NCSL Capitol Ideas

Capitol Ideas

October 15, 2003

CAPITOL IDEAS: Childhood Asthma, Sales Taxes and Health Budgets

Capitol Ideas is a bi-monthly publication intended provided state capitol journalists with the latest trends and information about the nation's state legislatures.

Childhood Asthma: Policies that restrict children from carrying medications at school have had tragic consequences. In recent years, several students with asthma have died as a result of attacks that may have been controlled if they were allowed to carry their inhalers with them at school. In most states, they are forbidden from doing so under a federal law aimed at illegal drugs. But schools are taking the lead on clarifying this law to allow students with certain medical needs to keep their medicine with them. Since 2000, 10 states have passed laws allowing students to carry their asthma prescriptions during the school day, so they can use them in case of an attack. Three states joined the ranks in 2003: Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma. Now, a total of 18 states have adopted policies regarding student rights to possess and self-administer prescribed medications for asthma. Click here for a map of states that allow students to administer their own asthma medication.

Criminal Justice: In spring 2003, state legislatures faced with the worst budget crises in a generation scrambled for ways to cut corrections spending without jeopardizing public safety and confidence. Many states partisan politics have taken a back seat to efforts to save money and produce better outcomes through increased attention to rehabilitation and prevention. A new report from NCSL and the Vera Institute of Justice, Dollars and Sentences: Legislators' Views on Prisons, Punishment, and the Budget Crisis, details state efforts.

Nine Misconceptions about Streamlined Sales Tax: Opponents of streamlining states' sales and use taxes often misunderstand the goal of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. As internet sales have skyrocketed over the past decade, states have experienced a steady erosion of sales and use tax revenue as a result of a Supreme Court decision that prevents states from requiring retailers not located in their state to collect these taxes. The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement substantially simplifies state and local sales tax systems by making the various state sales and use tax codes look similar to one another while maintaining state sovereignty to set their own rates and bases. NCSL clears up any confusions with a new publication entitled Nine Misconceptions About SSUTA

State Budget Actions Affecting Health Care: As most states begin the second quarter of their fiscal years, many lawmakers are uncertain about the fiscal conditions in store for the remainder of the year. Are revenues on target? Are Medicaid costs still skyrocketing? Are there more cuts to come? NCSL's Health Policy Tracking Service details recent budget activity affecting health care issues over the past two months. Journalist who would like a copy of the report can send an e-mail to press-room@ncsl.org.

###