How We Make Decisions

The Commission explains how we make decisions about policy on this page.

Why the Commission will work for or against a bill

There are 3 reasons the Commission will work for or against a bill:

1. It is part of the strategic plan
2. A close ally asks us to work on it
3. There is a threat or opportunity that we need to react to

1. It is part of the strategic plan

Even if the bill is related to one of the issues in the strategic plan, it is still not automatic that the Commission will work on it.  First, we ask ourselves:

1. Was this policy proposal specifically listed in the strategic plan?
2. Was it suggested by one of the workgroups?
3. Support and opposition:  Who else will support it?  Is there data showing that this policy is beneficial?  Have we already done the research and brought people together around it?  Is there agreement about this proposal within the Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing communities and our close allies?  Or will part of our community or any of our close allies oppose it?  Will there be other opposition?
4. Impact:  Will the proposal have a high, sustainable impact?  Will it best advance us towards the goals in the strategic plan?
5. How much work will this take?  Do the staff have time to work on this bill and the others we’ve already agreed to?

2. A close ally asks us to work on it

If it was suggested by a close ally, we still ask ourselves:

1. How much help are they asking for?  Are they asking us to take the lead or to simply support their efforts?
2. Same questions about support & opposition.
3. Same questions about workload.  

3. There is a threat or an opportunity that we need to react to

During the legislative session, there are hearings on hundreds of bills. Some of these would or could have a very good or very bad effect on the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities.  When this is the case, we ask ourselves:

1. How good or bad an impact would it have or could it have if we were able to get it changed?
2. How likely is this bill to pass?

How the strategic plan applies

We keep mentioning the Commission’s strategic plan.  How does an issue get into the strategic plan? The plan comes from several sources. First, the plan derives from the large picture goals, also called 'Ends', set by the board. Second, the plan derives from identifying the needs, trends, and barriers currently happening in the community.