ABOUT THE FIRM

Sacramento Advocacy has been managing associations and representing client interests before the California Legislature and state agencies for over thirty years. We provide information, access and representation of our clients' interests and effectively develop and manage strategies to gain the passage or defeat of legislation to their benefit. Our experience and expertise allows us to bring a closer understanding of the workings of Government to our clients.

Our belief at Sacramento Advocacy is that organizations sponsoring the introduction of legislation should not only be aware of the various actions that take place as a bill works its way through the process, but that its members should become active participants in that process. The services and training we provide assure such vital participation and a much higher rate of success than could otherwise be expected.

Of course Sacramento Advocacy utilizes the very latest technology for instant access to the introduction of bills, committee assignments, daily hearing schedules, status reports, amendments, committee analyses, conference committee reports, floor actions, Governor's actions and other vital activities. This enables the dissemination of information to our clients in the most timely and comprehensive manner possible.

During the past thirty years, we have prepared and introduced many significant pieces of legislation which have been signed into law. These laws include: mandatory helmet use for children riding bicycles, the establishment of the California Runaway Hotline, a Charitable Solicitations Standards Act; the Youth Center/Youth Shelter Bond Act appropriating $25 million for new youth facilities, the requirement that portable school buildings be accessible, funding for state park expansion and preservation of wildlife, recognition and protection of certification for industrial hygienists, employment legislation, revisions to the Civic Center Act; the Private Postsecondary Act, development of appropriate standards for school-age childcare programs, several measures relating to children's safety, and numerous other measures. In addition, we have worked closely with other advocacy organizations to promote positive outcomes for our clients and to develop coalitions to increase legislative presence around issues of mutual benefit.

ABOUT THE PEOPLE

CATHERINE BARANKIN

Catherine has been a registered lobbyist and association manager for over thirty years, having established Sacramento Advocacy in 1977. She has served in a variety of appointed positions, was a delegate to two White House Conferences and was appointed by the Governor to Chair California's celebration of International Youth Year. She is also a guest columnist for the Sacramento Bee.

Recently Catherine was presented with an award for Distinguished Service for outstanding legislative advocacy on behalf of children and youth by the California Department of the Youth Authority. She was also appointed to serve on a legislative Task Force to make recommendations to the Legislature concerning the impact of the state budget on children, and to the Governor Schwarzenegger's Advisory Committee on Gang Prevention.

In addition to providing management services and representing client's interests before the Legislature and state agencies, Catherine also conducts advocacy trainings, and along with her husband, Dr. Joseph Barankin, is the author of "The Advocacy Handbook".

Ms. Barankin's background prior to lobbying included serving as the Director of Public Relations for Southern California College, Assistant Editor of Forum 50 magazine and television news reporting for Channel 50 in Southern California. While attending college, Catherine majored in speech and communications and was awarded the Bell Scroggins Award as the "Most Outstanding Woman Debater in the Nation". Recently she was selected as the commencement speaker and as a recipient of the Alumni Hall of Fame award from her college for her outstanding legislative accomplishments.

Ms. Barankin's volunteer activities include membership on the Sacramento YMCA Board of Directors and on the YMCA Youth and Government Board.

JUDITH BARRETT MILLER

Judith Barrett Miller has been a partner in the firm Sacramento Advocacy for the past twenty-five years and is a registered lobbyist. Her public policy work has primarily centered around issues relating to the non-profit organizations our firm represents.

Judith has written and co-written several significant pieces of legislation relating to children and youth including: the Youth Center & Youth Shelter Bond Act approved by voters in 1988, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in 1999, which provided $25 million for the construction of youth centers and for which she received a Distinguished Service Award from the California Youth Authority. She shepherded the first child booster seat law signed into law, co-wrote and helped shepherd into law the bicycle helmet bill, and the first Swimming Pool Safety Act. . She wrote a measure to assist school districts hiring behavioral intervention case managers to serve special education students. This past year Judith shepherded two measures through the legislature regarding child passenger safety and toddler swimming pool safety, the latter of which was signed into law this past September.

Judith earned her B.A. in English from the University of California at Davis. Her volunteer work includes serving as a founding member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento, the CA YMCA Model Legislature, the California Youth Runaway Hotline, Las Madrinas and PTA.

JOSEPH P. BARANKIN, PH.D.

As a partner of the firm, Joseph P. Barankin provided consultation as writer, editor, trainer, facilitator and strategic planner during his 33 year career in the legislative and administrative branches of the California state government. Since his retirement in 2005, he works with the firm full time, providing education and management consulting in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Barankin holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, a Master's degree in English and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Behavior.