Advance Notice of Public Hearings

Gives committee hearing and work session schedules. Online at:

• Copies of Bills

Copies of bills are available at the Document Room (Room 102 of the State House) and online at: www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/

• Roll Call Sheets

A sheet is printed showing how each legislator voted on any bill for which a roll call is requested. House roll calls are available from the Document Room, Room 105 of the State House; Senate roll calls are available from the Secretary of Senate. In either case, you will need a Roll Call number to request the document. Find roll calls online by going to the Bill Status page at:

• Audio Transcriptions of Floor Debate

The Maine Legislature records and transcribes all the remarks made on the record during legislative sessions. A complete account of all the arguments made on bills is available in the Legislative Record, which is generally available at the Law Library within six months of the debate. Legislative records for the session are posted online as they become available at:

• Audio broadcasts

Broadcasts of House and Senate proceedings as well as some committee sessions are available online at the legislature's website --

http://janus.state.me.us/legis/audio. Although there is no substitute for being present when your issue is being considered, these broadcasts allow you to monitor the legislature from afar.

• Copies of Laws

Following the adjournment of each Regular Session, all laws, resolves, and constitutional resolutions passed in that year are published by the of Revisor of Statutes in the Laws of Maine. These soft-bound volumes are available to the public on request and are found in the law libraries in each county or online at: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/lom/lawsrch.htm

• Environmental Scorecards

How has your legislator voted on previous environmental issues? The Maine League of Conservation Voters has published an Environmental Scorecard since 1986. Contact them at 373-1200 or find current and select back issues online at: http://www.mlcv.org/

• A Citizen's Guide to the Maine Legislature

The Maine People's Resource Center publishes this thorough guide to current state legislators. It includes background, organizational ratings, election results, and much more. Copies are $15.00 plus tax and shipping and can be ordered by calling 797-9207.

How to Find Your Legislators

If you come to Augusta and want to see your legislator, either call ahead and make an appointment or be prepared to look around the State House complex. Some suggestions follow:

A Guide to Participating in Public Hearings

(Reprinted with the permission of the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate.)

Your elected state legislators want to know your opinion on legislation before they take a vote on the issue. Speaking at a public hearing is an effective way to let your opinion be known, rather than just writing a letter or making a call. The purpose of a public hearing is to receive testimony and hear opinions from members of the public. The following explains how you can participate in the Legislature's public hearing process:

Information on Public Hearings

As a rule, notices of public hearings on legislation are printed in the Weekend Edition of the Bangor Daily News, the Maine Sunday Telegram and the Lewiston Sunday Sun, one to two weeks in advance of the hearing. Notices will contain the LD number, title of the bill, location, time and day of the hearing.

Advance Notice of Public Hearing (ANPH)is provided by the President of the Senate and produced by the Secretary of the Senate. The schedule is usually posted by 10:00 am on Thursday morning each week during the legislative session. Supplements with changes to the schedule are posted as soon as they become available. An email notification service is provided by the Secretary of the Senate to alert you to changes to this schedule. You can subscribe to this service by contacting webmaster_senate@state.me.us. Printed copies of the Public Hearing Schedule and current supplements are available, at no charge, outside the Secretary of the Senate's office in the State House -- Third Floor, Room 327 (phone: 287-1540).

Sometimes changes are made to the hearing schedule that can not be posted to the website in a timely manner. You may call the Committee Clerk (numbers are listed on the ANPH) or the Legislative Information Office at 287-1692 to find out the most current hearing information or the status of any bill. Use the Legislative Document (LD) number when you need information about a bill. This office can also be contacted through e-mail at webmaster_lio@state.me.us

When You Arrive

Most committee hearings are held in the State House or in the Cross Office Building, which is connected to the State House by a tunnel on the ground floor. The committee hearing times and locations are posted on the third floor of the State House and on the ground floor of the Cross Office Building.

Public Hearing Procedures

• Speaking Order

At the beginning of each hearing the presiding committee chair will call the public hearing to order and announce the bill to be heard. The sponsor of the bill will formally introduce the bill, and after the sponsor has spoken, the presiding chair will ask if any other sponsors wish to testify.

Once all sponsors have had the opportunity to speak, the presiding chair will then invite members of the public to speak. Generally, the speakers are divided into three categories: those favoring the bill, those against the bill, and those neither for nor against the bill. Some committees ask members of the public to rise or raise their hand if they wish to testify before the committee. The committee may be hearing a number of bills during a public hearing. It is a good idea to check with the Committee Clerk to try to get a sense of when the bill you are interested in might be heard.

• Your Turn At The Podium

When you are invited to testify, stand at the podium to speak and sign your name on the sign-up sheet at the podium. You should begin by addressing both the Senate and House Chairs by name. (For example, "Senator Smith, Representative Jones and members of the committee.") Introduce yourself and whom you represent, indicate whether you support the bill, oppose it or are offering suggestions to improve it, and then explain your reasoning.

If other speakers have already made your point, let the committee know that you agree with the previous remarks of others speakers, but please try to avoid repeating the testimony of previous speakers. When you finish, please remain at the podium for a moment, in case committee members want to ask you questions.

• Comings and Goings

Many hearings last throughout the day, and most Legislators are members of more than one committee, as well as sponsors/cosponsors of bills. Legislators may need to leave and re-enter the room if they are scheduled to be at another public hearing or work session in another committee. However, they will receive any written information, which is a good reason why you should provide written testimony.

• Decorum in Committee Proceedings

The public hearing process is an important part of the lawmaking process. Please give your courteous attention to other speakers, regardless of their views. Do not applaud or indicate pleasure or displeasure with anyone's remarks. Only members of the committee may ask questions of persons who testify.

• Work Sessions

Work sessions are used by the committee to discuss the merits of a bill and to decide whether to recommend its approval. Any further public participation is left up to the discretion of the presiding committee chair. If you would like to be notified of a work session, let the Committee Clerk know.

Preparing Testimony

Legislators are interested in knowing all the effects a proposed piece of legislation may have, so it is important that you are clear and concise. In fact, most people provide written testimony. Written testimony also ensures that committee members who are not present have the opportunity to read what was said during the public hearing. The text of a bill and any amendments are available online for the current session. You can also pick up copies of bills and amendments on the third floor at the Legislative Document Room -- Room 105 in the State House. Be sure to have a LD number for bills and an amendment filing number for amendments. You can contact the Legislative Document Room at 287-1408 or by e-mail to webmaster_house@state.me.us. The Maine Constitution, Revised Statutes, and the Laws of Maine are available online.

If you do provide written testimony, please bring 16 copies. Photocopying is available in the Law and Legislative Reference Library -- Room 200 of the State House -- for a fee. You can contact the Law Library at 287-1600 or e-mail them at webmaster_lawlib@state.me.us for further information and research assistance.