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Governmental Affairs
Mission:
The Regional Legislative Alliance is a cooperative council of the
leading chambers of commerce and associations in the Santa Barbara and
Ventura county region. Recognizing these areas are one geographic and
economic community with regional issues common to each chamber and
association, the mission of the Regional Legislative Alliance is to
develop policy for the participating members on key federal and state
issues.
Through a combined effort, the Regional Legislative Alliance influences
legislation and policy decisions, provides coordination to advance the
common business legislative interests of the participating chambers and
associations, serves as a public policy advocacy group for the region,
and provides leadership in legislative advocacy on state and federal
issues that impact the participating members of the Regional Legislative
Alliance.
The Regional Legislative Alliance creates a strong, unified voice for
the business community in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, improves
and enhances the business climate, and maintains and supports the
economic vitality, social community, and quality of life of this region.
Membership:
The partners have memberships that employ more than 300,000 people in
the region, and the outreach continues to recruit other chambers and
associations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Current Alliance
members include:
· Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
· Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce
· Fillmore Chamber of Commerce
· Gold Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
· Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce
· Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
· Moorpark Chamber of Commerce
· Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce
· Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce
· Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
· Ventura Chamber of Commerce
· Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA)
· Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA)
Governance:
The Regional Legislative Alliance is governed by a Memorandum of
Understandingbetween a joint committee of the participating chambers of
commerce and associations. The Regional Legislative Alliance Board is
composed of representatives from the participating chambers of commerce
and associations, with a maximum of three representatives from each
member organization, one of which must be the CEO or their employed
designee. The Regional Legislative Alliance board is comprised of an
equal number of chamber and association executives and designated
volunteers. This provides all partners equal voting rights regardless of
the chamber or association’s membership size. The chamber and
association representatives are responsible for disseminating the
information to their respective boards and members.
The operations of the Regional Legislative Alliance are managed by the
Board with the aid of the executive director.
Issues:
The Regional Legislative Alliance is a public policy advocacy group and
takes action on appropriate statewide and federal legislation that
impacts the business and economic climates of Ventura and Santa Barbara
counties. The current critical issues include, but are not limited to:
· Employment
· Housing
· State Governance
· Infrastructure – including Communications, Transportation,
Water and Energy
· Taxes and Fees on Business
· Workers Compensation
In addition to the work in the State legislative arena, the Regional
Legislative Alliance is in the process of organizing a Transportation
Symposium in the fall. This will be the second forum organized by the
group. The focus will be bringing the business community together with
government leaders to find and implement solutions for improving our
transportations systems between the two counties.
Origin:
A couple of chambers in Ventura County discussed the regional concept as
early as 1998. The idea lay dormant until the fall of 2001 when a group
of chamber executives from both counties came together to seriously
discuss the pros and cons of such an alliance. And, from there the
Regional Legislative Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
began. After just three years of operation, the leaders of the eight
chambers and two business associations of the Regional Legislative
Alliance are very pleased with the recognition the organization has
received.
Since its creation, the Regional Legislative Alliance has taken stands
on more than 30 major issues, mostly related to state legislation and
the propositions on the 2004 ballot. The group works closely with the
California Chamber of Commerce and travels to Sacramento as part of the
California Chamber’s Business Legislative Summit to meet with elected
and appointed officials whose responsibilities impact Ventura and Santa
Barbara counties.
Benefits to Member Chambers and Associations:
The benefits of the Regional Legislative Alliance are:
(a) a forum for a
broader discussion of issues and an organized way to cooperate and
collaborate;
(b) more clout that can be achieved by a larger
constituency;
(c) current and accurate information and analysis of key
issues;
(d) assistance for chamber CEO’s, their staffs and their
government affairs committees; and
(e) a tool for member recruitment and
retention.
More Information:
Chairman's Circle Members
