International Programs $75,000

For over twenty years, NCSL has promoted communication, understanding and the exchange of ideas among state legislators and legislative staff and the members and staff of national and subnational parliaments and other counterpart organizations throughout the world. Requests for information from NCSL are most often about federalism, public policy issues such as economic development, fiscal relations, social services, and infrastructure development, and technical assistance projects involving staff training and the legislative institutions in developing countries. Many NCSL activities mirror our domestic work, and grant funding supports most of the international activities. Foundation assistance has supported relationships with organizations including the German Partnership of Parliaments, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Parliamentary Conference of the Americas, and UNALE. Foundation assistance also allows NCSL to host legislators from other countries that are visiting our states, and to sponsor reciprocal visits.

New Member Services $75,000

Following each general election, NCSL sends each new legislator the NCSL and You brochure, the 15 Tips for Becoming an Effective Legislator, and a series of CD-ROMs including How to Be an Effective Legislator, Understanding the Budget Process, and Working with the Media. The audiotape on How to Be an Effective Committee Chair is now also being sent to all new committee chairs. This award supports the ongoing program for new members.

Leaders' Institute and Services $70,000

This award supports the Leader's Center, offering state legislative leaders specialized services including timely information on public policy and ideas for innovative management. Meetings include the Leadership Institute, Washington briefings and the NCSL Annual Meeting. Publications include training materials and CD-ROMs for new and veteran legislative leaders, and roundtable discussions with legislative leaders featured in State Legislatures magazine.

Legislative Training Innovations $60,000

NCSL is continuing its series of legislator CDs and audiotapes by creating a new version called “How to be an Effective Legislator: Lessons for Women.”  Respected and experienced experts will provide advice on how new women legislators can be effective in the legislative arena. NCSL has previously produced audiotapes and CDs relating to providing constituent service, working with the media, mastering the rules, understanding the state budget, working with staff and lobbyists, building consensus and chairing committees.  This new CD/audiotape will be helpful for all new women legislators, but will be particularly helpful in term-limited states.  NCSL will provide free distribution to legislators in 2004.

NCSL Challenge Grants   $45,000

This award is to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the NCSL staff.  Staff would be challenged to develop innovative ideas that would allow NCSL to expand services and support to legislators and legislative staff in the 50 states and territories.  Strong consideration would be given to proposals that not only expand services but also generate revenue.  Proposals would be submitted to the NCSL Executive Director and approved at his discretion.

Web Development/Design $45,000

This award supports the recommendations of the LSSC Task Force on IT Review and the revised Strategic Plan to fund ongoing web development and design activities.  These activities would enhance the work conducted by the publication and marketing staff to promote NCSL to legislators and staff, create opportunities to move printed publications to the Web, enhance on-line business services and possibly generate additional revenue. 

Legislative Staff Management Institute (LSMI) $30,000

Since 1990, the Foundation has supported the operation of the annual Legislative Staff Management Institute at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Institute is the premier legislative staff training program in the nation. The Foundation's assistance enables NCSL to provide scholarships for senior legislative staff attending this executive management program. During fiscal year 2005 the LSMI will take place July 31-August 7, 2004

LegisBriefs $30,000

NCSL is in its twelfth year of producing LegisBriefs, short briefing papers on the hot issues facing state legislatures. NCSL staff write 48 LegisBriefs a year on issues ranging from managed care to welfare reform, school violence to tax cuts, recycling to auto insurance. The series analyzes successful approaches, provides multistate data, offers alternative courses of action, and gives resources for more information. Legislators use them to get good background information on topics being discussed in their legislatures.

No Child Left Behind Task Force $40,000

This bipartisan task force will examine the federal No Child Left Behind Act during the coming months and develop recommendations to turn its current challenges into opportunities. Goals of the task force include determining how NCLB is affecting public education, identifying the challenges for state legislatures in implementing the law, suggesting regulatory and legislative changes to help states meet the law’s laudable goals, and ensuring that federal funding is commensurate with the requirements of the law.

Institute for Legislative Health Staff Development $15,000

The NCSL Institute for Legislative Health Staff Development is a one-week long seminar that provides in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of state health policy development and is primarily geared to the needs of relatively junior (usually less than three years experience) legislative staff in the states.  In addition to providing a foundation for understanding basic state health policies and programs, the Institute experience also enhances the participants' analytical, research and communications skills.

Education Program $10,000

The No Child Left Behind Act requires all teachers to be “highly qualified” by the 2005-2006 school year. States are struggling to meet this deadline, and legislators in many states have been left out of the implementation process. With NCSL Foundation support and the National Education Association, the NCSL Education program proposes to research state policies addressing the requirement and state action and publish the research in a State Legislative Report (SLR).

Financial Services Partnership $10,000

Banking is a part of the fabric of the economic life for each and every state. Unique in regulation, the American banking system consists of separate state and federal chartering and regulation of banks, thrifts and credit unions. States and the federal government act independently to charter, supervise, and regulate financial institutions for their citizens’ benefit. This project provides an opportunity for state legislators, legislative staff and Foundation for State Legislators partners to address a variety of banking and financial services issues through meetings and through the development of both print and electronic products.

Training For New Leaders  $20,000

This award would allow NCSL to expand its current training activities for leaders with the addition of a training seminar specifically designed for new leaders.