Legislative Liaisons

• Sample agenda memo for appointing Legislative Liaisons (Word doc)
• Handouts from Jan. 15 meeting (PDF):
  Expectations | LELA Recognition Program credits

The Legislative Liaison program originates from the NCACC strategic goals team tasked with building a grassroots advocacy network using teams of county commissioners and managers. As part of its focus on developing that network of advocates, the goals team strives to have a legislative liaison in each of the state’s 100 counties to:

• Organize county coalitions to advocate on behalf of major Association goals by identifying potential coalition members, keeping them updated on issues and helping them understand county positions;
• Ensure that other members of the Board of Commissioners are made aware of NCACC positions;
• Ensure that conversations and/or meetings are held between elected and appointed county officials and legislators, and that the county’s state delegation is aware of county positions on issues; and
• Provide feedback to the Association (e-mail us at ncacc@ncacc.org) on what local legislators, fellow Board members and other officials are saying about bills and issues, and what issues are elevated in your county.

In addition to keeping fellow board members up-to-speed on issues of statewide importance, these discussions will help put the county perspective on statewide issues in front of the public and local media. Keeping citizens and other community leaders informed of county interests in the Legislature is an important piece of building county-wide support for Association legislative goals.

The NCACC will provide counties with talking points and educational materials – localized when possible using data from the State of the Counties report – that can be used to boost awareness of legislation that impacts counties.

2009 talking points:

• Support HR3332: About | Model Letter | Talking Points (Sept. 3 - Word doc)
• Special provision on providing space for probation offices - June 18 (Word doc)
• Expanded use of E911 fees - June 12 (Word doc)
• State and county budgets - May 21 (Word doc)
• Expanded use of E911 fees - May 8 (Word doc)
• Opposition to repeal of system that combines motor vehicle property tax/registration fee payments - April 23 (Word doc)
• Loss of ADM Funds in Senate budget - April 9 (Word doc) | Estimated ADM Fund losses (PDF)
• Opposition to transfer of secondary road funding to counties - March 27 (Word doc)
• Governor's budget proposal and funding for county ADM funds and lottery proceeds - March 19 (Word doc)
• Attack on Public School Building Capital Fund - March 6 (Word doc) | ADM Fund totals (PDF)
• Importance of county ADM funds and lottery proceeds - Feb. 27 (Word doc)
• Economic stimulus - Feb. 19 (Word doc)

As of Dec. 29, 2009, 77 counties have appointed Legislative Liaisons for the 2009-10 biennium. If your county has changed its liaison or wishes to change its liaison for the session, please let us know who your new liaison is by e-mailing ncacc@ncacc.org or contacting Assistant Communications Director Jason King at jason.king@ncacc.org.

LELA Recognition Program
Your participation as a Legislative Liaison is earning you credits toward the Master or Mentor recognition level through the Local Elected Leaders Academy (LELA) Recognition Program. To learn more about LELA, click here.

2008 legislative short session materials
By each Friday during the session, liaisons, county managers and county clerks will receive a sample agenda item and talking points (or a revised agenda item and talking points) for use at your next Board of Commissioners meeting. These items will reflect the latest developments in legislation that is of interest to counties statewide.

Sample agenda memos: (Word doc) July 18 | July 11 | July 3 | June 27 | June 20 | June 13 | June 6 | May 30 | May 23 | May 16
Talking points: (Word doc) July 18 | July 11 | July 3 | June 27 | June 20 | June 13 | June 6 | May 30 | May 23 | May 16