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2 state news september 2004

senior editorJack Penchoffassociate editorLaurie Clewettgraphic design coordinatorSusie Bushreprint permissionsMona Lewis Juett(859) 244-8238publication and advertising sales(800) [email protected](859) [email protected]

headquartersDaniel M. Sprague, Executive Director2760 Research Park Drive P.O. Box 11910Lexington, KY 40578-1910(859) 244-8000

washingtonJim Brown, General Counsel and DirectorHall of the States444 N. Capitol St. N.W., Suite 401Washington, DC 20001(202) 624-5460

easternAlan V. Sokolow, Director40 Broad Street, Suite 2050New York, NY 10004-2315(212) 482-2320

midwesternMichael H. McCabe, Director641 E. Butterfield Road, Suite 401Lombard, IL 60148(630) 810-0210

southernColleen Cousineau, DirectorP.O. Box 98129Atlanta, GA 30359(404) 633-1866

westernKent Briggs, Director1107 9th Street, Suite 650Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 553-4423

technology

Unlicensed and Unwired:The FCC’s Signal Achievement

Wireless networks are changing how we view communications networks.

by Wayne Hall

10

leadership

Aging’s ‘Golden Opportunities’Gov. Mark Warner calls for policy-makers torethink policies on aging.

by Jack Penchoff

12

On the cover:Gov. Mark Warner

Photograph by Michaele White,courtesy of the Governor's Office.

Cover design by Susie Bush.

Features

health care

On the Road to RecoveryStates are transforming mental health care.

by Trudi Matthews

14

state

emergency management

Are States Really Prepared?National report reveals funding is inadequatefor natural disasters.

by Amy C. Hughes

19

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the council of state governments www.csg.org 3

4 Inside StoryStates adjust to demographic shifts.

by Jack Penchoff

5 ToolboxSchool performance goes online;states recognized for IT best practices.

8 State SourcesA roundup of recent reports andresources for state officials.

17 State SnapshotsState mental health agency spending in 2001.

18 Trends AlertIncreasing immigrants’ access to quality health care.

by Melissa Taylor Bell

Departments

24 State TrendsCSG’s Trends Forum: A look ahead.

28 PerspectiveStates foster a college savingsrevolution.

by Chris Hunter

32 CSG SpotlightActivities and events by CSG,its affiliates and other associations are highlighted.

38 Conference CalendarMeetings and conference activities ofCSG, affiliates and other associationsare listed.

39 TimelineA look back in time.

leadership

North to the FutureCSG’s Annual State Trends and Leadership Forumoffers insights, interaction and excitement.

by Laurie Clewett

22

news

public safety and justice

What’s Behind Youth Courts’Growth Spurt?

Innovative programs address delinquency andencourage civic involvement among teens.

by Sarah S. Pearson

29

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The Councilof State Governments

Preparing states for tomorrow, today . . .

Executive CommitteePresidentGov. Frank H. Murkowski, Alaska

ChairSen. John C. Hottinger, Minn.

President-ElectGov. Ruth Ann Minner, Del.

Chair-ElectAssemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Nev.

Vice PresidentGov. Jim Douglas,Vt.

Vice ChairSenate President Earl Ray Tomblin,W.Va.

