Patsy Spaw, Secretary of the Texas Senate, assumes national leadership role for NCSL legislative staff

CHICAGO – Patsy Spaw will become staff chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the 2012 Legislative Summit. Spaw served as NCSL staff vice chair in 2011-2012. NCSL is the premiere bipartisan organization that serves the nation’s 7,382 state lawmakers and more than 25,000 legislative staff.

“NCSL is the only legislative organization that fully supports legislative staff, provides professional development opportunities and recognizes the importance of furthering their institutional knowledge,” said Patsy Spaw. "State legislatures need dedicated and  professional legislative staff now more than ever and I am proud and honored to represent legislative staff as staff chair of NCSL.”

“Patsy has over 30 years of experience with the Texas Senate, and her role in NCSL’s American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries staff section, makes her a natural leader for legislative staff across the country,” said William Pound, NCSL’s executive director.
As secretary of the Texas Senate, Spaw functions as the chief executive administrator of the Senate and is responsible for the operational functions.including maintaining legislative records, calling roll, reading bills and supervising Senate floor staff.

A member of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries since 1977, Spaw served as its president in 2007-2008. She served on NCSL’s Executive Committee from 2008-2011, and was staff vice chair of the Budget, Finance and Rules Subcommittee. An active member of NCSL’s Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee, Spaw chaired the Professional Development Work Group in 2010-2011.

NCSL is the only national organization that provides training, professional growth opportunities and information sharing for legislative staff. There are 14 staff sections and networks that sponsor meetings, training and publications. Legislative staff are also eligible to be members of the NCSL standing committees, which address state policy issues and state-federal issues.

Spaw received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Saint Edwards University  in Austin, Texas, and her juris doctor from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin.  She is a native of Texas.
 

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.