American Legislative Exchange Council UMITED GOVERNMENT 0 FREE MARKETS FEDERALISM 2M3 Annuai Meeting POLICY REPORT Table of Contents: 2013 Policy Publications Policy Department Overview Policv Publications, anuarv August 2013 Abuse and Misuse of Personal Information, March 2013 Rich States, Poor States, Edition, March .2013 he US. Environmental Protection Agency 's Assault on State Sovereignty, June 2013 Report Card on American Education, 18"' Edition, March 2013 2013 Annual Meeting Lawsuit Reform for Competitive State Economies, Annual Meeting 2013 Lowering Costs in Water Infiastructure through Procurement Reform, Annual Meeting 20 1 3 Keeping the Promise: State Solntionsfor Government Pension Reform, Annual Meeting 2013 Task Force Updates and Obiectives Civil Justice Task Force Task Force Director: Amy Kjose a ALEC's Civil Justice Task Force has had a successful 2013 thus far. Over 60 bills based on Civil Justice Task Force model legislation have been introduced around the states, a number of which. have been eriacted into law. The role of legal reform as a way to foster a fair environment for product development amid job creation is still very widely appreciated. The Task Force has been constructive by providing research, letters and alerts to members doing the good work in the states. In particular, ALEC's Tiiespasser Responsibility Act (which protects landowners from having to pay for injuries to trespassers ori their land) has received phenomenal support, having been enacted in 13 states in the last 2.5 years by nearly unanimous support. This is a great example of the power of common-sense ALEC reform that legislators of all political stripes can support. At Annual Meeting, the Task Force is releasing a new version of its Tort Reform Boot Camp Guide for State Legislators, now called Lawsuit Reform for Competitive State Economies. In addition to the new title, the publication is getting a facelift it has been updated to address a number of new and trending lawsuit reforms, and now includes additional data and infographics to further illuminate the important laivsuit reform work being done country--wide. We are doing a roll out to ALEC membership and a smaller roll out in the media in a handful of select states. Lawsuit reform is an issue that appeals to most ALEC members, public and private, and most of the electorate according to recent polling data. I Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force Interim Task Force Director: Cara Sullivan Pdlicy Education Since the last report at the Spring Task Force Summit, finishing touches were put on the Task Force's new State Factor, "Lowering Costs in Water Infrastructure through Procurement Reform: A Strategy for Stiate Governments." The publication will be distributed at Annual Meeting 2013. The Task Force's subcommittees continue to allow members to engage more heavily on their specific issue areas while serving as areas of expansion for the Task Force. The Task Force has the following active subcommittees: Labor and Business Regulation, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Surety Insurance. ALEC Principles in the States Legislation similar to Commerce Task Force model legislation passed in numerous states during the 2013 session. Notably, Michigan passed right--to-work legislation, Indiana passed occupational licensing refonn, and Georgia passed fraud detection legislation. Legislation similar to Commerce Task Force model legislation was also introduced in a variety of states iricluding substantial labor reform in Missouri, and Kansas (among dozens of states) and public private partnerships in Florida. Membership The Task Force is pleased to announce that two new members have joined since the Spring Task Force Summit. The Task Force looks to continuing expanding its membership, specifically in the transportation and infrastructure and financial services areas. Legislative membership remains steady. Communications and Technology Task Force Director: John Stephenson About the ask Force With nearly 200 members representing all parts of the country and every segment of industry, the Communications and Technology Task Force believes that constant, dynamic innovation in communications and technology presents numerous complexities that defy traditional public policy prescriptions. To help policymakers understand the changes underway in the 21st century economy, the Task Force brings together state legislators, private industry, and policy experts to develop public policie= that will promote economic growth, freedom of technology, and innovation in the states. Areas of focus for the Task Force include: 1) broadband deployment and adoption; 2) protecting consumer choice in privacy; 3) promoting new forms of e--commerce; and 4) growing the high-tech sector of the economy. Additionally, the Task Force has established five subcommittees to thoroughly investigate topics of interest to the states. These subcommittees are: Broadband; E-Commerce; Information Technology; Innovation; and Consumer Protection, Critical Infrastructure, and Security Technologies. What We've Accomplished Through policy development, research and analysis, the Task Force has helped members accomplish the following: Twenty--nine jurisdictions have enacted laws based on our model Voice over Internet Protocol policy to promote the deployment of advanced communications technologies including Arkansas, Delaware*, Kansas, Nevada*, and Wyoming in 2013 6 Eleven states have adopted laws based, at least in part, on ALEC's model Wireless Tower Siting Act to streamline local zoning and permitting requirements to speed deployment of advanced wireless broadband networks including North Carolina*, Missouri*, and Washington* in 2013 Twenty states have heeded our advice to protect taxpayers from waste, fraud, and abuse by adopting ALEC policies to require fair competition, transparency, and voter approval for government--owned broadband systems 0 In 2013, we published a report entitled, "Abuse. and Misuse of Personal Information: Trends and Issues in Privacy," which examined concerns about online privacy and the use of biometric information that was well-received by members and scholars We published a well-received op-ed in the Wall Street Journal detailing state cybersecurity efforts in Michigan and Virginia to protect constituent information and critical infrastructure from hackers and an op--ed in the Daily Caller about growing the mobile app economy* The Year Ahead In the months ahead, the Task Force will host briefings on timely topics such as broadband promotion, privacy in a world of surveillance, fostering mobile health technologies, facilitating gowth in online travel, and ensuring a high~quality online education, among others. The Task Force is also currently at work on an effort researching ways to promote more investment in broadband. Education Task Force Task Force Director: Lindsay Russell August/September Issue of Inside ALEC Tic correlate with 'Back to School' the August/ September issue of Inside ALEC will be dedicated to Education. Articles in this issue will focus on a myriad of reform policies, including digital learning, teacher