Announcements, information and updates from CWAG Members and Associates
September 6, 2018
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Tuesday, November 27, 2018
We look forward to seeing you at the 2018 CWAG Winter Dinner, Tuesday, November 27, 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina. We invite your participation in this Endowment Dinner benefiting the programs and goals of the Attorneys General.
Attorneys General and private sector supporters will join together for a dinner and informal discussions at The Dewberry Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. This highly personal and engaging dinner includes participation from approximately 25-30 Attorneys General. Attend this year's event and participate in this premier opportunity for exchanging views and forging relationships.
You may register as either a current sponsor using one of your allocations under your annual membership, or as a new sponsor.
If you are an existing sponsor who registered for the 2018 CWAG Annual Meeting, you may use your same registration code to register for the Winter Dinner. If you need your code re-sent to you, please contact Meeting Manager Ale Stephens.
To register online, go to the
2018 CWAG Winter Dinner Registration Website
. Click on "Register" and enter your name, last name and email address, then select your attendee type.
Along the top of the registration site, you will find tabs with complete details about the schedule, hotel accommodations, suggested transportation and more.
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CYBER SECURITY WORKING GROUP MEETING
The next meeting of the Cyber Security Working Group will be held in conjunction with the CWAG Winter Dinner in Charleston, South Carolina at the Dewberry Hotel. The Working Group session will be held on Wednesday, November 28th, from 9:00-11:00 am. A light breakfast will be provided.
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Articles on topics relevant to the work of Attorneys General around the nation.
(
Note: Subscription may be required for access
.)
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Killing Pain: Seven – Part Documentary Series Detailing the Origins of the Oklahoma Opioid Epidemic Now Available
August 30, 2018
Killing Pain, a seven part documentary series chronicling the state’s opioid addiction epidemic launched this week and is available to view, free of charge, on
https://www.killingpain.com/
The in-depth documentary explores the public health crisis in Oklahoma from its origin to steps the state is currently taking to stem the epidemic. The series is presented by Fighting Addiction Through Education (FATE) and produced by Lampstand Media.
The series also features personal stories of addiction, the economic cost of the crisis and the biology of addiction.
Attorney General Mike Hunter appears in multiple episodes to discuss the state’s response and the lawsuit filed by his office last July.
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CWAG Cyber Security Working Group Publishes Safe Harbor Guidelines
All fifty states and the District of Columbia have laws specifically designed to deal with cybersecurity breaches. However, the laws in each state vary widely. The concept of privacy across the globe is fluid. With the official implementation of the European General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), companies that operate internationally have been forced to develop complex security systems to accommodate the GDPR’s pro-privacy, pro-user approach. Domestically, security systems that house our data remain complex and widely misunderstood.
In their role, State Attorneys General (AGs) continuously track privacy policies, monitor companies’ compliance with such policies, and sometimes enforce them against companies that abuse the trust consumers place in them. While AGs have traditionally taken a reactive role in data privacy enforcement, opportunities exist for proactive engagement and the development of proper incentives for businesses to voluntarily implement, apply, and maintain robust cybersecurity programs.
The public-private CWAG Cyber Security Working Group has come together to turn their attention from discussions and dialogue, to action. An active group of attorneys general, senior staff, and internal cyber security experts have come to the realization that independently, individual states cannot effectively deal with this criminal activity. In their view, having the ability to coordinate actions across multistate jurisdictions and in collaboration with private sector experts, would lay the foundation for a national cybercrime initiative with teeth.
The Working Group focused on “safe harbor” provisions as a public policy option worth exploring in detail. This paper develops this concept further and attempts to bring structure to the discussion by summarizing the Group’s key findings with respect to “safe harbor” and other pressing policy issues germane to the cybersecurity conversation.
This paper offers those interested in this topic a variety of options when it comes to thinking about this issue. As this is an ever evolving topic, CWAG expects this paper will be updated with comments and considerations in the months to come.
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Silver Alert Issued for Osseo Man; DOJ Drone Locates Missing Man
August 31, 2018
Attorney General Brad Schimel announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known as a “drone,” was used to locate a missing person on Tuesday, August 28 after a DOJ Silver Alert was issued for a 68-year-old Osseo man.
A DOJ Silver Alert was issued a missing 68-year-old man from Osseo, and the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office requested the DCI UAV be in Eau Claire County to assist with the search. A DCI special agent used the UAV to search the fields near the missing person’s residence. The UAV footage allowed the special agent to see the missing man walking in the middle of a field, and direct local law enforcement to retrieve the man from the field.
The Silver Alert program, made possible after the enactment of
2013 Wisconsin Act 264
, notifies the public when an adult with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other permanent cognitive impairment is missing. The program is administered by the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation.
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Most Americans Continue to Have Privacy and Security Concerns, NTIA Survey Finds
August 20, 2018
Privacy and security online continue to be major issues for Americans, according to an NTIA survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly three-quarters of Internet-using households had significant concerns about online privacy and security risks in 2017, while a third said these worries caused them to hold back from some online activities. About 20 percent said they had experienced an online security breach, identity theft, or a similar crime during the past year.
