November 20, 2007
The Most Pressing Policy Issues Across the Country will be Discussed in Phoenix
Real ID, Immigration, Education and the Streamlined Sales Tax are high on legislators' lists of priorities.
DENVER - State lawmakers from across the country will discuss some of the country's most pressing policy issues when they meet next week at the National Conference of State Legislatures' Fall Forum.
NCSL's 11 standing committees will meet Wednesday, November 28 - Friday, November 30. High on legislators' lists of priorities are the Real ID Act, state laws relating to immigration and the streamlined sales tax. State legislators will debate and consider several policy resolutions that will guide NCSL's lobbying activity before Congress and the administration.
Other Fall Forum sessions include:
Enhanced Driver's Licenses: Real ID has dominated discussions about driver's licenses for more than a year, but as states have awaited regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it's not the only driver's license issue on state legislators' minds. Some states are considering making their licenses 'mini-passports' to deal with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Others are examining ways of turning licenses into credentialing documents for first responders. This session will provide an update on Real ID and how states are changing the uses of driver's licenses.
No Child Left Behind Reauthorization: The latest details on NCLB Reauthorization and IDEA implementation will be discussed.
State Law and Immigration: Crossing the Constitutional Border?: In 2007, state legislatures introduced more than 1,400 bills related to immigrants, from driver's licenses to law enforcement, from trafficking to employment. NCSL will release its year-end report on state immigration-related legislation, highlighting the creative ways states have addressed immigration challenges in the continued absence of any federal solution. Recent legislation thrusts states into legal battles as courts consider challenges to some of these policies. This session will highlight legal issues being raised under state immigration laws and look at particular pending cases.
Payday Lending and the States: Payday loans, also known as deferred presentment loans, are short-term loans of relatively small amounts based on a personal check that is held for future deposit. A majority of states allow payday loans, but concerns are on the rise regarding interest rates, Internet payday loans and loans for military members.
Corn Rush - What are the Lifecycle Implications of Intensive Corn Production?: As the national push for alternative energy grows, the amount of fuel crops, primarily corn, being grown for ethanol production has skyrocketed. The intensive mono-cropping evolving across the nation can hurt soil and water quality and increase pressure on water supplies for drinking, industry, hydropower, fish habitat and recreation. How can we reduce possible problems?
The Critical Infrastructure Program: The Homeland Security Task Force will discuss how to protect critical infrastructure protection, look at the interdependencies among different sectors and examine how states can work with utilities to protect critical infrastructure.
The 21st Century Classroom, Keeping kids in School: This session will highlight ways to keep kids in school using new tools and teaching strategies. Attendees will learn from student and teacher demonstrations how teaching and learning is different today, and will also engage with the newest and coolest technologies to understand how kids learn.
Implementing the Adam Walsh Act: The federal Adam Walsh act requires state conformity to various aspects of sex offender registration, including information that must be collected, duration of the registration requirement for various categories of offenders, and verification of and access to information. States that do not comply by July 2009 will face a 10 percent reduction in federal law enforcement assistance grants. This session will discuss what state legislatures can do.
A complete agenda is available online: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/seminars/fallagenda/index.cfm
Registration:
NCSL's Fall Forum will be held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
As with all NCSL meetings, credentialed members of the media are encouraged to attend. There are three ways to register: online, by email or onsite at the Biltmore. You will need to present press credentials at the onsite registration area. There is no registration fee for members of the media. The press room will be open at the Biltmore from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday, and from 8:00 am until noon pm on Friday.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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