Public Policy Council Information

Investors expect their chamber to stand up for them on business issues that impact their bottom line. Additionally, the ability of the Chamber to support members by driving economic development and job growth through advocacy is the reason many join.
 
This council will address issues that impact the region’s competitiveness and quality of life. Our Public Policy Sector is responsible for creating and executing strategies and events designed to unify the voices of the Chamber’s business and economic development leaders and Chamber businesses on important policy issues. The council strives to create sustaining relationships between Chamber members, community and Political officials. The Public Policy will advocate and be the voice for businesses that are members with the Chamber.
 
It is also important to increase investor understanding of challenging business issues and our chamber’s stance on those issues by publishing our legislative agenda and Public Policy Newsletters.
 
Purpose:  Become the voice of business.
 
Purpose: Create legislative support for the successful implementations of each of our priorities.
 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
 
The chair of the Advisory Committee is the Sector Chair of the Public Policy Sector.  The Advisory Committee has four components. The first are individuals who have expertise about a particular subject matter important to public policy including but, is not limited to, transportation, workforce, military affairs, Fort Hood, education and local, state and national affairs.  The second are the chairs of Standing Subcommittees created by the Advisory Committee. The third are representatives of investors at the Platinum level and above. The fourth are those members of the Public Policy Council, or their representative employees, who apply for service on the Advisory Committee and who are approved by the board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Public Policy Sector Chair. The Advisory Committee will be limited to 15 members. The Advisory Committee will meet monthly on the first Wednesday of each month.
 
The Advisory Committee will:

• Adopt an annual budget;
• Plan and conduct meetings of the Public Policy Council to achieve P.P.C objectives;
• Plan Public Policy Events; and,
• Create a system to develop Public Policy positions.

• Create Public Policy Guiding Principles. It is often important to act smart and fast. After approval by the board of directors, these guidelines will give the Advisory Committee the authority to establish positions and act on legislative issues as outlined in the legislative agenda and that are consistent with the Guiding Principles.
• Develop a Policy Analysis Matrix. This tool will aid the Advisory Committee in establishing positions.

 
The Advisory Committee may organize subcommittees, consisting of members of the Advisory Committee and Public Policy Council to focus on the following objectives.

1. Events. Create events that will inform the business community of issues impacting business and economic vitality and build support for community needs among federal and state officials.
   • Organize and conduct quarterly luncheons.
   • Organize and conduct a legislative familiarization tour during each legislative session. - do we still do this?
   • Organize an Annual State of the City/Region Event (featuring the Mayor of the City of Killeen and the Bell County Judge or their designees).- is this still done?

2. Advocacy and Relationships. Develop a focus on issues consistent with the Chamber’s mission. Create a membership that is aware of how the political process impacts their business. Cause members to take appropriate action. Build relationships that permit the Chamber to effectively serve as the voice of business in Killeen.
   • Gather input from investors.
   • Develop and recommend public policy/legislative agendas for the chamber at the local, state and federal level.
   • Send Chamber members updated public policy news via newsletters.
   • Monitor, analyze and prioritize public policy issues which impact chamber members and the greater business community.
   • Actively advocate for, and cause directors and investors to become active in, the passage of key issues. Get out the business vote.
   • Work with the Texas Association of Business on common issues.
   • Operate a Local Interagency Group.
   • Maintain a strong relationship with the legislative delegation.

3. Communications and Planning.
   • Communicate positions and provide easy-to-use communications tools to directors and investors.
   • Provide public policy/legislative agendas to elected officials and investors.
   • Provide legislative updates at appropriate Chamber functions.
   • Develop content to include in chamber communications.
   • Evaluate the creation of a Political Action Committee.

 
Advisory Committee Members are members, by virtue of their position on the Advisory Committee, of the Public Policy Council.
 

PUBLIC POLICY COUNCIL
 
The Public Policy Council is the fund raising and implementation arm of the Public Policy Sector. Membership is open to all Leadership and Killeen 2.0 Investors. The Public Policy Council will meet quarterly on the first Wednesday of the month.
 
PPC member benefits are:

• Networking and the opportunity to develop relationships with business and elected officials;
• Automatically listed as a sponsor of all Public Policy events;
• Business name featured in all pre-event slide shows;
• Member recognition in chamber publications;
• Enhanced communications consisting of, but not limited to, Leadership Investor Email Newsletter, Email Alerts, and Email notifications of upcoming events;
• Eligible to apply for service on Advisory Committee;
• Eligible to participate in all events; and,
• Eligible to serve on Advisory Committee subcommittees.