Securing adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth is one of the main purposes of PTA. PTA is a strong and powerful voice that cares and votes on behalf of all children in the United States and in the state of California.

The California State PTA Board of Managers is responsible for all PTA action on legislation and ballot measures. The legislation team includes the Director of Legislation and legislative advocates who specialize in specific areas such as education, community concerns, health and parent involvement. The Legislation Action Committee meets three to four times a year during each legislative session to discuss bills and subject matter and to determine positions to be taken on each of the selected bills.

It is the job of the 12th District to keep our councils and therefore the units updated on current issues and proposed legislation. Working together at each level will insure that we have a powerful and effective voice.

WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA OF LEGISLATION AND ADVOCACY:

1. The first priority is to make sure as a council and a unit that you have a legislation chair appointed. This gives a legislative voice to each PTA meeting. The chair can report to the membership what the current concerns are and the status of specific legislation. Go to the California State PTA website at www.capta.org and access the legislation area for information to report on.    
2. Write. Pass out postcards at meetings and write brief notes to legislators on issues that California State PTA supports or opposes and that your unit feels strongly about. Organize a letter writing campaign. Send faxes. (Make sure your signature is on the fax.) Email a legislator. Use telephone and email.         
3. Newsletters: Submit legislation/advocacy articles in your PTA newsletter.                                                                                               
4. Get to know your officials at the local and district levels. Attend meetings, coffees, legislation workshops and conferences.