ACR's Legislative and Public Policy Leadership

ACR's Legislative and Public Policy efforts are focused on promoting the field of conflict resolution to the general public; informing members about, and shaping, important public policy developments in the field; and creating the structures for ACR to support the growth of the field. The Legislative Public Policy (LPP) Committee is co-chaired by Cindy Cook (ccook [at] adamantaccord [dot] com) and Gregory Firestone (FirestoneG [at] aol [dot] com). The LPP coordinates ACR's legislative and public policy initiatives.

• Collaborative and Cooperative Law – ACR has formed a Collaborative and Cooperative Law Workgroup (CCLWG) to develop objective educational materials that compare various ADR processes and to develop opportunities for the ADR community to engage in dialogue regarding collaborative and cooperative law.  The CCLWG is a Subcommittee of the ACR Legislative and Public Policy Committee.  Workgroup members represent a broad spectrum of professional organizations and viewpoints. For more information contact CCLWG Co-Chairs: Cindy Cook ccook [at] adamantaccord [dot] com, or Nancy Gardner amcr1 [at] optonline [dot] net.

• Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA) —ACR endorsed the RUAA in June, 2006. The resolution adopted by the Board of Directors reads: “Resolved, that the Association for Conflict Resolution approves the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA), promulgated by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 2000. The RUAA is an appropriate Act for those states desiring to adopt the specific law suggested therein, without modification, but with acknowledgement of the concern that the RUAA does not expressly exclude application to labor arbitration under collective bargaining agreements.” The endorsement concludes a process that included legislative analysis, a proposal  submitted for member comment, a review by leaders of key ACR Sections and a final legislative review using principled criteria. For more information, contact Richard D. Fincher (rdf [at] workplaceresolutions [dot] com) or Richard DeWitt (rdewitt [@] resolvedisputes [dot] net).  To read the press release, click here. The RUAA was drafted and adopted in 2000 to update the Uniform Arbitration Act (UAA) of 1956, and now is being considered at the state level.

   

• Conflict Resolution Day —ACR has created an international day of recognition for conflict resolution, in order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and its many benefits. The event is held on the third Thursday in October each year. The first Conflict Resolution Day was celebrated in 2005, and involved events in several countries and 22 U.S. states.  For further information, please contact Sharon Press (presss [at] flcourts [dot] org.

  
  

• Uniform Mediation Act (UMA)— ACR, through its Official Observers, was involved in the drafting process of this uniform law, and ACR has conditionally approved the UMA with specific conditions related to confidentiality, impartiality and child protection mediation privilege. For further information, please contact Gregory Firestone (FirestoneG [at] aol [dot] com).
  
  

• Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)/Authorized Practice of Mediation (APM)— ACR's Task Force on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, made up of ADR professionals from a variety of backgrounds, has produced a draft report examining the UPL issue in relation to the practice of mediation.
  
  

• Links to Dispute Resolution Public Policy Information

• ACR's Legislative and Public Policy Leadership Archives