OPA members play a key role in communicating positions on issues of importance to the profession. Staff and lobbyists are paid to tell the story, but it makes a difference to legislators when they hear from people who are directly impacted by an issue. Legislators are particularly earnest listeners when the person giving testimony is a constituent. Testimony that highlights personal experiences and stories about clients bring home the message more forcefully than summaries of research and data. OPA members bring their passion about issues when they speak at legislative committee hearings. Some examples are:
From the 128th General Assembly
From the 127th General Assembly
December 3, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training) Testimony from Ronald Ross, Ph.D.
December 3, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from David Hayes, Ph.D.
December 3, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from Cathy McDaniels Wilson, Ph.D.
December 3, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from Jessica Grayson, M.S.
May 6, 2008 - SB 297 (PTSD Parity) Testimony from Kathy Platoni, Psy.D.
April 23, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from Ronald Ross, Ph.D.
April 9, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from David Hayes, Ph.D.
April 9, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from Cathy McDaniels Wilson, Ph.D.
April 9, 2008 - HB503 (Psychologist-Sequence of Training Bill) Testimony from Jessica Grayson, M.S.
April 8, 2008 - HB 384 (Comprehensive mental health parity bill) Testimony from Gregory Brigham, Ph.D.
May 23, 2007 - Healthcare Simplification Act Testimony from Suzanne LeSure, Ph.D.
From the 126th General Assembly
November 28, 2006 - SB 213 (Involuntary commitment law) from David Hayes, Ph.D
December 8, 2005 - SB 17 (Child Abuse Reporting) Testimony from Louise Douce, Ph.D.
May 17, 2005 - Budget/Medicaid Testimony from Gerald Strauss, Ph.D.
March 4, 2005 - Budget/Medicaid Testimony from Suzanne LeSure, Ph.D.
March 3, 2005 - Budget Testimony from Gayle Channing Tenenbaum on Children's Mental Health Initiative (ABC)
March 2, 2005 - Budget/Medicaid Testimony before the House Finance Committee from Mary Ann Teitelbaum, Ph.D.
From the 125th General Assembly
May 11, 2004- HB 225 Mental Health Insurance Testimony from Rep. Lynn Olman
April 20, 2004 - Medicaid Testimony from David Hayes, Ph.D.
January 21, 2004- HB 265 (Corporal Punishment) Testimony from Beth McCreary, Ph.D.
December 3, 2003- HB 272 (DOMA) Testimony from Vanessa Jensen, Psy.D.
December 3, 2003- HB 272 (DOMA) Testimony from Howard Fradkin, Ph.D.
October 24, 2003- Medicaid Testimony by Suzanne LeSure, Ph.D.
May 20, 2003- Medicaid Testimony by Alice Randolph, Ph.D.
May 29, 2003- Medicaid Testimony by David Hayes, Ph.D.
April 5, 2003- Medicaid Testimony by David Hayes, Ph.D.