Through the activities of its Legislative Steering Committee and the services of Capitol Hill Associates (a lobbying firm engaged by MSHA), MSHA pursues change in legislation that will positively impact the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.
The Legislative Steering Committee directs the activities of MSHA's two lobbyists (one for shool issues and one for health care issues), coordinates communication to the membership regarding legislative trends and proposals, and facilitates grassroots lobbying efforts from the membership.
Capitol Hill Associates identifies key issues and legislators, drafts bills and obtains legislative sponsors, promotes the passage of bills or amendments as directed by MSHA, opposes legislation detrimental to the interests of MSHA, makes presentations and assists with presentations of testimony, arranges meetings with legislators, helps train MSHA members on effective ways to influence legislation, and monitors and reports on legislative, regulatory, and other governmental activity throughout the year.
The goals of the Legislative Steering Committee for 2007 are to:
Continue advocating for reimbursement of appropriately-supervised SLP Asst. service
Explore opportunities for a college loan forgiveness bill for SLPs & Auds; A legislator wants to help MSHA.
Get MSHA on MDE IDEA Rulemaking Stakeholders Group
Continue to monitor and respond to emerging issues from state agencies, ENTs, HIDs, etc.
