Sac Central Delegation Bulletin #7

Only three meetings left until our first conference! Quick breaking news: This year, Sac Central will be taking the train to T&EI! We'll discuss this in detail at our pre-conference meeting on November 6, but for now, know that we'll be meeting at the Amtrak Station downtown at 7am on Saturday, Nov 9 and returning at 6pm on Monday, November 11. Now, back to this week's news: 

At the next meeting: We'll practice our Bill Hearing Night presentations and learn about Sac Attire (Officers should wear Sac Attire to this week's meeting!) 
What's due: Your bill group's updated draft bill language and bill worksheet. 
Now overdue: Payment #2

Here's what you need to know this week:

1.) Bill Hearing Night Presentation Format:

Each Bill Group member should work on preparing their speech for Bill Hearing Night. You'll give your speech at this week's practice. It's fine to work from notes but make sure that you've printed your notes out. In our delegation, we don't read from our cell phones or tablets. Here is the BHN Procedure and here is the BHN Script. We'll practice this format this week at our meeting.

Here are the types and maximum lengths (practice with a timer!) of the speeches you will prepare:

• Sponsor Speeches:
• Author/Sponsor Speech: 3 minutes - introduce the purpose and major provisions of the Bill. 
• Author/Sponsor Summation Speech: 2 minutes - wrap up your main points, rebut or clarify anything raised during Lobbyist, Legislative Analyst, or Audience discussion. 
• Legislative Analyst Report - 2 minutes - This is not a speech for or against the bill. It is a neutral report about the bill: it's fiscal impact, any funding problems, structural problems, any information about how the bill works that legislators would need to know to cast an informed vote on the bill. 
• Lobbyist Speeches - 2 minutes for and 2 minutes against
• The lobbyist supporting the bill should work with the sponsor. Repeating the same points as the bill sponsor is less helpful than touting the other reasons to support the bill - perhaps points the sponsor didn't have time to get to. 
• The lobbyist against the bill is not out to make the sponsor and pro-lobbyist look bad. We're not aiming to kill the other side. Thoughtful, passionate arguments against the bill are welcome. Generally, "con" arguments take one of two forms - either there's no problem to solve or the way the bill solves the problem isn't the right way.

For tips on constructing your persuasive speech, check this out. 

2.) Updated Draft Bill Language, Worksheets Due This Week:

Here's a link to the 2019 Sac Bill Drafts folder. Your bill language and bill worksheets should be done prior to the start of this week's meeting. If you need help, just ask!   

3.) Schedule Overview: Make sure you attend our next three meetings!

• Oct 23 - Final bill language and bill worksheets due; Review Sac Attire; Practice Bill Hearing Night
• Oct 30 - BILL HEARING NIGHT!
• Nov 6 - Mandatory Pre-Conference meeting

REMINDERS

Bill Hearing Night: On Wednesday, October 30, we'll convene our annual Bill Hearing Night in the Historic Hearing Room at old Sacramento City Hall (915 I Street) from 6:00-8:00pm. Delegates will wear "Sac Attire" - our professional dress code for Sac Conference. We'll review this at practice bill hearing night. We encourage you to invite parents, teachers, and friends to see what you've been working on in the program this year. Each bill group will present their bill. The audience and delegation the top vote-getting bill will go to the 72nd Model Legislature & Court. (Hint: turn out your vote!)

IMPORTANT: for your group's bill to be eligible to be voted on at Bill Hearing Night, you must identify a conference Primary and Secondary sponsor. The bill that gets the most votes will be our bill at Sac Conference in February. If no one wants to commit to sponsoring that bill at conference and serving in the houses program, that's a problem. So have two names for me by Oct. 23.

Bill Resources:

• Here's what a finished bill looks like, so you know what you're making. 
• Watch this video about how to start the bill idea and bill research process. 
• Watch this video about the 4 basic kinds of legislation our State Legislature can consider. 
• Review this Bill Worksheet - these are the basic questions you'll need to answer about your bill by Bill Hearing Night. (Those questions should sound familiar after last week's presentation!) 
• Want to know all the current laws? Here they are! (Get to know this site, it's a bill author's best friend!) 

Family Corner: 

Bill Hearing Night is Wednesday, October 30 and You're Invited! Make sure to save October 30 for Bill Hearing Night. This annual event is a chance for delegates to show off to friends, family, and special guests all of their hard work so far this year. You won't want to miss it! 

Helpful Links:

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Mark your calendars:

October 18 - Payment 2 Due
Oct 23 - Practice Bill Hearing Night - Bill Language and Worksheets Due
October 30 - Mandatory Bill Hearing Night, Sac Attire Required
November 6 - Mandatory Pre-Conference Meeting
November 9-11 - Training & Elections Conference I
December 8 - California International Marathon Volunteer Event
December 13 - Swim with Santa Volunteer Event at the YMCA
January 15 - Mandatory Pre-Conference Meeting
January 18-10 - Training & Elections Conference II
February 5 - Mandatory Pre-Conference Meeting
February 13-17 - 72nd Model Legislature & Court

We are committed to equal program access for all and are dedicated to ensuring the benefits of Y&G are available to every student in our community without regard to financial need. No delegate should ever drop out or refrain from joining because of financial concerns. If you want to do this program, we want you to do this program.