What to Expect: Legislative Committees or BESE Meetings

LaCAN focuses on four legislative committees when advocating for Individual and Family Support Services:

House Appropriations

Normal Meeting Days: Monday and Tuesday
Meeting Location: State Capitol Building / House Committee Room 5

Senate Finance Committee

Normal Meeting Day: Monday
Meeting Location: State Capitol Building / Senate Committee Room A

House Health & Welfare Communities

Normal Meeting Days:  Wednesday and Thursday
Meeting Location:  State Capitol Building / House Committee Room 5

Senate Health & Welfare Committee

Normal Meeting Day: Wednesday
Meeting Location:  State Capitol Building / Hainkel Room

LaCan focuses on two legislative committees and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) when advocating for Education issues:

House Education Committee

Normal Meeting Days:  Wednesday and Thursday
Meeting Location:  State Capitol Building / House Committee Room 1

Senate Education Committee

Normal Meeting Day:  Thursday
Meeting Location:  State Capitol Building / Hainkel Room

BESE

Normal Meeting Day: Wednesday
Meeting Location: Claiborne Building / Louisiana Purchase Room

Sometimes committees meet on days not listed above. Your LaCAN Leader will let you know if other dates are scheduled. You can also check for current information here:

There are times when LaCAN members are asked to attend legislative committees or BESE meetings:

Yellow Shirt Days – On these days, important policies or issues affecting people with developmental disabilities are discussed. LaCAN members come together to make their presence known and remind policymakers about issues that concern people with disabilities. LaCAN members also have opportunities to speak briefly with legislators in the committee hallways.

Public Testimony Days – On these days, the public can speak before the entire committee or board to support or oppose proposed laws or policies. LaCAN Leaders pick members to testify. They also support them to prepare and deliver their testimony These days are very important for LaCAN advocacy efforts. All members are encouraged to attend.

On Yellow Shirt Days and Public Testimony Days, LaCAN members are:

  • Encouraged and supported to complete a comment card. This is a way to share your support for, or opposition to, issues being discussed. 
  • Supported to connect with their policymakers to briefly share their personal story if they choose to.

Other Information

Attending committee or board meetings can be very rewarding.

  • Be sure to wear your yellow LaCAN t-shirt! Committee and Board members will recognize you as a member of LaCAN and a supporter of what we advocate for. If you need a shirt, contact your LaCAN Leader who will bring it to the meeting. 
  • Get there early to get a seat.
  • When you arrive, your LaCAN Leader will provide information to help you fill out cards in support or opposition to what is being discussed. These are turned in to the committee or board. This is how the committee or board counts how many people are supporting or opposing different issues. So, it is important that all members fill out the cards with the same message. Click here to see a sample card and simple instructions for filling it out.
  • Meeting days are an opportunity to meet and share your story with your policymakers. We encourage you to send your policymaker a note in the committee or board room to let them know you are there and ask to speak to them briefly. Your LaCAN Leader can help you.
  • Expect to sit through many other issues before the committee or board gets to the issue you are there for. People often bring something to read or work on while waiting.
  • Legislative Committee meetings may go through the lunch hour without a break. There is a cafeteria and snack shop on the ground floor of the Capitol.
    BESE meetings are often long and may go late into the night. There is a cafeteria on the main floor of the Claiborne building and vending machines.
  • Do not bring food or drink in the committee or board room. Also, make sure to turn off or silence your cell phone and other electronic devices.
  • After speaking to a policymaker, they may ask you to follow-up with information. That is a good thing! They might ask you to send it to their staff. Their staff will make sure they get what you send.
  • It is important to always be polite. Being disrespectful can ruin your chances of making a positive impact on a policymaker then and in the future.

Transportation & Parking

The State Capitol is located at 900 North 3rd St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

The Claiborne Building is located near the Capitol at 1201 North 3rd St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

  • If you are interested in carpooling or need assistance with transportation, contact your LaCAN Leader immediately.
  • Leave enough time to find parking. Parking spaces, including wheelchair accessible spots, are limited around the Capitol.

For Members Asked to Provide Testimony

  • LaCAN Leaders and the DD Council staff will help you prepare your testimony if you are asked to testify. It is normal to be nervous, especially the first time. Try to remember that you are the expert about you and your family. Policymakers rely on you to learn how they can help.
  • It is important to stick to your story and not trail off on another topic. It may seem that some policymakers are not paying attention. Just continue with your story because it will be a part of the meeting record.
  • Policymakers may ask you questions while you testify. Sometimes you may not have an answer. When this happens, tell them you do not have an answer right then but you will   get back to them. It is best to be honest so they respect and trust you.