Document gbgaVYEGDQJjYD1ZJpqZgEn3L

Feb: uarv 21, 1984 Mr. Joseph Wasdonich Managing Director 475 Wolf Ledces Parkway Akron, OH 44311 Re: Law Committee Dear Mr. Wasdonich: Please find enclosed a draft of the Law Committee's plan for local sections to monitor and respond to local lecislat ion. There are many viewpoints on how it should be accomplished, as I learned from consulting with people in Northern California who were involved with the sanitarian bill, and in discussing it with the Committee. r r fD Please consider this a draft, and we will be interested in the Board's comments and suggestions. I am unable to attend the Houston seetina, but I would like to discuss th draft with you prior tc that time so that you could oresen it to the Board. Thank you for your courtesy and assistance in this matter. \- -Very truly yours, MSA/lffif Enclosure MARY E. ALEXANDER vw 000012496 LOCAL SECTION PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING RESPONDING TO LOCAL LEGISLATION LAW COMMITTEE MARY E. ALEXANDERr CHAIR AND I . MONITORING OF LEGISLATION A. General. The monitoring of relevant legislation from the state legislature that may impact on the profession of industrial hygiene is an almost impossible task for a local section. Full time lobbyists are required, and, indeed, most large companies and associations do have such lobbyists. Since this is-beyond the time and financial resources of a local section, other means must be devised. Below are some suggestions for local sections to keep track of important legislation. (See Appendix A for an example of such legislation.) B. Select Local Section Officer Responsible for Monitoring ^Activities. One officer on the executive committee of a local section should be selected for assuring that monitoring activities are being conducted. It is recommended that the past president serve such function since often, for example, in the Northern California section, the past president is in charge of public relations- Where there are two or more local sections in a state, the responsible officers should seek to coordinate activities. C. Key into Corporation Monitoring Systems. Many large corporations and universities maintain departments that fulfill the function of monitoring local, state and federal legislation affecting the institution and it activities. Industrial hygienists that are employed by such organizations in a local section may assist by requesting that the departments that review such legislation also monitor for any legislation that may impact on the industrial hygienist. Since such legislation would affect the employee, the industrial hygienist, of that corporation, the cooperation of these departments might be expected. The industrial hygienist whose organization is participating would then report any legislation to the local section's past president or officer in charge. The departments that will be looking for such legislation need to VVV 000012497 be briefed as to how to recognize such legislation. "Key words" should be provided, such as "environmental health", "occupational health", "occupational hazards1', "safety and health", "occupational diseases", "health physicists/physics", "industrial hygiene", "safety professional", "sanitarians", "safety engineers/engineering." Specific dates in a calendar year of the local section should be set aside to review the monitoring system and to ask the question of whether any legislation has been proposed. It is recommended that at least every three months there be a review by the corporate industrial hygienist and the past president or other officer in charge to assure that the system is working and ongoing.. D. Identify Local Legislator's Office. The local legislator who sits in the State Legislature should be identified and his office address and telephone number identified. His staff names are important, since these are the people with whom you will most likely be dealing with. A request should be made of the local legislator's office that any bill that may fall into our area of interest be brought to our attention. The staff member should be briefed on the number of people affected in the local area and the state, the impact on the public, and how to recognize such bills, including key words such as those provided to the organization's legislative monitors. E. Relevant Subcommittees. It is helpful to determine the Legislative Subcommittees that have previously initiated legislation in the areas that affect the practice of industrial hygiene. These may include subcommittees on labor and health. Members of these subcommittees can then be contacted and advised of the Association interests. monitored. Subcommittee activities can also be F. Local Section Policy. Local sections are encouraged to use their executive committees to set policy for reacting to legislative proposals. Polls of all local section members on specific bills can be considered to increase the participating democracy of the local section and drum up support. VVV 000012498 II. RESPONSE PROCEDURE. A. Obtain Title and Number of Bill. As soon as legislation has been identified that may have an effect on the practice of industrial hygiene, the title and number of the bill should be identified. B. Obtain a Copy of the Legislation Immediately. It is not until one knows the exact phrasing in the bill that it can be determined whether and to what extent it will affect the practice of industrial hygiene. Only then can a proper response be initiated. A copy of the bill can be obtained through: (1) The local legislator's officer; (2) The legislator who introduced the bill into the