In preparation for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 20-24, we invite NACo members to submit interim policy resolutions.
The NACo resolutions process provides members with the ability to participate in national policy decisions affecting county governments. During the Legislative Conference, NACo’s ten policy steering committees and Board of Directors consider legislative and policy resolutions that will guide NACo advocacy until the NACo Annual Conference in July 2016.
The American County Platform and the association’s policy resolutions are carefully considered statements of the needs and interests of county governments throughout the nation. These policy statements serve as a guide for NACo members and staff to advance the association’s federal policy agenda before the White House, Congress and federal agencies. Please refer to the comprehensive overview
of NACo’s policy resolution process here.
When submitting resolutions, please work with the appropriate steering committee staff liaison to adhere to the following guidelines:
HOW TO SUBMIT AND FORMAT RESOLUTIONS
All resolutions must be submitted electronically (preferably as a Word document) via email to resolutions@naco.org
by January 20, 2015. Submissions MUST identify the title and issue area in the email subject line (e.g. Social Services Block Grant, Human Services and Education). Click here for a sample resolution.
Resolutions should be concise and no more than one page in length. The standard format includes:
– Issue: Short sentence stating the purpose of the resolution
– Proposed Policy: Concise statement specifying a position or action by NACo and/or other entities
– Background: 1-2 paragraph statement clearly outlining the county interest in the particular issue
– Fiscal/Urban/Rural Impact: Short statement addressing the potential impact(s) for counties in the specific issue area
– Sponsor: Name and contact information of NACo member sponsoring the resolution. It is important to include contact information so that the NACo staff can follow up if there are any questions or additional
information required
IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you plan to submit a policy resolution, you (or a designated representative) must appear in person at the steering committee meeting at the 2016 Legislative Conference to introduce and explain the
resolution.
PLATFORM CHANGES AND EXISTING RESOLUTIONS
Platform changes are considered only at the Annual Conference. Interim resolutions cannot be used to overturn or modify existing resolutions or language in the platform.
EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS
Steering committees may consider resolutions that were not submitted by the January 20 deadline. However, these federal legislative or regulatory matters should be urgent in nature, meaning that they could not have been foreseen 30 days prior to the conference. Inaction on the part of a submitter is not grounds for an emergency resolution.
Steering committees receiving emergency resolutions may consider them only
if two-thirds of the steering committee members present vote to review
them. This vote, and the vote resulting in the adoption or defeat of the
actual resolution, must be tallied and reported at the conclusion of all
steering committee meetings.
QUESTIONS
Please contact NACo’s Legislative Director Deborah Cox at dcox@naco.org or
the appropriate steering committee liaison with additional questions or
concerns. Click here
Please also refer to the comprehensive overview of NACo’s policy resolution process here.
– 2016 NACo Legislative Conference
– 2015-2016 American County Platform
– NACo’s Policy Resolution Process