legislative advocacy for law librarians fowler & altenbernd, oct 2015 the future is in the...
DESCRIPTION
Relationships Professionals Other librarians Legislative Legislators Lobbyists Support staff LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACYTRANSCRIPT
Legislative Advocacy for Law LibrariansFowler & Altenbernd, Oct 2015
THE FUTURE IS IN THE FUNDING
RelationshipsLegislative researchPersuasionPolitical climate
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
RelationshipsProfessionals
Other librariansLegislative
LegislatorsLobbyistsSupport staff
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Legislative researchTrack onlineFind committees
Members & hearings
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
PersuasionInternalExternal
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Kansas County Law Libraries wereEstablished by statuteSupported by
Membership feesCourt docket fees
BACKGROUND
Montoy v State of Kansas 279 Kan. 817, 2005 State lost
POLITICAL CLIMATE: SHIFT IN IDEOLOGY
Docket surcharge instead of appropriation
COURT FUNDING
“Live experiment” 2012 Judicial Branch severely underfunded State lags national economic recovery
STATE ECONOMY
state economy in
toilet
state legis. cuts judiciary budget
county governments ≠ $
for courthouse im
provements
law library accounts in
counties w/o active law
libraries just sitti
ng there…
BAD LEGISLATION
POLITICAL CLIMATE
Law library money general district court fund
Worked to defeat it: successful
2014 LEGISLATION
January – HB2112Law library money general
district court fund“Here we go again” – John Pickett,
Johnson County Law Library
2015 LEGISLATION
Word spread quicklyLibrariansSupporters
House Committee ≠ email or fax
2015 LEGISLATION, HB2112
2015 LEGISLATION TIMELINE
January 25: learn of legislation
Hearing set for Feb 5
March 5: HB2112 has hearing, amendments offered
Then it disappears.
HB2112
LCLL hand delivers written testimony Feb 3; hearing postponed
Feb 26: Poss amendment to exclude judges for quid pro quo on FY’16 judiciary funding
Bill (HB2111) voted on May 8, 2015Signed into law May 14, 2015
1. It helps to have friends in the Statehouse
2. Collaborate with colleagues
3. Be ready to respond quickly
2015 LEGISLATION TIMELINE
January 25: learn of legislation Hearing
set for Feb 5
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
$(40,000)
$(20,000)
$-
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
Income (w/o CD transf)Income (w/CD transf)ExpensesEnding Balance
LAW LIBRARY 9-YEAR FUNDING TREND
Committee ChairForm of testimony•Written/oral
PersuasionSupportersDeadline
FIGHTING FOR FUNDING: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
Attorneys are required by statute to pay the fees in question.
Attorneys value the law library for its materials and the professionally trained staff.
To allow diversion of funds from the law library as described in this bill would result in politicizing the board of trustees.
PERSUASION
This bill Creates a conflict of interest as well as
potentially short-changes the budget of the district courts
Forces the district courts to rely on an alternative and uncertain revenue stream not provided for by the legislature
Appears to be a district court tax on the legal profession
PERSUASION
Value of libraryCurrent est. value of LCLL collection = $64,000
Replicated by every law firm in the county = $1,984,000Professional staff cost savings to attorneys:
One ready-reference question = 1 hr billable timeOne in-depth research question = 8 hrs billable timeAve monthly savings = $4,800 in attorney billable fees,
or $57,600 per year.“Computing Your Worth,” AALL San Antonio, Ju ly 2005KBA Economic Survey of Law Practice Report , 2012
PERSUASION
4. Be willing to listen to alternatives
5. Be willing to compromise
2015 POLITICAL CLIMATEFrom: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Susan FowlerSent: Monday, January 26, 2015 11:00 AMTo: Merlin WheelerSubject: Re: FW: Law Library Bill
Perhaps a better compromise is to require a 2/3 or 3/4 vote. I have at least one non-judge trustee who would cheerfully send me packing.The underlying issue is the same that libraries have been fighting since Dewey. Only about 20% of our patron audience are actual library users, and of those, only 20% are hardcore users. The value of any library is clearly documented, but it is a hard sell, especially among the majority non-users. I find it ironic that Chase County is spending money in the courtroom when I was told 5 years ago that they couldn't afford me, even for one or two days a month.I look forward to hearing what you learn from the
Quid pro quo: funding was promised for the judicial branchJudges (statewide) wanted to avoid furloughs of 2013
HB2111 has 11% increase over FY15, BUT
It also has a severability clause
HOW’D WE DO?
Be politically savvyScan the horizon & monitor the perimeter
Cultivate relationships with legislatorsFind someone who is open to being educated
LESSONS LEARNED
Should have seen this coming Trends showed it in 2010Ultra-right ideology reinforced it
LESSONS LEARNED
Develop a network & maintain itNo one is an island
LESSONS LEARNED
RelationshipsRelied on each other, made new connections
Legislative researchHoned our tracking skills
LESSONS LEARNED
PersuasionInternal networks strengthenedInventory evaluatedExternal networks revisited
Political climateLargest player of them all
LESSONS LEARNED
CONTACT US
Susan FowlerLyon County Law Library
Emporia, KS620-341-3472
Kerry AltenberndMichael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library Lawrence, KS785-838-2477