legislature. C. Bill. Draft a Letter to the Leaislator who Introduced the 1. Who should send the letter*. It is recommended that the letter emanate from president of the local section. The past president or officer who is in charge of the monitoring system should that the letter is properly drafted for the president's signature. the see 2. This letter should indicate the following: (1) A description of the practice of industrial hygiene; (2) National and local sections' activities; (3) The number of industrial hygienists in a local section, the state and the nation; (3) The specific areas of the bill that are inadequate or undesireable? (5) Any other issues that the bill raises. D. Contact the National Board through the Local Section's Board"Coordinator. The National Board should be immediately contacted for its review of the legislation. The logical point of contact is the local section coordinator, who should in turn advise the president of the National'AIHA and the entire Board of Directors. The National AIHA is involved because it is important to: (1) Assure coordination among local sections since bills of a similar nature may be introduced in several states; (2) Provide added national "clout." VVV 000012499 E. Suggested Letters. The members of the subcommittee that introduced the bill should be sent letters from not only the presidents of the local and national sections but from industrial hygienists in the sections and throughout the state. These letters should be simple and to the point. Appendix B is an example of such letters. These suggested form letters can be distributed to. the local section through mailings or meetings and the industrial hygienists encouraged to send them to the responsible legislators. Addresses should be provided. F. Spokesperson. A spokesperson should be selected to speak at committee hearings. The section should select a spokesperson, most likely the past president and/or president, to meet with the subcommittee and other committee hearing meetings to present the section's position. G. Involve other Organizations. Other organizations such as health physicists, safety professionals, insurance personnel, risk-management personnel, chemical engineers, occupational health physicians and nurses can. be utilized to assist the local section in presenting their viewpoint as to the importance of the legislation or its need for revision. It may be important to involve other related professions because it will increase the number of affected professionals. Our position will then be more effective. H. Involve Companies and Local Universities. The lobbyists of corporations that have industrial hygienists or have corporate concern with the legislation can be utilized. Members of the local section should work with their own companies to see what support and assistance can be obtained. Universities, including medical schools and schools of public health, or labor unions, may have lobbyists that will assist in industrial hygiene issues. They can be identified by the local sections beforehand, so that they can be mobilized when the need arises. I. Testify at the Public Hearing. A good spokesperson should be selected by the local section to testify if a public hearing is to be held. A WV 000012500 letter should never be read, but the individual should speak directly to the committee regarding the issues in the legislation. A statement should never be read. J. Mailing Lists. A list of senators and legislators should be developed and letters sent to them urging their vote for the industrial hygiene position. CONCLUSION The job of monitoring for the significant legislation is beyond the scope of the local section. There must be other existing means utilized, such as corporate lobbyists. Once an act of legislation is identified, immediate action must be taken by establishing an ad-hoc committee, contacting the national section, letters written by the local section president and national president, letters written by the local section, and testimony at hearings. VVV 000012501 Dear Senator I strongly urge you to vote [against/for] Senate Bill [bill number]. As a professional industrial hygienist, I believe the Bill would [gravely jeopardize the health and safety of workers in our state/community]. Thank you for your interest in assuring the health and safety of [state's name] workers and the community. Respectfully submitted. VVY 000012502 /PPEKb')C ~g> Dear Senator This is to express the concern of the [section name] Section? American Industrial Hygiene Association Executive Committee regarding Senate Bill [number]. Our national association presently includes over 6.000 members throughout the United States, with representation from industry, labor and government. Our local section [section name] has over [number] members. An industrial hygienist who has completed a degree in a physical or biological science has the professional responsibility to recognize environmental factors and their effect on human health and well-being; to evaluate the magnitude of these stresses in terms of ability to impair human health and well-being? and to prescribe methods to eliminate, control or reduce such stresses when necessary- We believe that Senate Bill [number] would affect the practice and profession of industrial hygiene by [state effect]. We recommend the following changes: [state changes] We urge you to vote ["noV'yes"] to Senate Bill [number]. We offer the assistance and resources of our Section to you to assure the protection of [state's name]'s health and safety of workers and the community. Respectfully submitted [Local Section Officer] 000i2503