accountability, higher education, teacher quality, school vouchers, and state academic standards. Ciopies of this edition will be distributed at ALEC's State and Nation Policy Summit. lifnpact in the States Dluring the 2012-2013 state legislative sessions, the Education Task Force followed legislation relating to several ALEC education model policies. Over 40 states introduced ALEC model legislation or model legislation closely resembling ALEC policy, most notably, Next Generation Tax credit Act, Parent Ygrigger, Virtual Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Special Needs Scholarship act. A Continuing Resource for Education Reform and School Choice The Task Force will continue to support education reforms through parental choice by advocating for efficiency, accountability, transparency and overall school choice. Although the Common Core debate seems to be dominating the education conversation in states, the Task Force is confident that our decision to: stay neutral will give us the opportunity to focus on excellent education reforms and the best practices liiappetiing in states. Plans and Publications The Task Force will release the 19th edition of The Report Card on American Education. The edition will include the new NAEP data. The new data will reflect the outcomes of several education reform policies, making the 19* edition especially important. The Task Force has created a new STEM project. The project will be implemented in phases to insure that all stakeholders are included and have a seat at the table. This project is still in its infancy but we hope to include a small publication into the roll out of this new project. Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Task Force Director: Todd Llegislation Highlights across the States Fitter the Electricity Freedom Act (an act that would repeal a state's renewable energy mandate) became .fiiLEC model policy, approximately 15 states across the country introduced legislation to reform, freeze, oi repeal their state's renewable mandate. This legislative year has seen the most action on renewable rriandates to date. Resolution in Support of the Keystone XL Pipeline or similarly worded resolutions have been introduced in at least seven states this year which has helped highlight state support for the project. Fgive western states have actively explored the transfer of federal public lands to western states. This rriovement advocating for the transfer of western public lands began in Utah in 2012. Utah State Riepresentative Ken Ivory introduced and Governor Gary Herbert signed into law HB "Transfer of Ppblic Lands has subsequently become ALEC model policy for other state legislators to use as an example. Since the movement began in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Nevada have passed shine version of the bill. In addition, South Carolina passed a resolution in support of the western states' efforts. Eublications uly/ August Issue of Inside ALEC . The energy, environment and agriculture edition of Inside ALE was recently released. The Task Force Co--chairs were highlighted as the new ALEC BEA Task Force leadership team. In addition, the edition has articles on LNG exports, hydraulic fracturing, the link between energy development and unemployment, agriculture, EPA regulatory overreach and the plastics industry. New EPA publication In June of 2013, the Task Force released the third in a series of publications focused on the impact of Environmental Protection Agency regulations on the energy industry. Numerous media outlets pick up on I the release and featured the report and its findings in articles. In addition to mailing the publication to al ALEC state legislators, ALEC held a Capitol Hill briefing for congressman and handed out the publication to all 535 members of Congress. Health and Human Services Task Force Task Force Director: Sean Riley May/June Issue of Inside ALEC Several HHS-related articles were distributed at the Spring Task Force summit as part of Inside ALEC's May/June 2013 issue on legal issues, including articles on exchange implementation and Medicaid expansion under the Aflordable Care Act, out--of-state charity care, and a preview of anticipated insuran premium increases. Impact in the States During the 2012-2013 state legislative sessions, the HHS Task Force followed legislation relating to 18 ALEC HHS model policies. Thus far, 96 ALEC model bills based on work from the HHS Task Force have been introduced, 17 enacted, and 2 were vetoed, including bills related to out-of-state charity care (as featured in ALEC 2013: Jobs, Innovation, and Opportunity in the States), HSAS, implementation of the federal health law, and health price disclosure. A Continuing Resource on Exchanges and Medicaid Expansion The Task Force continues to serve as a resource for states facing implementation of the two primary components of the federal Patient Protection and Aflordable Care Act (PPACA): health exchanges and Medicaid expansion. ALEC's model Resolution Against PPA CA Health Insurance Exchanges continues to resonate with policymakers. Just 17 states plan to operate an exchange for plan year 2014, placing the federal government in a position it had not anticipated. On Medicaid expansion, the Task Force passed thi-;- model Resolution Against Medicaid Expansion in May 2013, and anticipates serving as a continued resource for those members studying the issue at this time. Plans and Publications The Task Force is continuing working towards two publications to be released this year, including a guic to prescription drug policy, and a more general guide highlighting free-market health reforms in the wak of the federal health law. The Task Force will also submit multiple grant requests supporting research an outreach as the federal law continues to be implemented. Issues that will continue to face the states throughout implementation include rising premiums, provider shortages, and the economic impact of implementation. The Task Force looks to be there at each step, engaging with critical analysis and providing alternatives. International Relations Task Force Task Force Director: Karla Jones Respect for ALEC's international Work continues to grow due to the seriousness of our policy and our success in advancing it. Our articles have been published with attribution by international trade related NGOs and we are being quoted in the domestic and international media and producing more articles for 23 states have plans to move forward with expansion AW: ll! lo AELEC outlets. The Wall Street Journal op--ed on cybersecurity penned by the CAT and IR Task Force Directors and placed by our new, exceedingly capable Public Affairs team demonstrates to our prospects that we are able to give issues national attention. The feedback from these articles has been positive, and Iii; blo posts are popular on the American Legislator with a high number of "Likes" and views. National entities such as the US Trade Representative Office and the US Chamber of Commerce have cited our rdsolutions positively on a variety of trade issues. We have been told by those involved in the negotiation piiocess for the Trans-<