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VCCJA’s Legislative Committee was one of the first Association committees established. The Committee is active year round, with most activities occurring August through March. Since Virginia’s General Assembly Session begins in January, the Legislative Committee operates on a May to April year.
Over the years, VCCJA’s Legislative Committee has grown stronger and has become more active. This Committee is essential to how the Legislature views VCCJA and the areas we strive to impact. The Legislative Committee does a great deal of work and requires a strong commitment from its members.
The Legislative Committee has had numerous accomplishments in its short tenure. Of particular note
- Increased funding for local community corrections and pretrial services operations
- Funding for new local community corrections and pretrial services operations
- Legislation protecting local community corrections and pretrial services officers
- Legislation allowing local community corrections and pretrial services access to juvenile records
- Legislation protecting the confidentiality of local community corrections, pretrial services, and state probation reports
- Study legislation for bail options
- Protection of base funding for community corrections and pretrial services during the 2002 session when many others were being depleted of funds
In order to effectively carry out the mission of the Legislative Committee, members must:
- Have access to internet e-mail
- Be active outside of the meetings (letters, calls, other meetings, mailings, etc.)
- Follow through on commitments
- Commit for at least one year (May through April)
Beginning in 2002, there will be two categories of membership on the VCCJA Legislative Committee. Active members:
- Attend most meetings
- Coordinate with committee members to ensure that meetings of the General Assembly committees and subcommittees are covered as needed.
- Be a verbal advocate for VCCJA initiatives as needed.
- Participate in other activities as needed, such as:
- Developing legislation and legislative agendas
- Identifying and approaching legislators to sponsor legislation
- Developing budget requests and justifications
- Presenting legislation and/or budgets to individuals and/or legislative committees
- Tracking legislation
- Collecting data as needed
Auxiliary membership provides an opportunity for individuals who may not be able to devote the time and effort required by active membership, but nevertheless wish to participate. Auxiliary members:
- Attend 2 meetings pre-Session (one being the organizational meeting), 1 meeting during Session, and the Session wrap-up meeting (basically, one meeting per quarter)
- Assist in the accomplishment of other tasks, such as:
- Contacting local legislators as needed
- Contacting VCCJA members as needed
- Mailings (this will necessitate billing VCCJA for any individual or Agency expenses within 30 days of the expense)
- Attending various meetings as needed.
- Using internet to track legislation, develop tracking log, and report back to members via e-mail (this is time-intensive)
- Report activities to chair and/or other oversight member prior to each meeting of the Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee’s success is the result of the dedication and commitment of its members. Although time-intensive and challenging, membership provides an opportunity to learn about the legislative process and have an impact on future legislation. Thank you for your interest in the VCCJA Legislative Committee.
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