Announcements, information & updates from the Attorney General Alliance Members and Associates
May 6, 2022
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AG Alliance 2022 Annual Meeting June 13-16, 2022 is in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Annual Meeting will commence with an opening dinner on June 13th. During the following days, our General Sessions will feature thought-provoking discussions on today's most relevant and complex legal issues. Expert panelists will engage directly with attendees while promoting proactive dialogue, exchange of experience, and best practices
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Nation's First Independent Cannabis And Hemp Certification Recognized By Attorneys General Alliance
Upon the close of the Attorney General Alliance's (AGA) Cannabis Project Conference in Denver, attorneys general from across the nation have recognized the completion of a cannabis pilot and now launch of an official two-part cannabis certification program called "The Public Health & Safety Cannabis Financial Service Certification." Presented by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas.
The Public Health & Safety Cannabis Financial Service Certification helps law enforcement and state regulators distinguish legal cannabis operators from illicit. It also determines both outstanding U.S. monetary banking protocols among cannabis and hemp operators as well as those who are meeting good manufacturing practices.
The certification began as a pilot program overseen by the Policy Center for Public Health & Safety in collaboration with the state attorneys general. It is also being implemented by ASTM international and the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp and is now available for wide-scale, national use by cannabis and hemp companies.
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"It is crucial to know where cannabis and hemp operators are banking to maintain a level of compliance. This certification will give regulators that insight. Additionally, hemp and cannabis operators can stand by their own financial and operational integrity as they subject themselves to volunteer audits."
-New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas
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Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes joined a bipartisan group of 40 other Attorneys General in urging Congress to support funding for Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Attorney General Reyes and the group sent a letter to Congress to support beneficent funding for the LSC. The LSC provides critical legal assistance to low-income Americans, helping families in need across the country.
Nonprofit legal aid programs funded by the federal program provide services to millions of Americans annually, reaching across every state and territory. The funding is a wise investment in accessible legal representation. Numerous Americans, including families with children, renters and homeowners, farmers, veterans, the disabled, and the elderly, have benefitted for over 50 years from federally-funded LSC services. In some states, over 80% of legal assistance dollars come from LSC. These legal aid organizations donate their time and skills to assist those in need.
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South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the State Human Trafficking Task Force conducted multi-day law enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals for crimes related to commercial sex. Additional charges included unlawful carry of a handgun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute a schedule II narcotic, distribution of cocaine, and distribution of marijuana. Officers also seized three firearms resulting from the arrests.
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Guam Attorney General Leevin Camacho and his Office have reached a $950,000 settlement with the owner and contractor of the Mangilao Solar Project after an environmental disaster last year left the historic Marbo Cave under a layer of sludge and damaged the surrounding the Sasayan Valley.
The settlement, following a lawsuit over damage to cultural and environmental resources, is the largest and first of its kind, that the government of Guam has reached.
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The Attorneys General community is working hard for their respective states as TurboTax agreed to pay all 50 U.S. states a total of $141 million to resolve claims that the online tax preparer duped low-income Americans into paying for services that should have been free. Under the settlement, they will also suspend the company's “free, free, free” advertising campaign. |
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District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced a new lawsuit against Power Design, Inc., an electrical contractor that has worked on dozens of development projects in the District, for illegally reducing labor costs by cheating hundreds of workers out of wages and benefits—and alleging that Power Design has failed to comply with the terms of a previous $2.75 million wage theft settlement.
The Office of the Attorney General alleges that Power Design and multiple “labor brokers” illegally failed to classify at least 200 of construction workers as employees—improperly classifying them as independent contractors instead—to cut labor costs and increase profits. As part of this scheme, Power Design and its labor brokers failed to pay workers required overtime wages and denied them benefits. With this suit, OAG is seeking to stop Power Design’s illegal conduct, provide restitution for harmed workers, and impose civil penalties for violations of District law.
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“Again, our office is filing suit to stop Power Design from cheating District workers out of their hard-earned wages and breaking the law to gain an unfair edge over competitors. Power Design already paid $2.75 million—our largest wage theft settlement to date, where it promised to abide by the law moving forward, yet it has not. It is unacceptable that this company, its labor brokers, and the general contractor in this case are continuing to profit from systematic payroll fraud.”
