Law and Criminal Justice Committee Agenda
(As of December 7, 2010)

NCSL's 2010 Fall Forum 

Wednesday, December 8

Thursday, December 9

NCSL Steering Committee of the Standing Committees and Committee Officer Orientation

NCSL Standing Committee Officers Orientation Luncheon

NCSL Standing Committee Staff Officers Luncheon

Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Offender Reentry and Collateral Consequences  (CLE)
(Joint with the Labor and Economic Development Committee)

State and federal reentry initiatives seek to interrupt the costly cycle of incarceration and crime. This two-part session will discuss how states can make the most of federal Second Chance Act grants and explore criminal records and employment issues. 

Presiding:  Assemblymember William C. Horne, Nevada; Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Speakers: 

• Lesley Buchan, Outreach Coordinator, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
• Representative Michael A. Costello, Massachusetts; Vice Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee
• Maurice Emsellem, Policy Co-Director, National Employment Law Project, California
• Senator Linda Gray, Arizona; Chair, Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee 
• Karen Hellman, Administrator Counseling and Treatment Services, Arizona Department of Corrections

SORNA and Federal Update  (CLE)

This session will include update on SORNA compliance, highlight current issues before Congress and discuss the proper federal role related to current state interests. Committee policies before the Committee in the year ahead also will be previewed.

Presiding:  Assemblymember William C. Horne, Nevada; Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Speakers:

• Representative Joni M. Cutler, South Dakota; Vice Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee 
• Susan Parnas Frederick, NCSL

Opening Plenary Session:  Chris Thornberg, Beacon Economics, California

Reception at the Hotel

Friday, December 10

Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Juvenile Justice Reform  (CLE)

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibits life without parole sentences for juveniles who have not committed a homicide crime. This session will discuss adolescent development and related juvenile justice reform interests and actions in the states.

Moderator: Senator Brian E. Frosh, Maryland; Vice Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Speakers:

• Angela Downes, Senior Attorney, National District Attorneys Association, Virginia
• Sarah Hammond, NCSL

 Respondent:

• Representative Jerry Madden, Texas; Immediate Past Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee

Not For Sale: End the Trafficking of Children  (CLE)
(Joint with the Human Services and Welfare Committee and NCSL Task Force on Immigration and the States)

A recent national study said some 100,000 U.S. children are exploited in sex trade each year and sometimes are treated as juvenile delinquents or adult prostitutes. This session will explore services and related state and federal actions to combat minor sex trafficking.

Moderators:  Assemblymember William C. Horne, Nevada; Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee and Senator Renee S. Unterman, Georgia; Immediate Past Chair, Human Services and Welfare Committee

Panelists:

• Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Washington
• Glenn Mucci, Detective, Phoenix Police Department - Vice Enforcement Unit, Arizona
• Erin Otis, Deputy County Attorney, Child Sexual Exploitation Bureau, Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Arizona
• Linda Smith, President and Founder, Shared Hope International, Washington

Plenary Luncheon:  Lou Cannon, Journalist, Californa

Issue Briefing

State Immigration Laws:  Crossing the Constitutional Border?  (CLE)
(Joint program of the Education Committee, Human Services and Welfare Committee, Law and Criminal Justice Committee and NCSL Task Force on Immigration and the States)

The level of state immigration related legislation remains at an all time peak.  States are testing their role in immigration policy and finding their laws under review in federal courts.  This session explores the constitutional questions in Arizona’s immigration enforcement law (SB1070), the preemption of state authority on in-state tuition, and Arizona’s 2007 worksite enforcement law currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.  Speakers will also examine the latest trends in legal and illegal immigration. 

Moderator:  Representative Joni M. Cutler, South Dakota; Vice Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee 

Panelists:

• Senator Curtis S. Bramble, Utah
• Kathleen Campbell Walker, Cox/Smith Attorneys, Texas
• Representative John Kavanagh, Arizona
• Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, Washington

Issue Briefing

Safety, Privacy and Civility in Cyberspace  (CLE)
(Joint program of the Communications, Financial Services and interstate Commerce Committee, Education Committee, Law and Criminal Justice Committee and Legislative Effectiveness Committee)

Social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are now considered mainstream, but what governs their use? When users' private behavior or communications are disclosed or they are bullied online, the consequences can be devastating. Learn about laws and practices that protect privacy and safety and promote civility online.

Presiding:  Assemblymember William C. Horne, Nevada; Chair, Law and Criminal Justice Committee and Senator Pamela J. Althoff, Illinois; Vice Chair, Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee

Panelists:

• Susan Brenner, NCR Distinguished Professor of Law & Technology, University of Dayton School of Law, Ohio
• Justin Fitzsimmons, Senior Attorney, National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse, Virginia
• Nicky Jackson Colaco, Policy Manager, Facebook, California

Reception at the Hotel 
(Joint with LSCC and the Executive Committee)

Saturday, December 11

Post-Conference Workshops and Seminars