The NCSL Capitol Forum was held Dec. 6-9 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
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Search: [All Tracks] Continuing Legal Education General Session Legislative Staff training Women's Legislative Network [All Days] Monday, December 5 Tuesday, December 6 Wednesday, December 7 Thursday, December 8 Friday, December 9 Session Resources [clear all filters] [expand all] [collapse all] [print current screen filter]
8:00 am – 9:15 am: Welcome and IntroductionsLincoln 5Presiding:· Assemblymember Jacqui V. Irwin, CaliforniaBreakfast with Senior Cyber Congressional Staff Briefing/Roundtable 9:30 am – 10:45 am: Fighting Cybercrime Lincoln 5State lawmakers increasingly are being asked to play a greater role in combatting cybercrime. At the same time, state computer crime and breach laws are often criticized as not effective. In the face of growing threats from ransomware and other types of cyberattacks, how can state lawmakers direct limited resources and enact effective legislation to fight cybercrime? Hear about the challenges that cybercrimes like ransomware present and learn about the most effective ways to combat them. Speakers: · Jeff Coburn, Major Cyber Crimes Unit Chief, Director’s Office, InfraGard, Federal Bureau of Investigation · Jim Halpert, Partner, DLA Piper, Washington D.C. · Lisa Wallmeyer, Senior Attorney at the Virginia Division of Legislative Services and Executive Director, Joint Commission on Technology & Science, Virginia General Assembly10:45 am – 11:15 am: NASCIO State Governments at Risk – Turning Strategy and Awareness into ProgressLincoln 5The National Association of State Chief Information Officers represents executive-level state officials responsible for statewide information technology. Hear from NASCIO about the challenges, best practices and innovative solutions agency officials face and how state legislators can partner with the executive office to solve top cybersecurity challenges. Speaker: · Yejin Cooke, Director of Government Affairs, NASCIO· Doug Robinson, Executive Director, NASCIO 11:15 am: Travel to the Hill (Task Force on Cybersecurity members only)Working Lunch-Brown Bag 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: House Cyber Caucus Briefing with Members of Congress (Task Force on Cybersecurity members only)1:00 pm: Travel Back to Marriott Wardman Park Hotel 2660 Woodley Rd NW 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Joint Meeting with Energy Supply Task Force-Protecting the Grid – Reducing Cyber Threats Wilson ABCAlthough grid technologies can increase reliability and efficiency, the increasing connectedness of energy control systems poses the real risks of damaging cyber-attacks. Identifying these threats and increasing the resiliency of the electric system is essential to ensuring the security and reliability of the nation’s grid. Examine the risks and vulnerabilities of cyber threats, activities to address them, and steps state decision makers can take to help protect the electric grid. Moderator: · Scott Aaronson, Edison Electric InstituteSpeakers: · Janet Sena, Senior Vice President and Director of Policy and External Affairs, North American Electric Reliability Corporation· Adam L. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Democratic Staff Director, Energy Subcommittee, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology3:00 pm – 4:15 pm: Elections Security-Joint Meeting with Elections Pre-conferenceCybersecurity for ElectionsLincoln 6U.S. elections are not conducted over the internet. Even so, cybersecurity is a concern. Questions about responsibility for security and how it dovetails with legal requirements foor independent voting for people with disabilities and for ballot secrecy are two questions. Others include the safety of our voter registration systems, using technology to help military and overseas voters, purchasing and securing next generation of elections technology. The answers aren't easy, but this session helps you examine this complex policy puzzle.Moderator: · Senator Karl Rhoads, Hawaii Speakers: · The Honorable Alex Padilla, Secretary of State, California and Co-Chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State Elections Committee · The Honorable Matthew Masterson, Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission · Merle King, Executive Director, Center for Election Systems, Kennesaw State University 4:15 pm- 5:00 pm: Business MeetingLincoln 5Presiding:· Senator Tom Alexander, South Carolina· Assemblymember Jacqui V. Irwin, California
Learn about election administration challenges and triumphs that surfaced during the 2016 election season, from the primaries through the general election, and possible new legislation in 2017 and beyond. Hear from experts on the front lines of election administration and share your experiences. While it’s hard to predict what November 8 might bring, cybersecurity, contingency planning, open and closed primaries and election technology are on the minds of policymakers. 11:00 am – 11:15 am: Welcome Remarks from NCSL 11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Elections are a Shared Responsibility: Locals, Feds, and Especially States All levels of government play a role in election administration. Local jurisdictions conduct the election, overseeing vote casting and vote counting. Federal law sets the parameters for running our democracy, and in recent times, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has advised state and local officials on administrative best practices and voting technology voluntary standards. But it is state legislators who are the policymakers when it comes to elections. Learn what the feds do, what locals do, what the key role of the states is—and how these groups can benefit from working together. Moderator: · Adam Ambrogi, Program Director--Elections, Democracy Fund Panelists: · Thomas Hicks, Chairman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission· Edgardo Cortés, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Elections · Alysoun McLaughlin, Montgomery County Elections Director, Maryland12:15 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Three Top Topics: Contingency Planning, Early Voting and Election Dispute Resolution Every election brings with it a set of administration challenges. Voting technology outages on Election Day tested contingency planning–or lack thereof –in some states; voter confusion drew focus towards early voting deadlines and procedures; and filing for recounts of the presidential vote totals in key states brought national attention to election dispute resolution. Get a 15-minute run-down on each of these three top topics. Moderator: · Senator Todd Weiler, UtahPanelists: · Professor Paul Gronke, Director, Early Voting Information Center, Oregon· Susan Greenhalgh, Verified Voting Foundation, New York· Edward "Ned" Foley, Professor, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law2:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Break 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm: Cybersecurity for Elections Joint