Legislative Update
by Suzy Walz, VP and Legislative Chair
The following letter is an update of the activities in the just-completed legislative session from our lobbyists,
Cindy Sovine-Miller and Stephanie Antoun.
Members of the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists;
As the legislative session wraps up this week Sovine Miller & Company would like to begin by thanking the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists for allowing us to represent you and your interests down at the Capitol. We have truly enjoyed getting to know the members of the organization as well as the issues pertaining to your field. We feel we have cultivated great relationships with not only legislators but regulators and other stakeholders in the mental health arena.
While the main focus of Sovine Miller & Company was to be involved in the discussions surrounding the preparation of the sunset review, the legislative session brought with it a couple of pieces of legislation effecting CAP. Sovine Miller & Company monitored the progress of this legislation and you can find a final bill matrix as well as the summaries of the major legislation we followed in this final report.
As we head into the interim period we will focus our time on educating members of the General Assembly on the sunset review and the changes CAP will be seeking. Sovine Miller & Company has created an interim working agenda that we believe will be beneficial to both CAP in referencing the sunset review process and to potential new members of your organization to help them keep on top of the ever changing state laws. We are confident the progress we have made this session with legislators, other stakeholders in the mental health arena and with the Department of Regulatory Agencies will be an excellent base to build upon next session.
Sovine Miller & Company is looking forward to a very productive interim and would encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us at any time.
Thank you,
Sovine Miller & Company has put together draft work plan for the interim. While the majority of the work during session centers on what is happening at the capitol, it is just as important to keep our issues at the front of legislator's minds even when they are working in their districts and running for election.
Membership Outreach
Sovine Miller & Company will be involved in the outreach program pursued by CAP this summer. We will plan on attending meetings and presenting a timeline for the sunset review as well as a general legislative outline.
Legislator Outreach and Education - Sunset Review
With the sunset review set for next year it is important to start educating legislators early on the importance of our main issues we hope to see changed in the review. Most importantly, we will concentrate on the legislators who hold leadership positions
and those who will be appointed to the Health & Human Services committee in both houses.
Lobbyist/Stakeholder Outreach - Sunset Review
As important as working with legislators, is to work with other stakeholders in the process of the Mental Health Sunset Review. We will continue to grow our relationships with other key lobbyists.
Interim Committees and Commissions
During the interim the legislators continue to work on issues they feel truly passionate about through interim committees. Sovine Miller & Company will monitor the interim committees for any that may cover mental health law and policies.
The interim is always the best time to reach out to your individual Representative or Senator and let them know who you are and what issues are important to you. State level elected officials are very responsive to their constituents and enjoy meeting and getting to know them.
It is easier to develop a relationship with a legislator outside of the session when they are not distracted by the hundreds of pieces of legislation they are dealing with during the session. If you don't know who your elected officials are there is a website below. Just visit the website, enter your zip code and you'll find the names of everyone who represents the district you live in. If you have any questions or would like more direction on what to say when you meet with your legislator please do not hesitate to contact Sovine Miller & Company, we will be happy to help.
To locate the names and contact information for your elected Officials visit:
www.vote-smart.org
Suzy Walz
Vice President and Legislative Chair
Colorado Association of Psychotherapists
303-480-5733
