Tuesday, July 22

1:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Convention Center 217--Second Level

Signing Statements:  How Do They Affect Separation of Powers?  (CLE)

Legal Services Staff Section

The use of presidential signing statements has increased dramatically since the Reagan administration.  This session will examine the way that signing statements are being used by the President and how using them affects the separation of powers doctrine.

Speakers:  Mark Agrast, Senior Fellow, American Progress, District of Columbia

Robert Alt, Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Hilton Riverside Grand Salon Sections 7+10+13--Street Level

Judicial Selection and Oversight  (CLE)

Because many aspects of our daily lives are affected by court decisions, members of the judiciary are relied upon to render thoughtful, fair decisions. This session will examine state processes for judicial selection, as well as means for retention and evaluation of judicial performance.

Presiding: Representative R. Phillip Haire, North Carolina

Speaker: Judge Wade Barber, State Court, North Carolina

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Hilton Riverside Belle Chasse--Third Level

Election Fraud and the Debate over Voter ID  (CLE)

More than half of legislatures considered voter ID laws in 2008 sessions, and a new Supreme Court decision upholding Indiana's photo ID to vote requirement guarantees that more states will consider the laws in 2009. What did the Supreme Court opinion say and how serious is the problem of voter impersonation at the polls on election day?

Legal Services Staff Section Dutch Treat Dinner

Join friends and colleagues from around the country for the Legal Services Dutch Treat Dinner.  Space is limited, so email Kae Warnock at kae.warnock@ncsl.org before July 11 to register or for more information.

Wednesday, July 23

8:00 - 10:00 am

Convention Center 206--Second Level

Offender Addicts:  Treatment Approaches, Effectiveness  (CLE)

Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Offenders who have committed crimes related to drug and alcohol addiction burden criminal justice systems; while states look for effective means to divert, manage and treat those offenders. This session will explore new technologies, like "24/7" monitoring programs for alcohol offenders; as well as how diversion policies are keeping people off drugs and out of jails.

Presiding: Representative Joni M. Cutler, South Dakota

Speakers: Attorney General Larry Long, South Dakota

Robyn Robertson, Traffic Injury Research Foundation, Canada

10:15 am - 11:45 am

Convention Center La Louisiane Ballroom--First Level

General Session: Energy, Economic and Environmental Sustainability

Rising energy prices, rolling brown-outs and U.S. dependency on foreign fuel have brought our vulnerable energy supply to the forefront of state policymakers' agendas. How can the U.S. maintain the delicate balance between energy, economic and environmental sustainability? Hear Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, and Marvin Odom, president of Shell Oil, discuss possible solutions.

Moderator: Dr. William Jenkins, Louisiana State University

Speakers: Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund, New York

Marvin Odom, President, Shell Oil, Texas

1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

Convention Center 206--Second Level

U.S. Supreme Court set to examine issue of Race and        Redistricting…Again   (CLE)

Redistricting and Elections Committee

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Convention Center R08-R09--Second Level

Supreme Court Round Up  (CLE)

Law & Criminal Justice Committee

Review the opinions recently handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court, including decisions in several cases with federalism implications.

Presiding: Representative Joni M. Cutler, South Dakota

Speakers:  Richard Ruda, Chief Counsel, State & Local Legal Center, Washington, D.C.

Jonathan Nash, Emory University School of Law, Illinois

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Convention Center 222--Second Level

LSCC Megasession:  Juggling Power, Principle and Professionalism:  Ethics and Legislative Staff

Join a distinguished ethicist for skills and practical tools needed to uphold your personal and professional integrity, while juggling your numerous roles within the legislature.

Jointly sponsored by the 10 NCSL staff sections and the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee

Moderator:  Nancy Cyr, Legislative Research Division, Nebraska
Speaker:  Dr. Carol Lewis, University of Connecticut

2:30 pm - 3:45 pm

Convention Center 206--Second Level

Overview of Redistricting Process, Law & Technology  (CLE)

Redistricting and Elections Committee

The decennial round of line drawing is around the proverbial corner. Whether you need to brush up on the daunting legal fundamentals or to embark on the arduous journey of learning the process, this session will touch all the bases.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Convention Center 222--Second Level

Co-sponsored with the Leadership Staff Section

Just as the baby boomers have redefined every other age range they have moved through, they are reinventing what succession planning and retirement means.  In response, the Oregon Legislature developed a program to retain boomers in a manner that allows for an adequate timeline to recruit and train new employees without threatening retirement-eligible staff with premature retirement.  Attend this session to learn about their Retirement Management Plan and to discuss how baby boomer retirement will impact legislative staff offices across the country.

Faculty:  Lore Christopher, Human Resources Director, Oregon State Legislature

Thursday, July 24

8:00 am - 9:45 am

Convention Center 218-219--Second Level

8:30 am - 9:45 am

Convention Center 222--Second Level

Government E-Mail: Laws and Policies   (CLE)

Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee

Is all government e-mail a public record? Do citizens have any privacy rights regarding electronic communications with government officials? What policies are needed for retention of e-mail records? Hear experts discuss current laws, policies and court cases.