session with NCSL's Task Force on Cybersecurity U.S. elections are not conducted over the internet. Even so, cybersecurity is a concern. Who’s responsible for security, and how does that responsibility dovetail with legal requirements for independent voting for people with disabilities and ballot secrecy? Is the data in our voter registration systems safe? How do we use technology to help military and overseas voters get their ballots back in time to be counted? When is it time to buy the next generation of elections technology, how will it be secured? Don’t expect easy answers—do expect to get a few more pieces to this complex policy puzzle. Moderator: · Senator Karl Rhoads, HawaiiPanelists: · The Honorable Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State· Matt Masterson, U.S. Election Assistance Commission· Merle King, Executive Director, Center for Election Systems4:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Legislative Options: What’s on the Table in Your State? Laws are usually written to solve a problem—and with elections the link can be quite clear. Hear from participants about what problems arose in the 2016 elections and what solutions are already being floated that might solve them. Even without problems, states are gearing up to look at evergreen issues, such as poll workers and polling place management, voting technology, the cost of elections or voter registration. Moderator: · Amanda Buchanan, NCSLPanelists: · Sam Derheimer, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Please join us on Tuesday, December 6 in Washington, D.C., for NCSL’s Energy Policy Forum before the annual Capitol Forum. The meeting brings together top national experts to discuss important policy topics including: · Possible solutions under consideration for the storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste. · Electricity deregulation and options for states. · Rapid advancements in energy storage and what it means for the energy sector. · State solutions to address the growing risk of cyber threats to the nation’s energy infrastructure. We hope you will be able to join us for this year’s Energy Policy Forum. Please contact Kristy Hartman (kristine.hartman@ncsl.org) with any questions.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Searching for Solutions – Update on U.S. Nuclear Waste Policy The federal government and the private sector are working to develop long-term, sustainable management solutions for our nation’s spent nuclear fuel. The Department of Energy is seeking public input to develop a consent-based approach for siting nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities. Other proposals and two private partnerships are attempting to develop interim storage facilities in New Mexico and Texas. Examine recent federal action, how industry is answering the call for solutions, and what this means for the future of U.S. nuclear waste storage and disposal. · Rodney McCullum, Senior Director of Used Fuel & Decommissioning, Nuclear Energy Institute· Sam Britton, Senior Policy Analyst, Bipartisan Policy Institute
2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m.: Protecting the Grid – Reducing Cyber Threats Although grid technologies can increase reliability and efficiency, the increasing connectedness of energy control systems poses the real risks of cyber-attacks. Identifying these threats and increasing the resiliency of the electric system is essential to ensuring the security and reliability of the nation’s grid. Examine the risks and vulnerabilities of cyber threats, activities to address them, and steps to help protect the electric grid. · Moderator: Scott Aaronson, Managing Director of Cyber & Critical Infrastructure Security, Edison Electric Institute· Janet Sena, Senior Vice President and Director of Policy and External Affairs, North American Electric Reliability Corporation· Adam Rosenberg, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Energy, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives3:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Break3:15 pm – 4:30 pm: Electricity Market Restructuring – Where Are We Now? Implemented by many states in the 1990s to control electricity prices, restructuring faced a host of implementation challenges. While there were successes, initial problems halted—and even reversed—many state efforts to create competition in their wholesale electricity markets. With more than half of states with more than a decade of experience with restructuring, some are now revisiting the issue. What lessons can be learned from the state restructuring experience and what options might policymakers wish to consider? Explore these questions along with recent state trends and developments. · William Hogan, Raymond Plank Professor of Global Energy Policy, Harvard Kennedy School· Johannes Pfeifenberger, Principal, The Brattle Group· Joel Mickey, Director of Wholesale Market Design & Operations, Energy Reliability Council of Texas4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Energy Storage Rapid advances in energy storage technology, along with falling costs, are quickly making it a player in the electricity market. With its potential to increase grid stability, reliability and efficiency, while easing the integration of wind and solar energy, some consider it to be the ‘holy grail’ of energy technologies. Although current prices still make it uneconomical for many uses, states and utilities are piloting a broad array of projects to assess its value and determine where it can be deployed as prices drop. Investigate the value proposition of energy storage, trends in technology and state policies on the issue. · Imre Gyuk, Energy Storage Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy· Jason Burwen, Policy Director, Energy Storage Association
Participate in a discussion on committee policies and the implementation of the 2016 Child Care and Development Fund Final Rule.10:00 am – 11:00 am: Implementation of the 2016 Child Care and Development Fund Final Rule Speakers: · Dr. Ellen Wheatley, Deputy Director, Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families· Andrew Williams, Director of the Policy Division, Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families
11:00 am – 11:45 am: Health and Human Services Committee Policy Discussion Speaker: · Rachel Morgan, NCSLIMPORTANT NOTICE: Policy directives and resolutions will only be accessible in electronic format on the NCSL app and on the agenda and resources page on the NCSL Capitol Forum Website. All meeting rooms will have wireless internet access. Here is the list of Health and Human Services Committee members.
Consider and vote on committee business. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Policy directives and resolutions will only be accessible in electronic format on the NCSL app and on the agenda and resources page on the NCSL Capitol Forum Website. All meeting rooms will have wireless internet access. Here is the list of Budgets and Revenue Committee members.
The NCSL Capitol Forum was held Dec. 6-9 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.