JILL GRAN
Director of
Public Policy &
Advocacy
Florida Alcohol
and Drug Abuse
Association
jill@fadaa.org
 Government
in Florida
 The Florida Budget
 2015-2016 Budget and Legislative Policy Highlights
 How a Bill becomes a Law
 Perceptions of Mental Health and Co-occurring
Disorders
 Understanding Advocacy
 Understanding the Legislator’s World
 Building Relationships
 How to Craft a Message
 Communicating with Lawmakers
 Advocating at the Community Level
Just like the federal government, Florida has three branches of government:
Executive, Legislative, & Judicial

Congress
U.S. Senate: 100 members of the U.S. Senate; Each state has
two Senators
U.S. House of Representatives: 435 members of the U.S. House;
Florida has 27 House districts

Executive Branch of FL Government
Florida’s Cabinet: Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial
Officer, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Commissioner
Agencies: There are 36 state agencies

Legislative Branch of FL Government
Senate: 40 Senators
House of Representatives: 120 House members

Judicial Branch of FL Government
Florida Supreme Court
5 District Courts of Appeal
20 Judicial Circuits
HOUSE
SENATE
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4-year staggered terms
“Eight is Enough”
Current Republican majority
26 Republicans
14 Democrats
At least 8 seats will have new
Senators in 2016 election (20%)
-4 Republicans term-limited
in 2016
-4 Democrats term-limited
in 2016
-New district maps may
result in a gain of one Republican
district and one Democratic
district (net loss of 0)
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2-year terms
“Eight is Enough”
Current Republican super-majority
(2/3 control of Chamber)
81 Republicans
39 Democrats
At least 35 seats will have new
Representatives (18%) in 2016
-14 Republicans term-limited
in 2016
- 8 Democrats term-limited
in 2016
- New district maps may result
in a shift of incumbent House
members running for Senate
seats
 The
Legislature’s only Constitutional
requirement is to pass a budget each
year.
 The fiscal year runs from July 1–June
30.
 As passed, Florida’s Budget for FY20152016 was $78.698B
 The Governor vetoed $461.4 million
 The final budget adjusted for vetoes
and supplemental funding totaled
$78.396B
$4.4 B =
5.6%
$13.4 B =
17%
$22.9 B =
29.2%
DCF
9.69%
Health Care
Admin
74.51%
APD
3.57%
Elder Affairs
2.60%
DOH
9.36%
$4.2 B =
5.4%
Veterans
0.28%
$516 M =
.7%
$33.0 B =
42%
Education = $22.9 B
Human Services = $33.0 B
Judicial Branch = $516 M
Criminal Justice = $4.2 B
Natural Resources = $13.4 B
General Government = $4.4 B
Appropriations by Category
DCF = $3.0 billion
APD = $1.2 billion
Elder Affairs = $298.7 million
DOH = $2.8 billion
Health & Human Services
Breaking the silos: blended funding for children’s and adult
MH ($269.7m) and SA ($227.5m)
 Managing Entity administration identified ($21.3m)
 Block grant funding authorization ($39m)
 2 new Community Action Teams (18 total)
 Family Intensive Treatment expansion ($2.4m)
 Forensic Flex Bed expansion (16 beds added)
 Increase funding to restore competency ($978,000)
 Mental Health transition bed expansion ($4.73m)
 Statewide central receiving facilities ($10m)
------------------ Expand SA & Co-occurring Community Treatment Beds
($1.59m)
 Mental Health Reentry Pilot for offenders (50 beds)
 Specialized training for judges on SAMH ($100,000)
 Crisis Intervention Team training ($800,000)
 Vivitrol ($3 million)

HB954 – Baker Act Notification (notifying
requirements to parents if child has been placed
for involuntary examination)
 HB79 – Crisis Stabilization Units (requiring
database on utilization of beds)
 HB335 – Scope of Practice (authorizing physician
assistants and ARNPs to initiate and approve for
release of Baker Act in hospital setting)
 HB1069 – Problem Solving Courts (authorizing the
transfer of a defendant to another county for
participation in a problem-solving court)
 SB378 – Juvenile Justice (expanding frequency of
juvenile civil citation to three citations)

 Stigma
of Disease
 Fix Yourself - Will Power & Self Control
 “Them” Rather than “Us” Issue
 Criminal Justice Problem
 Not Fully Integrated into Mainstream
Healthcare, But Getting There
 When it Becomes Personal, it Becomes
Real
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What is Advocacy?
-Activity by an individual/group whose goal is to
influence public-policy
Why Bother?
-Concerned citizens make the best spokesperson.
Politics is Not a Spectator Sport!
-Successful groups know that increased public
involvement works.
Legal Considerations…Advocating vs. Lobbying
-Provide information
-Educate lawmakers on problems in your
community
-Helping lawmakers understand the difficulty in
funding
-Provide opportunities for lawmakers to meet
with those in treatment and recovery.

Legislators are Neighbors
-You or someone you know probably has personal connection
-Discover common interests and values you both share
-Make an effort to build on them

Complexity of a Legislator’s Job
-Represents a community with varying interests
-They live in a world of COMPROMISE
-They are expected to know something about everything
-Constituent’s goals vs. personal values
-Loyalty to political party
-Personal friendships
-Varying perceptions on a complex issue

Demands on Time
-In high demand
-Career in addition to legislating
-Family
 Understand
the legislator
 Understand the district
 Be familiar with the legislator’s record
and position in the legislature
 Remember that everything is local
 Recognize the legislator
 Keep in touch with the legislator year
round
 Support their efforts
Who
is your target audience?
What do you hope to
accomplish?
What do THEY care most
about?
Maximize on your “Story”
Fit your “Story” into what will
most appeal to them

Remember the Legislative Staff
-Legislators rely heavily staff

Face to Face Meetings with Legislator
- Focus on a single issue
-Speak clearly, brief, and provide materials
-Always send a follow-up letter

Written Correspondence
-Be sure to spell your legislator’s name correctly
-Focus on single issue
-Type/write briefly, clearly and on letterhead
-Support your statements with facts
-Always be polite

The No No’s
-Never threaten a lawmaker
-Never remind them of broken promises
-Avoid communicating too often
-Avoid using technical jargon.
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Cordial
-Greet with a smile
-Thank a legislator for time and leadership
Credible
-Provide accurate information
-Be honest, especially when representing
an opposing view.
Convincing
-Speak with passion and confidence
-Be firm and direct
Clear
-Stay focused
-State a problem AND a solution
-K.I.S.S.
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Concise
-Keep meetings and letter brief
-Know all sides of an issue
-Be able to articulate an opposing view
Creative
-Present your message in a way that will be remembered
-What’s your “Story”?
Coalitions and Partners
-Identify community partners
-Expand the group and let the legislator know of your broadbased support.
Celebrate Victories
-Let your legislators know of your successes no matter how
small
-Thank them for their leadership. Look for ways to publicly
thank them, too.
Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association
www.fadaa.org