However, the
2017 survey
showed a decline in households reporting concerns and avoiding certain online activities compared with the
2015 survey
, which first asked these questions. The proportion of online households reporting privacy or security concerns fell from 84 percent to 73 percent during this period. Similarly, the proportion of online households that said privacy concerns stopped them from doing certain online activities dropped from 45 percent to 33 percent.
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In Wake of
Janus
Ruling by U.S. Supreme Court, Attorney General Becerra Issues Guidance on Public Sector Workers’ Rights
August 31, 2018
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued guidance reaffirming California public employees’ rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in
Janus v. Council
. The court decision overturned past court rulings that permitted unions to collect “agency fees” from bargaining-unit members who do not choose to join the union.
This guidance highlights existing state laws that protect collective bargaining and strengthen public employees’ rights to form, join, and engage in the activities of their union. It also reminds Californians that public employers are prohibited under state law from retaliating, discriminating against, or threatening public employees for exercising their rights to engage in collective action. The guidance further notifies public employees of resources that are available to them if they believe that their labor rights have been violated.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Becerra filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the
Janus
case that argued in favor of agency fees as an integral part of California’s collective-bargaining system. In the brief, the Attorney General described the critical role public employees play in strengthening the economy and our communities.
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Attorney General Becerra: State, Federal and Local Law Enforcement Announce 25 Arrests in MS-13 Gang Takedown in Fresno County
August 31, 2018
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, together with U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California McGregor Scott and representatives of federal, state and local law enforcement, announced the arrest of 25 individuals associated with Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) in the State. The arrests are part of a multi-agency operation, known as Blue Inferno, that has resulted in the arrest of multiple individuals in California and other states.
The months-long investigation began after 14 murders occurred in or around the City of Mendota, many of which were believed to be connected to MS-13 drug trafficking. Investigators found evidence of broad criminal activity, including murder, assault, firearms possession, and drug trafficking activity. The intelligence obtained during this investigation has helped solve several homicides and prevent violent crimes throughout the United States and abroad.
Operation Blue Inferno was the product of a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, federal Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium.
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AG Balderas Wins Historic Public Lands Victory on Behalf of New Mexicans, Granting Access to more than 50,000 Acres
September 4, 2018
Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a major court victory on behalf of millions of New Mexicans, granting them access to thousands of acres of public lands in Northern New Mexico, near White Peak, much of which had previously been blocked off by a landowner.
The land in question was about 50,000 acres in Northern Mora and Colfax Counties. A wealthy, private landowner sued to block hunters and other members of the public from traveling on roads across his property to reach state lands.
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DC Attorney General Warns Realtors of Rise in Online Listing Scammers
Karl Racine, Washington, D.C.'s first elected attorney general, addressed attendees at the National Association of Realtors' new iOi Summit, a tech conference
August 31, 2018
Karl Racine, Washington, D.C.’s first elected attorney general, addressed attendees at
NAR’s iOi Summit in San Francisco.
Racine's keynote focused on tech-related aspects of the industry, reminding realtors and attendees that they collect consumers’ personal information and have a responsibility to keep it safe.
Racine said that AGs across the country are responsible for facilitating business while also protecting consumers — new technology notwithstanding. Racine noted that D.C. had seen a significant increase in fraud related to the internet and real estate transactions.
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Welcome to the Sponsor Spotlight, where each week CWAG will celebrate one of our private sector partners.
The culture and traditions of a tribe is carried in its people and the Otoe-Missouria are no exception. Today the songs, stories, language and memories of generations is kept by tribal members. After years of subjugation it is no surprise that these things are protected and hold a special place in the hearts of the people.
The Constitution of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians was ratified in 1984 in accordance with the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936. Governed by a seven-member council, the tribe is headquartered at Red Rock and had a population of 1,449 in 2004. Tribal enterprises include the Seven Clans Paradise Casino near Red Rock. The tribe offers its members various services, including housing, health, and education programs. An annual Otoe-Missouria encampment is held in July. Other ceremonies and social gatherings are conducted at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Center.
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Updated
American Indian Law Deskbook
Is Now Available
The
American Indian Law Deskbook
is a concise, direct, and easy-to-understand handbook on Indian law. The chapter authors of this book are experienced state lawyers who have been involved in Indian law for many years.
American Indian Law Deskbook
addresses the areas of Indian law most relevant to the practitioner.
Topics include:
- Definitions of Indians and Indian tribes
- Indian lands
- Criminal, civil regulatory, and civil adjudicatory jurisdiction
- Civil rights
- Indian water rights
- Fish and wildlife
- Environmental regulation
- Taxation
- Gaming
- Indian Child Welfare Act and tribal-state cooperative agreements
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Follow the 31 AG Races in 2018 on this Interactive Website
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A significant number of states, 30 and the District of Columbia, have contests for the Office of Attorney General. Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice hosts an interactive map for those interested in following the races throughout the country. The State AG Election Tracker includes state-by-state AG candidate snapshots, filing deadlines and primary election dates; daily news, insights, polling and fundraising data; and the ability to sign up for real-time election-night updates via text and email. Access is free.
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