Y&G Sac Central Bulletin #9: Bill Hearing Night is Coming

Your October payment was due 10/13. If you have not already, please pay online here. 

On-time Arrival Reminder: Please arrive promptly at 6:30. Because we are meeting in the back room and cannot leave the front door open without supervision, the door will lock at 6:30. If you arrive after 6:30 you need to bang really loudly on the door and/or send a message in groupme. 

At the October 25th meeting you will:
- Practice your bill presentations
- Arrive having finalized your draft bill language by Tuesday, 10/24 at 8pm
- Arrive with your speech prepared (having practice and timed it at home)
- Review Sac Attire Dress Code, briefly

Bill Group, Bill Drafting, and Bill Hearing Night Info: 

Soda Tax:
Sponsor: Bruce. Group members: Jacob, Alex, Cameron
Bill language here; Bill worksheet here.
LegAn report here. 

Dash Cams:
Sponsor: Keymora. Group members: Zack, Aaron, Miraya
Bill language here; Bill worksheet here.
LegAn report here. 

Motorcycle Smog Checks:
Sponsor: Natalie. Group members: Connor, Ting Ting, Delaney
Bill language here; Bill worksheet here.
LegAn report here.  

Facts Department:
Sponsor: Liam. Group members: Miranda, Jimmy, Brenna Leigh
Bill language here; Bill worksheet here.
LegAn report here.  

For bill-writing how-tos, please see previous bulletins.

The Legislative Analyst report document won't need to be turned in. But it will help you format your research, analysis, and speech. Use it for notes and your speech. Bullet points are fine.

Bill language must be finalized and ready for our practice bill hearing night by 8pm on Tuesday, October 24. That is tomorrow evening! I met with each group last week and the week before and provided guidance on drafting. I know this is the most challenging part of the process, but you have to give it a try! Get your drafting done by the deadline so I can help with any questions prior to Wednesday.

Speeches:
By this week's meeting, you need your draft speeches prepared. Here is a reminder of the roles and speech-lengths for each:

• Bill Sponsor: Generally, this is the person who came up with the bill idea. Sponsors will need to prepare a 3 minute sponsor speech to give at the opening and a 2 minute "summation" speech to give at the closing. Sponsor speeches should be full of evidence of research, highlight the necessity of the bill, and why the bill is a good idea.  
• Lobbyist For: Lobbyists in support of the bill should work with the Sponsor. Pro-Lobbyists want to support the Sponsor, reinforcing what is good about the bill and why it should pass. The Pro-Lobbyist's mission is to get the bill passed! Pro-Lobbyists can also bring up arguments in favor of the bill that wouldn't fit in the Sponsor's speech. Pro-Lobbyists must prepare a 2 minute Pro speech and a 1 minute summation speech.
• Lobbyist Against: Lobbyists against a bill have one mission: KILL THE BILL! Con-Lobbyists must prepare a 2 minute Con speech and a 1 minute summation speech. Con speeches should have evidence of research, not just a "this bill is bad" statement. You'll need to tell the audience what specifically is wrong with this bill and why it would be bad public policy. You can suggest changes that would save the bill as well. 
• Legislative Analyst: The Legislative Analyst isn't for or against any bill. The Analysts job is to ask questions about the impact of the bill and whether, from as unbiased a perspective as possible, they think it would be a GOOD or a BAD idea for California. A lot of this, of course, comes down to money. Analysts spend a lot of time saying "cool idea, how you gonna pay for it tho?" Analysts prepare a 2 minute report. They do not give a summation speech. Each group has an Analysts report document in the google drive linked above. Analysts can work with the Sponsor on the Bill Worksheet because there is a good amount of cross over between the questions on the Worksheet and the Report questions. Ultimately, Sponsors will use worksheet information persuasively and Analysts will use worksheet information objectively.
• NOTE: Summation speeches for all members may need to be flexible to incorporate arguments against whatever your initial speech was about. Some delegates choose not to pre-write their summation speech but to improvise instead based on the discussion that has taken place during the bill presentation.
• Sponsor and Lobbyist speeches are persuasive. For tips on persuasive speech writing, check out this doc.

Bill Hearing Night Format

Bill Hearing Night will be chaired by your officer team using this Bill Hearing Night Script.

Parents and guests have three opportunities to participate:
1.) They can ask questions of intent and interpretation
2.) They can participate in general discussion
3.) They get to weigh-in on the bill that proceeds to Sac Conference.

Parents and guests will also be asked to track the following criteria (comes from NIC proposals, but handy for bills, too)
- Evidence of Research: Did speakers cite research? Is it evident the speaker has facts to support the bill and gives a well-prepared presentation? An ideal speech is both informative and well supported.
- Debatability: Is there room for argument on the bill? Does it spark emotional or logistical debate? Does the bill encourage intense and energetic debate on both sides of the issue presented?
- Feasibility: Did the Sponsor describe a practical way of implementing and enforcing (if applicable) the idea? Ideal presentations will detail methods for implementing the suggested policy changes.
- State Relevance: Is the issue of statewide importance?
-Creativity: Does the bill present a new or creative way of looking at an issue? Ideal bills will be both creative and practical in the way they address the issue at hand.
-Presentation-Style Feedback: Do audience members have any constructive advice for all speakers on a bill when it comes to presentation style? (i.e.: watch for time limits, don't say as many "ums," eye contact with audience, speaks too loudly or softly, fast or slow, etc)

And here's what else you need to know this week:

1.) Bill Hearing Night: Our annual Bill Hearing Night is coming up faster than you think! Parents and delegates, mark your calendars for November 1. The event is mandatory for all delegates and parents won't want to miss this chance to see what delegates have been working on so far this year. We'll convene at Historic Sacramento City Hall (instead of our usual meeting location). Historic City Hall is located at 915 I Street (it's the fancy older building right on I Street, not the modern new City Hall behind it). We will convene in the Historic Hearing Room at 6:30. Delegates must arrive by 6pm for final prep.

3.) Mandatory Meetings: October 25, November 1, and November 8 are all mandatory meetings for all delegates. Make sure you attend each meeting. November 8 is our pre-conference meeting. Parent attendance is required for new delegates and recommended for returning delegates. 

Remind Reminder:
- Remind: If you aren't receiving Remind texts, text "@sacc70" to 81010

Parent Corner: 
Payment Due Last Week: As mentioned above the October payment was due at this week's meeting. If you have any questions about the amount due or concerns about ability to pay, please contact Christiana. 

Bill Hearing Night As mentioned above, Bill Hearing Night is November 1 and we encourage all delegate families (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc) to attend.It takes place at Historic City Hall NOT our usual meeting place. Please see above for more info.

Upcoming Mandatory Meetings: Our practice bill hearing night, November 1 Bill Hearing Night, and November 8 Pre-Conference Prep meetings are all mandatory for delegates. New delegate parents should also plan to attend our November 8 Pre-Conference meeting. Returning delegate parents are welcome, but not required to attend on November 8.

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Mark your calendars for these key events!
October 25: Mandatory Practice Bill Hearing Night
November 1: Bill Hearing Night (Mandatory)

November 8: $375 Payment Due
November 8: Pre-Conference Meeting (Mandatory for delegates and new-delegate parents)
November 10-12, 2017 (Fresno) Training & Election Conference I
December 3, 2017: Volunteer Opportunity: California International Marathon Aid Station

December 15: Final $375 Payment Due
January 13-15, 2018 (Fresno) Training & Election Conference II
February 15-19, 2018 (Sacramento) Model Legislature & Court