-District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it is invoking a largely unused legal provision to examine nonbank financial companies that pose risks to consumers. The CFPB believes that utilizing this dormant authority will help protect consumers and level the playing field between banks and nonbanks. The CFPB is also seeking public comments on a procedural rule to make this process more transparent.
Such risky conduct may involve, for example, potentially unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices, or other acts or practices that potentially violate federal consumer financial law. The CFPB may base such reasonable cause determinations on complaints collected by the CFPB, or on information from other sources, such as judicial opinions and administrative decisions. The CFPB may also learn of such risks through whistleblower complaints, state partners, federal partners, or news reports.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted the California Department of Justice’s achievements in protecting the people of California by investigating and prosecuting violations of the law, while advancing policies to ensure fairness and opportunity. Attorney General Bonta was sworn into office on April 23, 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom. Since that time, he has continued to lead the office and its work to improve the lives of all Californians by protecting public safety, preventing gun violence, and advancing justice for all — especially communities historically marginalized and overlooked — by defending and enforcing laws touching nearly all facets of life, including healthcare, environment, housing, consumer protection, and much more.
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Notarize came out on top in this Forbes Advisor list of "Best Online Notary Services Of 2022"
AGA would like to congratulate our Sponsor Notarize on their distinguished Notary services. These services have been around for centuries, and their purpose is to ensure the validity of a document or transaction. In recent years, online notary services have become more popular, as they allow people to get their documents notarized without having to leave their homes. We are glad t hear they are being recognized for their efficient and great services!
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AGA Sponsor Mastercard partners with Sterling K. Brown to empower cardholders to be magnificent with new donation program supporting Stand Up To Cancer
A new campaign featuring the award-winning actor and producer, encourages consumers to support essential cancer research through everyday dining and grocery purchases. Mastercard® is encouraging consumers to do something magnificent with their next dining and grocery purchases through a new campaign benefitting Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). The campaign demonstrates how Mastercard is giving cardholders an easy way to make a difference and further donations for essential cancer research through everyday purchases. Beginning May 1 through July 15, 2022, every time cardholders order online or tap their card at qualifying restaurants and grocery stores, Mastercard will donate 1 cent, up to $5 million to SU2C. This new initiative gives people a meaningful and simple way to support Mastercard and SU2C’s commitment to funding breakthrough cancer research.
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AG Alliance Partner Program |
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The AGA-Africa is an international rule-of-law exchange established in 2016 for the purpose of collaborating with African stakeholders, contributing to the exchange of knowledge to support the rule of law, and leading to the reduction and prevention of transnational criminal activity. AGA-Africa aims to foster robust relationships with justice and law enforcement agencies and officials throughout Africa.
In March, Anshika Mehrota and Samantha Caplinger, Assistant Attorneys General in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office journeyed to Zambia as facilitators on a program entitled “How Technology is Changing the Face of Crime.” Attendees included prosecutors and investigators from National Prosecution Authority, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Anti-Terrorism Centre, Financial Intelligence Centre, Drug Enforcement Commission, ZICTA, and Zambia Police Service.
As program facilitator, Samantha described her experience as “amazing and insightful” and as an “interactive conference giving [her] the chance to learn areas of law [she was] unfamiliar with and investigative tactics used and be able to share that knowledge.” According to Anshika, the overall experience was “wonderful” and “an insightful and educational exchange allowing us the opportunity to become better attorneys ourselves and pass on the knowledge.” AGA-Africa is grateful for the commitment demonstrated by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
Much more programming is upcoming, and scholarships are available for those in the AG community. For example, in the coming months, we have events that will touch upon numerous issues including but not limited to Human Trafficking, Drug Crimes, Anti-Money Laundering, Wildlife Trafficking, Virtual Assets, Immigration, Election Law, Consumer Protection, and trial advocacy. If you have any interest in traveling to Africa to facilitate these events, please contact AGA General Counsel David Blake at david.blake@agalliance.org.
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Missed our live programs? No problem! Follow the button below to visit our Virtual Seminar Library for access to all recordings.
Do you have a webinar topic suggestion? We want to hear from you! Please email ideas to Patricia Salazar at PSalazar@AGAlliance.org.
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CWAG Executive Committee
AG Alliance Co-Chairs
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Attorney General Alliance 5050 | Laguna Blvd., Ste. 112-323 | Elk Grove, CA 95758
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