The Legislative Department is responsible for pursuing the political agenda established by PEF and articulated through the president.

Legislative staff pursued PEF’s budget priorities in the months following the release of Governor Pataki’s proposed Executive Budget for 2000-01. PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum emphasized these priorities in her testimony before a joint legislative budget hearing in Albany. PEF’s PAL network was activated to directly communicate our budget needs to state lawmakers and staff. Budget priorities were also the focus of PEF’s Annual Lobby Day held in Albany on March 14. Staff also attended weeks of legislative committee meetings on the proposed budget in April. The budget agreement announced by the governor and legislative leaders on May 2 met virtually all of PEF’s priority issues. It preserves job security for PEF members by providing funding that avoids layoffs and should result in a net addition of several hundred new state positions. PEF lobbied vigorously on the issue of OMH shared staffing and succeeded in securing an additional $7.6 million to the OMH budget to fully restore all current shared staff for 2000-01.

PEF again convinced the Legislature to reject an Administration proposal to change the civil service appointing authority in OMH. We also succeeded in getting legislative support to reject another Administration plan to merge eight criminal justice agencies into one super-Department of Justice. PEF opposed an Administration plan to dismantle portions of SED. The legislature ultimately rejected this plan and restored funding that was cut in the executive budget.

Legislative Agenda

Many of PEF’s legislative priority issues were approved by the legislature during the 2000 session. Prior to the start of the new year, Governor Pataki signed into law PEF’s "tier reinstatement" bill. The months to follow would see the passage of a permanent COLA, pension benefit enhancements, tier equity, the "heart bill" for parole officers, and "safe needles" legislation to protect nurses.

PEF also led the effort that successfully amended the veterans "buy-back" law passed in 1999. The amendment calls for a three percent contribution per year of service purchased as opposed to the previous law that imposed the full cost on the member. Nine other bills on PEF’s priority list were also approved by both houses of the Legislature. At this writing, COLA and the pension enhancement bills have been signed by the governor. During the year, PEF also pushed its legislative initiatives such as "Judith’s Law" to improve ICM safety in OMH, anti-privatization legislation, and a plan to restrict the growth of "shadow agencies".

Member Involvement

PEF members were encouraged to participate in the legislative process through special events such as the PEF Lobby Day (March 14), PEF Nurses Lobby Day (March 13), SEIU Lobby Day (February 29), and the May 9 COLA Rally in Albany. The PAL Network was charged with contacting individual legislators on four key issues during the year. A district lobbying campaign of key state lawmakers effectively communicated our contract issues and developments as negotiations proceeded in the spring. Staff visited regions during the year to attend legislative receptions, PEF member meetings, and to provide legislative and political training. Additional sources of legislative information for members include the PEF Hotline, The Communicator Magazine, and the PAC/PAL Newsletter – Connection.

COPE / Voter Registration

COPE participants now number more than 2,100 an increase of more than one third in less than two years. PEF’s Voter Registration Verification program is currently increasing the number of PEF members who are registered to vote. Verification postcards and registration forms are currently available in all PEF regions. Staff presentations continue and remain available at the regional and division levels. Statewide PAC meetings are held regularly in Albany to examine regional political activity, explore key local issues, and coordinate PEF’s political support efforts.

The list of PEF "priority campaigns" for the 2000 elections is now being developed. PEF’s grassroots campaign support network continues to expand and will be invaluable in helping to elect those who support us in the legislature.

The PEF Legislative Department also serves members as a valuable source of general information on state government and specific items of legislative interest.