California Psychiatric Association
Legislation
LEGISLATIVE IMPACT: GETTING INVOLVED
Do you know who your assembly and senate representatives are? If you don't, check with your local registrar
of voters office. Once you have the names, put them into your Rolodex along with their local district office address and
phone number for future reference.
Have you ever written to any elected official to express your view on a particular issue? Surprisingly, few
people actually do write to their elected officials. It is unusual for a legislator to have more than three or four
letters on any bill of more than 4,000 considered each year in the State Legislature. It is important, therefore, for
you to know that letter writing and phone calls DO have an important effect on how legislators view various issues.
CPA each year tracks over 300 bills which have some relationship to psychiatry. Occasionally, CPA sends out a
plea for help from the district branches and individual psychiatrists. PLEASE RESPOND TO THESE REQUESTS!!!
As quickly as you can, jot a note to your legislators (hand written is better, if possible it forces someone
to focus and read it). Mail all such letters to Sacramento (Honorable________________Member of the Assembly/Senate,
c/o State Capitol, Sacramento, California 95814). If you can, wait a few days and follow up with a phone call to
the district office of the legislator. Ask to speak with the Administrative Assistant. Briefly, tell them who you
are, of your concerns, that you have written a letter and would like to be "patched through" (thus saving the long
distance charge) to the Capitol office to see if they received the letter. Ask to speak to the appropriate staff
person on the Capitol staff that handles mental health issues for the legislator. Repeat your concerns to that
person. If you know the legislator, ask to speak with him/her directly.
A FEW GENTLE HINTS ON HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE:
ALWAYS be courteous and polite. NEVER threaten, raise your voice or get demonstrably angry (there is no quicker way
to undo your effort). Anger also often backfires by making the legislator and/or their staff hostile in return.
Expect legislators and their staff to be:
_ Interested in who you are and what you are concerned about
_ Harried and spread too thin
_ Protective of themselves (their bosses) from commitments they are not sure of (particularly if it involves MONEY)
Never expect legislators and their staff to:
_ Be punctual and/or knowledgeable
_ Share your priorities or sense of urgency
_Understand what issues are critical in this field (unless, of course, they happen to sit on the committees dealing
with these issues and/or have carried legislation in the area)
If you know of ANYTHING the legislator has done (need not be on mental health) with which you agree, thank them for
their help and effort on that issue. Legislators are rarely thanked for their hard work. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, IF THE
LEGISLATOR VOTES THE WAY YOU ARE ASKING HIM/HER TO VOTE, ALWAYS FOLLOW UP WITH A BRIEF THANK YOU. NOT ONLY DOES THIS
SHOW YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION, BUT IT MAKES IT EASIER TO ASK AGAIN FOR HELP SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE.
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