Restroom Access Act

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Restroom Access Act

• Advocacy Tool Kit

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Advocacy Training

• Define who you are
• Individuals
• Groups
• Organizations
• Power of grassroots
• Define your cause
• How to advocate for your cause
• Messaging
• Materials
• Scheduling

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Advocacy Training, cont....

• Advocates Allies
• Ambassadors
• Opponents
• Their position
• Mandates
• Liability
• Handling Objections

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Communication

• Legislator Contacts
• Personal Visits
• Letters
• E-mails/Faxes
• Phone calls
• Advocate Team

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Crohns IBD Backgrounder

• Etiology
• Science or study of the causes of disease, both
  direct and predisposing, and their mode of
  operation
• Anatomy
• The structure of an organism or one of its parts
• Pathology
• The branch of biological science which deals with
  the nature of disease, through study of its
  causes, its process, and its effects, together
  with the associated alterations of structure and
  function.
• Treatment
• Application of therapeutic measures therapy
• Prevalence Data
• National and State Specific

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Model Legislation

• State
• Illinois
• States with Active Legislation
• Federal

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States with Legislation
Passed Pending Defeated
Puerto Rico
Hawaii
Alaska
(See Attachment 1 Model Legislation)
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Talking Points Crohns/IBD

• What is Crohns disease?
• Crohns disease, (CD), is an inflammatory bowel
  disease, (IBD), a chronic disorder that causes
  inflammation of the digestive tract, but most
  commonly affecting the small intestine and colon.
• Living with Crohns disease
• Symptoms such as persistent and sudden instances
  of diarrhea can present a barrier to individual
  freedom, happiness and productivity. Because of
  symptoms such as the urgent need to use a
  restroom, CD can have implications on employment,
  social interactions and self-image.
• The Restroom Access Act
• Requires a retail establishment that has a toilet
  facility for its employees to allow a customer
  with certain medical conditions to use that
  facility during business hours
• Solution
• Ensuring access to a restroom takes a step away
  from complacency and a step toward freedom for
  people suffering from Crohns. Ensuring restroom
  access to people with CD is a common sense
  solution.
• (See Attachment 2)

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

• 1. A bill is introduced and gets a number
• 2. The bill is referred to Committee
• 3. Committee Action
• 4. Mark-Up
• 5. Committee Reports
• 6. Floor Action
• 7. Voting
• 8. Round Two
• 9. Conference Committee
• 10. Final Step

• (See Attachment 3)

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How a Bill Becomes a Law
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How a Bill Becomes a Lawin Your State D.C.

• Georgia http//www.sos.state.ga.us/tours/html/bil
  l.htmlHawaii http//www.hawaii.gov/lrb/bill2law/
  Idaho http//www2.state.id.us/legislat/billlaw.htm
  lIllinois http//www.legis.state.il.us/commission
  /lis/98bill_law.pdfIndiana http//www.state.in.us
  /statehouse/tour/BillintoLaw.pdfIowa
  http//www2.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/bill2law.htm
  Kansas http//skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/how_bi
  ll_law.pdfKentucky http//www.lrc.state.ky.us/leg
  proc/how_law.htmLouisiana http//www.legis.state.
  la.us/howbill.htmMaine http//www.state.me.us/leg
  is/path/path1.htmMaryland http//www.mdarchives.s
  tate.md.us/msa/mdmanual/07leg/html/proc.htmlMassa
  chusetts http//www.lwvma.org/government_of_ma/how
  abill.htmMichigan http//www.michigan.gov/emi/02
  C13032C7-102-116-2836--2C00.html

• Alabama http//www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/l
  egislativeprocess/billpassage.html
  andhttp//www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/legisl
  ativeprocess/housebillpassage.html Alaska
  http//w3.legis.state.ak.us/infodocs/legprocess.pd
  fArizona http//www.azleg.state.az.us/bill3law.ht
  mArkansas http//www.state.ar.us/house/billtolaw.
  htmlCalifornia http//www.leginfo.ca.gov/bil2lawd
  .htmlColorado http//www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_
  dir/process.htmConnecticut http//www.cga.ct.gov/
  html/bill-law.htmDelaware http//www.legis.state.
  de.us/Legislature.nsf/Lookup/Bill_Process?openDis
  trict of Columbia http//www.dccouncil.us/how.html
  Florida http//www.leg.state.fl.us/data/civics/se
  nate_idealaw.pdf andhttp//www.leg.state.fl.us/da
  ta/civics/house_idealaw.pdf

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How a Bill Becomes a Lawin Your State D.C.