Speakers: Jeremiah Hawkes, House of Representatives, Florida

Robert Joyce, School of Government, North Carolina

Lisa Wallmeyer, Junior Commission on Technology and Science, Virginia

Peter Wattson, Minnesota

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Convention Center 203-205--Second Level

LSCC Megasession:  Millennial Makeover

Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee

Baby Boomers, move over:  the generation of Millennials (born between 1982 and 2003) have already begun to make over politics and will make over America, according to authors Mike Hais and Morley Winograd.  They see a seismic change occurring with the coming of age of the Millenials, one that can reshape American life and politics.  Mike Hais will talk about their book, Millennial Makeover, and the kind of change this generation will bring.

Moderator:  Nancy Cyr, Legislative Research Division, Nebraska
Speaker:  Michael Hais, California

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Convention Center R08-R09--Second Level

Fighting Crime With DNA  (CLE)

DNA continues to transform criminal justice systems, but tapping its full potential remains a challenge. This session will discuss how states are building the capacity to fulfill the promise and demand of DNA in criminal justice systems.

Speakers: Thomas MacLellan, National Governor's Association, Washington, D.C.

Peter Marone, Virginia Department of Forensic Science, Virginia

John Roman, Justice Policy Center, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.

Mike Sheppo, National Institue of Justice, Washington, D.C.

The NCSL Criminal Justice Program is sponsoring this session in cooperation with NCSL project with the National Institute of Justice, Office of Forensic Sciences.

 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Convention Center 223--Second Level

Using Political Power in the Public Interest

Center for Ethics in Government, Legal Services Staff Section

The often ambiguous world of public service is filled with ethical judgments. With a nationally known ethicist, explore the challenges of political power, public scrutiny, and ethical leadership, and how to balance often competing ethical claims and legislative responsibilities

Facilitator: Dr. Carol Lewis, University of Connecticut

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Convention Center La Louisiane Ballroom--First Level

General Session: A Conversation About Solving America's Challenges

A Conversation on Solving America's Challenges Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House, and Lee Hamilton, director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and former congressman, will discuss what is needed to move America beyond gridlock to solving our biggest issues, including health care, education and the environment, with innovation and originality.

4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

Convention Center 217--Second Level

E-Discovery and the Law  (CLE)

Legal Services Staff Section

This session will examine the federal rules and the NCCUSL adopted uniform rules for electronically stored information.  Panelists from state legislatures will discuss the volume of open records requests.  Who is the custodian of these records?  How long should we keep them?  How does this affect the attorney-client privilege between legislator and drafter?

Speakers:  Judge John L. Carroll, Dean and Ethel P. Malugen, Professor of law, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

Sharon Eubanks, Deputy Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

Richard Johnson, Legislative Services Agency, Iowa

Friday, July 25

9:45 am - 11:45 am

Convention Center La Louisiane Ballroom--First Level

General Session: The Changing Face of America

James Johnson, a noted demographer, will demonstrate how our changing racial and ethnic population will transform the nation and create a new demand for a diverse workforce in our social, economic and political institutions.

Speaker: Dr. James Johnson, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, North Carolina

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Convention Center 223--Second Level

Legal Services Business Meeting & Luncheon

LSS Members hold their annual election of officers and recognize the recipients of the 2008 Legislative Staff Achievement Awards.

Luncheon sponsored by LexisNexis.

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Hilton Riverside Grand Salon 24--Street Level

 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Hilton Riverside Grand Salon Sections 3+6+9--Street Level

Employment Law 101  (CLE)

State legislatures have been slow to respond to rapidly changing employment law, sometimes to their detriment. Protect your employees and your legislature by attending this discussion of trends, warnings, key requirements and awareness training with one of the nation's foremost authorities on employment law.

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm

Hilton Riverside Elmwood--Third Level

Housing Recovery in Post-K New Orleans: What Works? What Doesn't?

Legal Services Staff Section

Panelists will consider different housing recovery strategies (some lodged principally in the public sector, others essentially private initiatives) and evaluate their effectiveness or lack thereof three years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

Moderator: David Marcello, The Public Law Center

Panelist: Davida Finger, Loyola School of Law Hurricane Recovery Clinic (invited)

Panelist: Chris Ross, Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Program (invited)

Saturday, July 26

8:30 am - 10:30 am

Convention Center La Louisiane Ballroom--First Level

General Session Breakfast: Election 2008

Two of the nation's premier pollsters and political analysts from opposite sides of the aisle—Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake—will provide a perspective on what the 2008 election means for policy now and in the new year.

Speakers: Kellyanne Conway, President and CEO, The Polling Company, Inc., Washington, D.C.

Celinda Lake, President, Lake Research Partners, Washington, D.C.