Speech Pathologists & Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Inc.
P.O. Box 12177
Lake Charles, LA 70612
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Speech Pathologists & Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Inc. |
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2007 Legislative Action Information Final Legislative Update for 2007 - June 20, 2007 Dear LSHA Members: Although the session does not end for several more days we are no longer in the running for a salary supplement. The Senate approved HB1 and sent it on to the House. The House approved HB1 and the Senate concurred. There will not be a final conference committee for the House and Senate to reconcile any differences they have regarding HB1 because there are none. Therefore, we do not have an opportunity to make a final appeal. Thanks to all who worked diligently to achieve our legislative goal, namely a salary supplement for nationally certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists who are employed full time by public school systems. We will have to reassess and determine how we need to approach this issue. Ayn Stehr has asked that I meet with her when the session is over to plan strategy for next year. If you have suggestions please let me know via e-mail (sharris@stmary.k12.la.us). During the last several weeks a good number of very strong contacts between LSHA members and legislators have come to the surface. We need to nurture those relationships and redouble our efforts. Hopefully those of you who have put forth a great deal of effort will continue to do so and those who have not will reconsider. Have a great summer. Recharge your batteries. Get ready for the next time. We will prevail.
June 19, 2007 Dear SPALS Members: Here is a quick update on the legislative situation. The Senate Finance Committee sent HB1 to the full Senate late Friday afternoon without our amendment. I received feedback that because the state was providing an increase for all certified personnel they did not feel we needed the salary supplement. Of course this is nonsense. All of the others getting a supplement including school social workers after this legislative session will also get the new state raise. The only thing we can do at this time is to contact any senator we know personally and ask that person to make an amendment from the Senate floor. I know Michelle Barras has had some interaction with Senator Michot so maybe she can try; however, I know that he has indicated he would support the supplement but would not make the amendment. Another approach would be to contact the three Senators from the Senate Finance committee (Mount, Ellington and Heitmeirer) who put forth amendments at the Senate Finance Committee level and see if they would bring it up from the Senate floor. The budget (HB1) will be approved by next Thursday so we do have a few days left in this session to work for our goal. I know this is so frustrating but we must continue to try. One note, I still am getting feedback that we did not have a lot of people making contacts with legislators. I know for a fact I received very little feedback from members saying they had mad e contacts. I am sure that those of you who are receiving this message have made contacts but I did not receive e-mails or phone calls from the majority of you. That is a significant barrier to achieving our goal. If this is not something we are going to take seriously and actively and aggressively pursue then we need to consider abandoning this project. If you get a positive response from a Senator who is willing to put forth an amendment for us please let me know ASAP at 337-280-4742. Steve Harris
6/14/07 TAKE ACTION NOW!!! Dear SPALS Members: The Senate Finance Committee will be working over the next 24 hours to hammer out the final amendments to HB1 before they send it on to the full Senate. I have been receiving a good number of calls and e-mails from you reporting your contacts, however, the amount of members reporting contacts is relatively small considering our total membership. I hope many of you are making contacts and are just failing to notify me. That being said, we need one last blitz of contacts (e-mails, phone calls, faxes) to all members of the Senate Finance Committee asking support for the amendments put forth by Senators Mount, Ellington and Heitmerer. I have a report that we have 24 hours to act. So please do so and call your fellow SLPs and AUDs and ask them to respond if they have not already done so, as well as your family and friends and urge them to make contacts with all members of the Senate Finance Committee at this time asking for support of the amendments to HB1 that provide funding for all nationally certified SLPs and AUDs employed by public school systems. I know that those of you who are directly affected by this legislation certainly want the $5000.00 salary supplement that you are entitled to. No one can do this for you. You must act now!!!! Remember you can go to the last e-mail blast or to the SPALS Home Page (spals.org) and find the contact information (e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers) for all the Senate Finance Committee Members. For all of you who have been working diligently on this thanks. Let's just continue a little bit longer. We are so close. Steve Harris
6/12/07 It is imperative that we act on the information contained below. We now have confirmation that there are three separate amendments to HB1 that offer funding for the salary supplement. Please read and take action. Each SPALS board member should contact as many fellow members within their region as possible via phone or e-mail. Just do it! This is our best chance so far in all the years we have been pursuing this. Legislative Alert! Immediate Action Requested Monday, June 11, 2007 Dear LSHA Members: As of Monday, June 11th we received word from Ayn Stehr that three separate amendments were made to HB1 to include funding for the Salary Supplement for Nationally Certified Public School Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Heitmeier put forth an amendment proposing a 1.9 million dollar allocation, Senator Noble Ellington, member of the Senate Finance Committee, put forth an amendment proposing 3 million dollars allocation, and Senator Willie Mount, member of the Senate Finance Committee, put forth an amendment proposing a one million dollar allocation. Our task now is two fold, first e-mails need to be sent to all three Senators who put forth amendments thanking them for their action. Second, emails need to be sent to every Senator of the Finance Committee and the Senate at Large informing them that these amendments exist and asking once again that them for their support on these amendments and for co-sponsorship. When sending your e-mails make sure to let the Senate members know that we appreciate their support and ask that whatever the final amendment toHB1 is that it is adequate to provide funding for all qualified individuals and that we have determined that there are approximately 600 individuals state wide that should qualify for the salary supplement. This means funding at the full supplement level of $5000.00 would require 3 million dollars. Remember to contact Mimi Brooks (985-518-7785) or Steve Harris (337-280-4742) with feedback information from your e-mail contacts. This is vital as this information will be forwarded to our Lobbyist, Ayn Stehr, for further follow up and coordination of our efforts. We have an excellent chance to accomplish our goal. We now have the Chair of the Finance Committee and two members of the committee on board. We need as many more members of both the Senate Finance Committee and the full Senate as possible to strength then our position. You can find the Senate finance committee's email and phone contacts below. You may also go to http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Senators to obtain e-mail addresses for all members of the Senate. Senate Finance Committee Members
To call a Senator (225) 342-2040 To FAX a Senator (225) 342-0617
6/11/07 Dear LSHA Members: Our lobbyist, Ayn Stehr, has indicated there will be an amendment made to HB1 from the Senate Finance Committee. At this point we need to do a massive email, fax, and/or phone call blitz to all members of the Senate asking them to co-sponsor the amendment. The Senate Finance Committee is currently meeting and will likely send HB 1 to the Senate Floor by Saturday, June 16. Further we need to know who you have contacted and what the response is. This information then needs to be relayed to Ayn Stehr so she can do follow ups with any and all Senators who express support. Remember, information is already on the LSHA home page that lists the links to the Louisiana Legislature web page where all members of the Senate’s email, fax and phone contact information can be obtained. This is our last window of opportunity to have our salary supplement added to HB1. Please contact the Senate Finance Committee and the entire Senate body. If you get a direct response from your Senator, please contact Mimi Brooks (985-518-7785) or Steve Harris (337-280-4742) so we can relay the information to Ayn Stehr for immediate follow-up.
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