• Oklahoma http//www.lsb.state.ok.us/ and
  http//www.lsb.state.ok.us/Oregon
  http//www.leg.state.or.us/process.htmlPennsylvan
  ia http//www.elc-pa.org/how20bill20becomes20la
  w.TP2011-02.1.16.03.pdfRhode Island
  http//www.rilin.state.ri.us/gen_assembly/GenMisc/
  genbilaw.htmlSouth Carolina http//www.scsenate.o
  rg/html-pages/Booklet00-012012th20edition.pdfSo
  uth Dakota http//legis.state.sd.us/General/guide.
  htmHowBillTennessee http//www.legislature.state
  .tn.us/info/billtolaw.pdf andhttp//www.legislatu
  re.state.tn.us/info/billtolaw.htmTexas
  http//www.rfatexas.org/TXbill.htmUtah
  http//www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid538
  Vermont http//www.leg.state.vt.us/FieldTrip/Bill
  ToLawFlowChart.htmVirginia http//www.virginia.or
  g/site/features.asp?featureID86Washington
  http//www.leg.wa.gov/house/hadm/billlaw.htmWest
  Virginia http//www.mtstcil.org/skills/wvleg-bill2
  law.htmlWisconsin http//www.legis.state.wi.us/as
  sembly/acc/images/PDFs/habblagainall.pdfWyoming
  http//legisweb.state.wy.us/leginfo/guide98.htm

• Minnesota http//www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/howbill.
  aspMississippi http//www.ls.state.ms.us/htms/bil
  llaw.htmMissouri http//www.senate.state.mo.us/bi
  ll-law.htmMontana http//leg.state.mt.us/css/rese
  arch/faqs/howbill.aspNebraska http//www.unicam.s
  tate.ne.us/learning/process.htmNevada
  http//www.leg.state.nv.us/General/im_just_a_bill.
  cfmNew Hampshire http//www.state.nh.us/nhinfo/bi
  lls.htmNew Jersey http//www.njleg.state.nj.us/le
  gislativepub/legprocess.aspNew Mexico must be
  obtained via state constitution or by accessing
  following linkhttp//www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lp
  ext.dll?ftemplatesfnmain-h.htm2.0New York
  http//www.nylobby.state.ny.us/images/billtolaw.ht
  mlNorth Carolina http//www.ncga.state.nc.us/NCGA
  Info/Bill-Law/bill-law.htmlNorth Dakota
  http//www.state.nd.us/lr/information/general/bill
  -law.htmlOhio http//www.ohiohouserepublicans.com
  /_data/Larry_Householder/downloads/bill_becomes_la
  w.pdf

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How to Lobby Your Legislature

• Know Your Organization
• Know Your Legislator
• Know Your Issue
• Know Your Opposition
• Know Your DOs and DONTs

(See Attachment 4)
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Crohns/IBD Website Links

• http//www.CrohnsAndMe.com
• http//www.CCFA.org
• http//www.MyIBD.org

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Government Websites

• State Representatives Senators
• Specific Committees
• Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• State Prevalence Data

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Summary

• The passion of advocacy begins with an army of
  one
• Purpose Statement
• Ensuring access to a restroom takes a step away
  from complacency and a step toward freedom for
  people suffering from Crohns/IBD. Ensuring
  restroom access to people with CD/IBD is a common
  sense solution.
• Goals/Objectives
• Q/A

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Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
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Attachment 1
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Attachment 1
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Attachment 2
The Restroom Access Act RAA for People With
Crohns Disease
I S S U E B R I E F

What is Crohns Disease?

Crohns Disease, (CD), is an inflammatory bowel
disease, (IBD), a chronic disorder that causes
inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal
(GI) tract, most commonly affecting the small
intestine and colon.

It is estimated that as many as 1.4 million
Americans have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
at an annual medical cost of 2 billion.

CD affects primarily adolescents and young
adults, ages 15 to 35. 140,000 children under
the age of 18 suffer from Crohns Disease in the
US. (CCFA)

Patients with severe IBD may need to use the
restroom up to 20 times per day.

Living with Crohns Disease

Symptoms such as persistent and sudden instances
of diarrhea present a barrier to individual
freedom, happiness and productivity. Because of
symptoms such as the urgent need to use a
restroom, CD can possibly have implications on
employment, social interactions and self-image.

I just dont go to many places anymore. NOT
worth the stress and anxiety of where is the
bathroom?????? I have had enough embarrassment
to last a life time.

(kitkat lady of the loo Aug. 21, 2006)

It has impacted my life - my work, my exercise,
my confidence, my leisure activities and my
intimacy.

(Aug 31, 2006 posting, lunitalu)

What can you do....?

Ensuring access to a restroom takes a step away
from complacency and a step toward freedom for
people suffering from Crohns. Ensuring restroom
access to people with CD is a common sense
solution.

