Task Force on State & Local Taxation of Telecommunications & Electronic Commerce                        

The Co-Chairs have called an emergency Task Force meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. The proposed amendments would alter the sourcing provisions of the Agreement; allow for an additional state sales tax rate that is different from the existing state rate; and, allow for Puerto Rico to become a member of the Agreement.  The Task Force will hear public comments, discuss the amendments and consider recommendations.

Presiding:

Co-Chairs

• Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Texas,
• Speaker Christopher Rants, Iowa Co-Chairs

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Roundtable Luncheon

Speakers and Committee members will discuss RFID developments and policy issues.   A business meeting of the ID Systems Project will follow.  (Sponsored by the Foundation for State Legislatures ID Systems Partners Project)

Over lunch, speakers will discuss radio frequency identification (RFID) developments and policy issues.   A business meeting of the ID Systems Project will follow.

Moderator:                              

• Delegate Joe T. May, Virginia, Vice Chair,  ID Systems Partners Project

Speakers:                                 

• Jack Grasso, Senior Director of Public Relations (invited)Uniform Code Council, Inc, New Jersey
• Alden Schacher, Director, Global Government Affairs, Western Region, U.S. State Government, EDS, Texas
• Lisa Wallmeyer, Executive Director, Joint Commission on Technology and Science, Virginia     

Handouts:

• EPC/RFID:  Proposed Industry Adoption Framework  Manufacturer Survey and Pilot Learnings to Date, April 2006, Prepared by IBM for the Grocery Manufacturers Association
• RFID: Promise or Peril? - State Legislatures Magazine, December 2005
• The Basics of RFID and EPC (video) - EPCglobal

E-Waste Programs: Who Is Responsible

As more and more local and state governments develop e-waste recycling programs, there is growing concern about a potentially disparate patchwork of state programs and requirements for interstate sellers and manufacturers.  Congress is being asked to establish one national program.  During the Fall Forum, the NCSL Environment & Natural Resources Committee approved a policy statement regarding e-waste programs.  The Communications Committee will consider the policy during its business meeting.

Handouts:

• Product Stewardship Solution for CRT Devices - Presented by HP

General Session – The 2006 National Agenda 

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland will outline the Democratic perspective on the 2006 congressional agenda. Representative Hoyer, who was president of the Maryland Senate before coming to Congress, is speaking in place of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Representative Hoyer will be joined by The Honorable George Reid, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament is NCSL's newest international affiliate. Presiding Officer Reid brings greetings from Scotland and will comment on the National Tartan Day celebrations in the United States.

6:15 pm –   7:30 pm

Opening Reception – Hyatt Regency Hotel

E-Democracy: Using IT to Connect and Communicate (Joint w/ Legislative Effectiveness Committee)

How are legislatures using new technologies to encourage citizen involvement and participation in the democratic process?  This session will highlight innovative new ways for legislators to inform constituents and communicate with the public about pressing policy issues.

Co-moderators: 

• Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula, New Jersey, Vice Chair, CTIC Committee
• Jim Greenwalt, Director, Senate Information Systems,
  Minnesota

Speakers:

• Representative Aaron Pena, Texas
• Ric Cantrell, Assistant to Senate Majority Leadership, Utah
• Daniel Bevarly, Senior Director, Business Development and Market Relations, Neighborhood America, Naples, Florida
• Evelyn Messinger, Executive Director, Internews Interactive, California

Handouts:

• "Politicians leapfrogging media with blogs" - Salt Lake Tribune article
• I Blog, You Blog, We All Blog - State Legislatures Magazine, March 2005
• RedBlue - Evelyn Messinger's presentation
• 13 Years of eDemocracy: What Have We Learned? - Daniel Bevarly's presentation
• New Media Flood
• July 2005 Blog Proposal to the Utah Senate
• Senate Blog Topics
• The Utah Blog Community

Preemption of State Economic Incentive Programs

Last year a federal district court preempted the State of Ohio’s use of tax incentives for economic development purposes (Cuno v. Daimler-Chrysler).  The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, and a decision could be announced sometime this year.  Senator Voinovich of Ohio also has introduced legislation reaffirming the rights of state legislatures to set tax policy for development purposes.  The Committee will consider an action calendar resolution in support of Senator Voinovich’s legislation.

Moderator:  

• Senator Orville B. Smidt, South Dakota, CTIC Committee Chair

Speakers:

• Michael Mazerov, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, Washington, D.C.
• Kevin Thompson, Legislative Counsel, COST, Washington, D.C.

Update: Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement/Luncheon (Joint w/ Budget & Revenue Committee)

On October 1, 2005, the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement became effective in thirteen states.  The Governing Board of the Agreement is set to finalize the compensation level to the certified service providers (CSPs), the last step in making the certified automated system available to sellers.  Since October 1, 2005 over 300 sellers have volunteered to begin collecting sales for these thirteen states.  This session will provide an overview of the progress and the problems as well as update the committees on the federal legislation.  The Committee will consider an action calendar resolution in support of S. 2152 by Senator Enzi of Wyoming.

Moderator:  

• Senator B. Orville Smidt, South Dakota, CTIC Committee Chair

Local Franchise Authority: State Level Administration

During the Fall Forum in Chicago last December, the Committee held a public hearing on the issue of video franchising authority and what actions NCSL and state legislatures should consider. Copies of the testimony can be found on the Committee’s web page at: http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctech/fall05.htm. During this session the Committee will hear final arguments from the key stakeholders before considering a policy statement during the Committee’s business meeting.

Co-Moderators:

• Senator Orville B.Smidt, South Dakota, CTIC Committee Chair
• Dave Larson, Director Legislative Computer Service, Kansas, CTIC Staff Chair

Universal Service Fund Reform

As Congress considers the re-write of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, one of the more controversial issues is the future of Universal Service.  During our last meeting the Committee held a public hearing on the Universal Service Fund, and this session will provide final presentations by the stakeholders.  The Committee will consider a policy statement during the business meeting.

Co- Moderators:

• Senator Orville B. Smidt, South Dakota, CTIC Committee Chair
• Dave Larson, Director Legislative Computer Service, Kansas, CTIC Staff Chair

Presiding:                                           

• Senator Orville B. Smidt, South Dakota, Committee Chair
• Dave Larson, Director, Legislative Computer Services, Kansas, Committee Staff Chair

Policy Statements

The Committee adopted five new policies:

• Video franchising
• Universal service
• Economic growth tax policy
• Streamlined sales tax
• Municipal WiFi 

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Reception – National Museum of the American Indian

• The States and Global Climate Change
• Avian Flu and Public Health Preparedness

General Session Lunch – American’s Fiscal Future 

Decisions made day by day in Washington determine the country's long-term fiscal future, and have a direct effect on the integrity of state budgets. David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States and director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, will discuss the growing imbalance between expected federal tax revenues and spending.