CHARGE

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Colorado Association of Libraries Legislative Committee exists to:

• Recommend, oversee and implement a yearly legislative agenda benefiting CAL membership. CAL will collaborate with the Colorado State Library so that where possible the CAL yearly legislative agenda is compatible with Colorado State Library goals.
• Support First Amendment rights in appropriate venues, in conjunction with the Intellectual Freedom Committee.
• Monitor legislation affecting Colorado libraries and act as needed to insure the best interests of CAL membership.
• Supervise, monitor, and annually evaluate the performance of the CAL lobbyists.
• Encourage advocacy and education on legislative issues for all CAL members.

Legislative Agenda:

1. Working with the Colorado State Library, CAL Lobbyists and Legislative Committee members, recommend yearly legislative agendas to the CAL Board.
2. Once approved by the Board, oversee the legislative agenda implementation and the education of CAL members needed to move the legislative agenda forward.
1. Ensure that the legislative agenda is shared with CAL membership, and included in conference documents.

First Amendment rights

1. Working with CAL Lobbyists and Intellectual Freedom Committee support first amendment rights as they relate to legislative issues.
2. Meet with CAL Intellectual Freedom Committee at least twice a year to facilitate communication and ensure that the two committees are working in complimentary directions.

Monitor Legislation

1. Using the CAL Lobbyists as a resource, monitor legislation affecting CAL membership.
2. Working with the Legislative Committee members and the CAL Board, respond to legislation as needed to support the legislative agenda and interests of the CAL membership.

Oversee Lobbyists

1. Supervise, monitor and oversee the lobbyists.
2. Handle contract RFP when needed and make a recommendation to the CAL Board for lobbyists. (Note: RFP needs to have CAL Board approval prior to being sent out.)
3. Working with the CAL Board annually evaluates the lobbyists.

Advocacy and Education

1. Maintain and oversee the CAL Legislative Network list of people who support CAL Legislative efforts and can be called upon for advocacy.
2. Keep CAL membership informed of the legislative committee activities by posting the agenda, minutes and updates on the CAL website.

MEETING CONDUCT: Meetings will be run according to Sturgis Parliamentary Procedure.

It is the intent for the committee to run by consensus. However, when consensus cannot be achieved the following members are delinated as having voting authority.

COMMITTEE MAKEUP
Voting Members:

1. CASL, School representative
2. CoALA, Academic representative
3. CoPLA, Public library representative
4. At-large member
5. Trustee representative
6. CAL President or CAL President Elect
7. Committee Chair (votes in case of tie)
1. When there are co-chairs, one will be designated as the "voting member."

Advisory Members:

1. Colorado State Librarian and/or representative
2. Intellectual Freedom Committee representative
3. CAL Lobbyists
4. CLiC representative
5. CAL PAC representative
6. SIER Committee representative
7. Alternate representatives for voting members
8. CAL Marketing Committee representative

Attending Members:

1. Those interested in CAL Legislative matters are welcome to attend meetings and participate with the committee in discussion and on projects as appropriate.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT

• The Committee Chair(s) is appointed by the CAL President.
• The CASL, CoALA, CoPLA and Trustee representatives are appointed by their respective groups.
• The at-large member is appointed by the Committee Chair

TERMS
Terms will be for one year beginning in July of each year and ending June 30 of the following year. Members are welcome to seek re-appointment.

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE ROLES AND REPRESENTATION
The Committee Chair or the Chair’s voting-member designee shall act as liaison to the CAL Board.

The Committee Chair will designate a person to act as representative to the Colorado Municipal League on behalf of CAL and the legislative Committee. (This representative does not necessarily have to be a Legislative Committee member.

SUPPORT OF OUTSIDE ISSUES/AGENCIES
Support of issues outside of the scope defined above will be handled on a case by case basis as to impact on participating members and appropriateness of the Colorado Association of Libraries to take a position. The CAL Board will approve any position prior to announcement.