The Restroom Access Act - Requires a retail
establishment that has a toilet facility for its
employees to allow a customer to use that
facility during business hours if

The customer requesting the use of the employee
toilet facility suffers from Crohns and colitis
or an eligible medical condition

3 or more employees are working at the time

The retail establishment does not already make a
restroom available to the public

The access to a toilet facility is not located in
an area that would create a health or safety risk
to the customer and a public restroom is not
available

The retail establishment or an employee would not
be liable for any act or omission in allowing a
customer to use an employee toilet facility

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Attachment 3 - How a Bill Becomes a Law

• A bill is introduced and gets a number The
  process begins when a bill or resolution is
  numbered within the House or Senate (i.e. H.R.
  255 or S. 188).
• The bill is referred to Committee Bills are
  referred to the appropriate committees in the
  House or Senate.
• Committee Action After the committee receives
  the bill, it may be placed on the committees
  calendar or it can be referred to a subcommittee
  for study and hearings before moving to full
  committee.
• Amendments Once hearings in the subcommittee are
  completed, the bill is marked up to reflect any
  changes and voted on. If the bill passes, then it
  moves to the full committee for another mark-up
  and a vote.
• Committee Reports Once a bill passes out of
  committee, the committee issues a report
  describing the purpose and scope of the bill.
• Rules Committee In most states bills passed out
  of their initial committees go to a Rules
  Committee before  being placed on the general
  calendar for House/Senate floor debate. Of course
  not all states are the same and you should check
  each state for their rules and procedures. 
• Floor Action To move to a floor vote, the bill
  must be placed on the chambers calendar, which
  is controlled by the majority party and
  leadership.
• Voting After debate ends and votes on amendments
  conclude, the full chamber (House or Senate)
  votes on the bill.
• Round Two Even if the first chamber passes the
  bill, it must have a companion bill or
  counterpart in the other legislative body.
• Conference Committee If the second chamber
  passes the bill with significant changes, the
  bill must go to conference. A conference
  committee with both Senators and Representatives
  forms to resolve the differences between the two
  versions of the bill.
• Final Step If both the House and Senate pass the
  conference report, its transmitted to the
  governor to be signed into law or vetoed.

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Attachment 4 - How to Lobby Your Legislature

• Lobbying to convince any individual of the merits
  of your position requires an understanding of the
  rationale that supports that belief. Your goal is
  not to threaten or antagonize, but to influence
  on the basis of your knowledge and understanding
  of the issues.
• Be Prepared - Before You Lobby, Do Your Homework.
  Know Yourself.
• Be aware of your own personal prejudices or
  biases. Such knowledge will enable you to
  maintain objectivity by anticipating your own
  response in a given situation.
• Know Your Organization
• If you are speaking on its behalf you will want
  to be a credible representative. Be fully aware
  of your organization's positions and their
  development as well as the relationship it
  maintains with other organizations and with the
  legislature.
• Know Your Legislator
• Make an attempt to understand the basis for
  his/her positions
• record on related legislation and/or votes (be
  aware of any prior favorable commitment to your
  cause/party), position, and tenure in legislative
  and political power structure
• constituent pressures
• general predispositions
• what kind of personal interview will be most
  effective (sensitivity to legislative attitudes
  about approach is essential).
• Your appearance as an objective individual, able
  to deal sympathetically with the concerns of both
  sides, will be enhanced.
•  Know Your Issue
• Phrase the argument in your own words. Don't be
  surprised if it appears you are more
  knowledgeable than the individual you are
  lobbying. No one can be expected to address every
  question or matter of concern regarding an issue,
  however, so don't hesitate to admit your lack of
  knowledge on a particular point. Be willing to
  pursue the answer and report back.
• Know Your Opposition
• It is preferable to anticipate the opposition and
  answer their arguments positively before those
  arguments surface publicly.
• Some DOs and DON'Ts for Lobbyists
• DO
• Address your Senator or Representative properly.

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Attachment 4 (cont.)

• DON'T
• Don't begin, "As a citizen and tax payer" (your
  elected representative assumes you are not an
  alien, and s/he knows we all pay taxes).
• Don't apologize for taking his or her time. If
  you are brief and to the point s/he will be glad
  to hear from you.
• Don't be arrogant, condescending or threatening
  toward legislators or their staff.
• Don't argue or back recalcitrant legislators into
  a corner where they take a definite position
  against you.
• Don't make notes of a conversation while talking
  to a legislator.
• Don't send copies or form letters unless you have
  taken the time to include a personal note.The
  qualifications for an effective lobbyist include
• an intelligent command of current issues
• a commitment to the cause, tempered by a
  tolerance for the human weaknesses of both
  colleagues and elected officials
• enthusiasm and sincerity and
• a sense of humor, genuine liking of people, and
  ability to roll with the punches.
• Effective Individual Communication
• Your maximum influence comes in addressing your
  comments directly to your own legislator.
• The Personal Visit
• Perhaps the most effective method of transmitting
  your message, a personal visit allows both of you
  to connect names with faces. In communication
  afterward, you will have established yourself as
  a known concerned constituent. If your legislator
  is holding a hearing or workshop, try to attend.
  It is a good time to meet your legislator
  informally.
• If your representative is not available, ask to
  meet the legislative assistant. S/he can
  generally be expected to be at least as well
  informed as your representative, and may have
  more influence than you suspect.The Telephone
• The telephone can be an effective tool. Remind
  the legislator of any previous contact. If the
  member is not available, speak with the
  legislative assistant.
• During the legislative session, a toll-free
  "hotline" is available (1-800-562-6000) through
  which information on the status of bills can be
  obtained. Messages can be left for your
  legislator. They should be brief and specific.
  Leave your name, address and phone number.
• The Letter

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