HOMESCHOOLER ACTION # 3! CALL REPRESENTATIVE JESS STAIRS!!! ******************************************************* Phone calls and follow-up emails/letters need to be made to Rep. Jess Stairs on May 6, 7, 8, 2002. Please read this Alert for details. ******************************************************* HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW This section reviews how a bill becomes a law and shows where HB 2560 could get stuck along the path to becoming a law. Step 1. Someone sees the need for change. Step 2. A sponsor is found. Step 3. The LRB (Legislative Reference Bureau) reviews it to be sure it is in proper form and does not conflict with other statutes. Step 4. The sponsor takes it to the clerk and it receives a bill number. Step 5. The bill is introduced and assigned to committee. Step 6. The bill is voted out of committee and possibly moves to another committee. (For example: If an education bill requires funding, it first goes to the education committee and then to the appropriations committee) Step 7. The bill is put on the agenda for the House or Senate to vote on. Step 8. The bill is considered by the whole chamber on three different legislative days and voted up or down. Step 9. Steps 5 through 8 are repeated in the opposite chamber (House or Senate) Step 10. Conference committee decides the final form of the bill. WHEN DO WE NEED TO IMPACT THE PROCESS? The key times for action are as follows: Calls and letters to the chairman and members of the education committee to get the bill out of committee. Calls and letters to the Speaker of the House to get the bill on the House agenda. Calls and letters to each representative to get the bill passed in the House. WHERE IS HB 2560? After two years of work on the part of many people, HB 2560 is at step 5. It is tempting to think that step 5 is halfway through the process. The first four steps are the easiest ones. Of the 2000 to 3000 bills introduced each session only 10% of the bills make it out of committee, largely due to the efforts of the bill’s supporters. We believe it is important is to let House Education Committee Chairman, Jess Stairs, know that the overwhelming majority of homeschoolers want to see this law passed. A political reality is that homeschoolers have little wealth, no professional lobbyists, and few resources to change a law. The chief tool that we have is the ability to generate phone calls, letters, visits, and emails to the representatives. If we are to succeed we must use these tools effectively. ******************************************************* WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW? CALL REPRESENTATIVE JESS STAIRS!!! We would like to call his office in such numbers that he can only think of homeschoolers in favor of HB 2560 on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday (May 6, 7 & 8, 2002). We encourage additional contact through email. We believe that these actions are essential to getting the bill out of committee. Other homeschoolers have told Rep. Stairs that the majority of homeschoolers don’t want this new law. Your response will undoubtedly effect the future of this bill. If we get enough calls and follow-up emails we hope to move the bill out of the Education Committee. Call Representative Jess Stairs office at 717-783-9311 and email at jstairs@pahousegop.com. The most impact is if you state in your own words the following points: - I support House Bill 2560 and please move it out of education committee - It will relieve public school officials and home schooling parents from burdensome administrative tasks - Home educators have earned the right to less state oversight after demonstrating their success under the current law for the past 14 years - This bill recognizes the rights and responsibilities of parents to educate their children and is endorsed by CHAP, the Christian Homeschool Association of PA, and the majority of homeschoolers in Pennsylvania" If you get a busy signal, Keep trying. Busy signals are a sign that we are succeeding. Please send an email to Chaplaw@chapboard.org or a hard copy at CHAP - E-Alert 5/5, PO Box 115 Mount Joy, PA 17552-0115 to inform us of what action you have taken. This will enable us to see what support is being generated and give us external evidence of this activity. In order for this bill to go forth, such action, and perhaps more, in the way of hard copy letters and visits to representatives and senators will have to be done on a number of occasions. We will do our best to keep you informed as to when and what should be done next. Thank you for your invaluable help, and God Speed as we go forth together on this journey. The CHAP Board, Bruce & Mary Ann Eagleson, Larry & Kim Huber, Clyde & Pam Gwin, Doug & Nada Rothgaber, Jim & Robbie Warren, and our children, who are, along with yours, the reason for the journey!