Building Bridges:
October 30, 2006 (rev 03-2007)
Vision: Advocate
for occupational therapy to enhance the health of the public
1. Establish Key Senatorial Contacts in
every Nebraska Legislative District (49)
2. Expand informed, active, dynamic
network of advocates for occupational therapy
3. Build and mold successful coalitions to
affect policy change
Role of the Key Senatorial Contacts
1) Introduce self to district Senator or
Legislative Staff Assistant, provide contact information, and NOTA Legislative Informational
Packet to educate about OT
2) Summarize OT and offer your knowledge
and assistance about issues affecting person’s w/disabilities
3) Become familiar with Nebraska
Unicameral legislative structure, function and how a bill becomes a law
4) Request advocacy resources as discovery
occurs
5) Meet with legislator with specific guidance
from the NOTA lobbyist about identified bill
6) Become
informed about the bill: issue, status, and committee hearing date, explore
senator’s position, and be available to provide information as requested
Role of the NOTA Legislative
Committee Chair:
1) Anticipate
and coordinate legislative outreach and advocacy in collaboration with NOTA
lobbyist
2) Organize
state legislative priorities based on review of state and national key issues
3) Be
informed on public policy and regulatory issues impacting OT practice
nationally and locally
4) Consult
and communicate regularly with the AOTA State Affairs Department
5) Coordinate
public policy issues and legislative initiatives with NOTA Leadership
6) Stay
informed on professional legislative leadership members in allied professional
associations
7) Develop/update
OT Informational Packets to educate Key Contacts and Nebraska Representatives,
Senators and Congressman
8) Review draft language for legislative
efforts on behalf of NOTA
9) Prepare written legislative updates for
NOTA Perspectives, request website revisions and updates
10) Prepare annual budget
11) Coordinate lobbyist contract, recommend
change as needed.
Role of NOTA Legislative committee
members:
1) Assist
with legislative efforts that impact occupational therapy practice in
2) Be
informed of public policy and regulatory issues impacting OT practice
nationally and locally.
3) Communicate
with occupational therapy constituents in local community about legislative issues
impacting occupational therapy practice; provide feedback to Priority Team
Leader
4) Participate
and actively support a legislative priority area
Role of the NOTA Lobbyist:
1) Expand OT visibility through regular
participation at committee hearings and meetings at the State Capitol that
impact OT
2) Review
all bills submitted in current Unicameral session to
determine advocacy actions
3) Identify
key committees and Senators with the strongest impact on policy relevant to OT
4) Meet
with Senators and Staff Assistants
5) Follow
identified bills from time of inception until it becomes a law
6) Prepare draft language for proactive
legislative efforts on behalf of NOTA with sponsoring senator(s), bill
drafters, and Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure
division as necessary
7) Organize
testimony and represent NOTA at appropriate hearings, committee meetings
8) Communicate
findings from hearings, bill review, with NOTA Board
9) Propose
NOTA position on specific bills to obtain Board guidance, modification or
approval
10) Interface
with Board of OT Practice to build communications and provide input