Barbara Bentley
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Overview of How to Change a Law
BELIEVE IN THE FOUR P'S OF PASSION, PLANNING, PATIENCE, AND PERSISTENCEThese must be used during the process to change a law.
REFER TO BENTLEY'S BOOKS A Dance with the Devil: A True Story of Marriage to a Psychopath
spends several chapters taking you through how Barbara changed the divorce law in California. The Little Book of Success
illustrates how she changed the law in relation to the four P's.
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU START
You must be emotionally ready to invest the time and energy, and
sometimes finances, to make it through the system. Have your recovered enough to be able to focus on the task? Are you strong enough to begin to help others or are you still working through your issues? Can you afford to spend money to ravel mail letters, or whatever else may be required.
You must be emotionally ready to invest the time and energy, and
sometimes finances, to make it through the system. Have your recovered enough to be able to focus on the task? Are you strong enough to begin to help others or are you still working through your issues? Can you afford to spend money to ravel mail letters, or whatever else may be required.
WHAT LAW TO YOU WANT TO CHANGE? You must be specific. Will you modify existing law or create a new section? Determine as best you can how many and whom will be helped by the law. Gather supporters who will back your efforts.
AGENCIES THAT MAY
BE OF HELPCheck out the Legal Issues resource page for agencies that may be of help in your state. Contact agencies or their founders to see if there is something already being done where you can help. Check out the Family Court resource page for agencies that deal with legal issues. These may be of help directing you in your state. It will take time to research this aspect. Contact your state and national representatives to see if there is any pending legislation which you can support. Ask them for information on how to change the law in your state if there is no pending legislation that covers the change you want to make.
BE OF HELPCheck out the Legal Issues resource page for agencies that may be of help in your state. Contact agencies or their founders to see if there is something already being done where you can help. Check out the Family Court resource page for agencies that deal with legal issues. These may be of help directing you in your state. It will take time to research this aspect. Contact your state and national representatives to see if there is any pending legislation which you can support. Ask them for information on how to change the law in your state if there is no pending legislation that covers the change you want to make.
THE LAW WILL PROBABLY NOT BE RETROACTIVE to help you in your circumstance. Are you prepared to fight for
future victims?
WHO WILL CARRY
THE BILL?Each state is different so it’s not possible to be specific about the process. But overall you must have a senator or representative carry the bill for you. Write a compelling letter asking for their help, stating what law you want to change and why. Mail the letter to as many of your appropriate local, state and national representatives as needed. Do not give up. It took Barbara 18 months to find someone to carry her bill.
THE BILL?Each state is different so it’s not possible to be specific about the process. But overall you must have a senator or representative carry the bill for you. Write a compelling letter asking for their help, stating what law you want to change and why. Mail the letter to as many of your appropriate local, state and national representatives as needed. Do not give up. It took Barbara 18 months to find someone to carry her bill.
WHO WILL SPONSOR
THE BILL? It is normal for a group to sponsor a bill but it can be done by only one person, like Barbara Bentley did.
THE BILL? It is normal for a group to sponsor a bill but it can be done by only one person, like Barbara Bentley did.
LOBBYING
Learn about what it takes to lobby for a bill. In Barbara's experience, she left this to the last minute and it
created some interesting but stressful moments.
Learn about what it takes to lobby for a bill. In Barbara's experience, she left this to the last minute and it
created some interesting but stressful moments.
WHO WILL TESTIFY
FOR YOU? Find other victims or agencies who will be willing to help you fight for the bill and who will testify.
FOR YOU? Find other victims or agencies who will be willing to help you fight for the bill and who will testify.
CONTACT MEDIA
Get their interest in following you efforts. This includes radio, TV, newspapers, and on-line news sites.
Get their interest in following you efforts. This includes radio, TV, newspapers, and on-line news sites.