2004 executive committeeSen. David Adkins, Kan. • Sen. Carolyn Allen,Ariz. • Sen. MannyAragon, N.M. • Jerry Bassett, Legislative Reference Service,Ala. •Treasurer Tim Berry, Ind. • Carl Bianchi, Director, LegislativeServices, Idaho • Sen. Patty Birkholz, Mich. • Rep. Dan Bosley, Mass.• Delegate Anthony Brown, Md. • Sen. Kate Brown, Ore. •Attorney General Jon Bruning, Nebraska • Lt. Gov. John Carney Jr.,Del. • Rep. Joe Carothers Jr.,Ala. • Sen. John Chichester,Va. • Rep.John Connors, Iowa • Sen. Eileen Daily, Conn. • Rep. Bob Damron,Ky. • Sen. Bart Davis, Idaho • Rep. Carol Donovan, Mass. • Sen.Denise Moreno Ducheny, Calif. • Sen. Hugh Farley, N.Y. • Rep.Hector Ferrer-Rios, Puerto Rico • Sen. Bill Finkbeiner,Wah. • Gov.David Freudenthal,Wyo. • Sen. Lisa Gladden, Md. • SenatePresident John Hainkel Jr., La. • Speaker Seth Hammett,Ala. • Sen.Toni Nathaniel Harp, Conn. • Sen.Tom Hatch, Utah • Sen. DouglasHenry,Tenn. • Sen. Linda Higgins, Minn. • Gov. John Hoeven, N.D. •Sen. Kip Holden, La. • Carl Hotvedt, Network Technology ServicesBureau, Mont. • Gov. Mike Huckabee,Ark. • Rep. DeborahHudson, Del. • Judge Robert Hunter, N.C. • Del. John Hurson, Md.• Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Miss. • Rep. Libby Jacobs, Iowa • EdJacoby Jr., State Emergency Management Office, N.Y. • Rep.Suzanne Jeskewitz,Wis. • Rep. Douglas Jones, Idaho • Lilia Judson,Indiana Division of State Court Administration • Gov. DirkKempthorne, Idaho • Sec. of State Mary Kiffmeyer, Minn. • MichaelKing, Executive Director, Legislative Office for Research Liaison, Pa. •Kurt Knickrehm, Dept. of Human Services,Ark. • Sen. PeterKnudson, Utah • Rep. Kim Koppelman, N.D. • Speaker Pete Kott,Alaska • Treasurer Brian Krolicki, Nev. • Chief Justice JosephLambert, Ky. • Rep. Pete Laney,Texas • Sen.T.D.“Ted” Little,Ala. •Rep.Ward Loyd, Kan. • Selby Lucero, Building Services Division,N.M. • Member Norman MacMillan, Quebec National Assembly •Sen. John Marchi, N.Y. • Sen. Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico •Kathleen Alana McGinty,Acting Secretary, Dept. of EnvironmentalProtection, Pa. • Andrew Molloy Jr., Dept. of Criminal JusticeServices,Va. • Sen.Angela Monson, Okla. • Speaker Jimmy Naifeh,Tenn. • Sen. David Nething, N.D. • Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs, Mont. • Sen.Jose Ortiz-Daliot, Puerto Rico • Gov. George Pataki, N.Y. • DennisProuty, Iowa • Sen. Pam Redfield, Neb. • Mary Regel, Director,Bureau of International Development,Wis. • Attorney GeneralGregg Renkes,Alaska • Sen. Pam Resor, Mass. • Rep. Chris Ross, Pa.• Rep. Roger Roy, Del. • Sen. DiAnna Schimek, Neb. •Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, N.Y. • Jeffrey Schutt, Dept. ofPersonnel and Admin., Colo. • Rep. Mary Skinner,Wash. • PatsySpaw, Sec. of the Senate,Texas • Attorney General WayneStenehjem, North Dakota • Assemblyman Robert Straniere, N.Y. •Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Hawaii • Sen. Ron Teck, Colo. • Sen. RobertThompson, Pa. • Sen. Donne Trotter, Ill. • Sen. Leticia Van de Putte,Texas • Sec. of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, N.M. • Gov. MarkWarner,Va. • Jeff Wells, Secretary, Department of Labor &Employment, Colo. • Sen. Jeff Wentworth,Texas • Sandra Winston,Executive Director,Arkansas Transitional Employment Board

STATE NEWS, 1549-3628, September 2004,Vol. 47, No. 8 —Published monthly with combined issues in June/July andNov./Dec. by The Council of State Governments, 2760 ResearchPark Drive, Lexington, KY 40511-8410. Opinions expressed in thismagazine do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Council ofState Governments nor the views of the editorial staff. Readers’comments are welcome. Subscription rates — In the U.S., $45 peryear. Single issues are available at $6 per copy. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to State News, Sales Department, P.O. Box11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910.

Advertising — Black and white, two-color and full-coloradvertising available. For complete circulation and advertisinginformation, contact the advertising department at (800) 800-1910. Mailing lists are available for rent upon approval of a sample mailing.

Copyright 2004 by The Council of State Governments.Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Ky., and at additional mailing offices.

insidestory

The exciting part about editing State News isthe variety of issues we get to read about andshare with our readers. This month, for example,The Council of State Governments’ associatedirector of health policy, Trudi Matthews,writes about how states are transforming mentalhealth care. State governments are approachingmental health care with a view toward long-term recovery programs. Matthews’ articleexamines the need for transformation and how

some states are meetingthe challenge of change.

States are also meet-ing the challenges of preparing for natural disasters. The National Emergency Management Association hasrecently released a report that concludes federal fund-ing for basic emergency preparedness has fallen offsince Sept. 11, 2001 as the federal government hasshifted funding to terrorism prevention and response.

Amy C. Hughes, a policy analyst with NEMA,writes that states are finding ways to make sure thereare sufficient resources to assist local jurisdictions anddisaster victims.

Other challenges facing states are evolving withshifting demographics. As the number and makeup ofthe immigrant population changes, state officials havefocused more on policies addressing immigrants’ accessto quality health care services. Melissa Taylor Bell,associate director of research at The Council of StateGovernments, examines the issue and some of theapproaches states are considering.

Another major demographicshift is our nation’s aging popu-lation. In an interview withState News, Virginia Gov. MarkWarner, chair of the SouthernGovernors’Association, a CSG affiliate, urges stateleaders to start looking at senior citizen issues in a dif-ferent way. Programs for the elderly have traditionallycentered on health care. However, our aging populationis living longer and their needs will need to beaddressed throughout all of state government includinghousing, transportation and education.

—Jack Penchoff is senior editor of State News magazine.

States Adjust toDemographic Shifts

Trudi Matthews

Amy C. Hughes

Melissa Taylor Bell

Jack Penchoff

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toolbox

If you’ve ever wondered how school systems in your commu-nity stack up against others in your state or around the country,there’s a new Web site that will answer some of your questions.

An outgrowth of public/private collaboration, the SchoolInformation Partnership has unveiled SchoolResults.org. TheWeb site takes public data produced as a result of the No ChildLeft Behind Act and can display it by school, district or state.While data is currently only available from 23 states, the restshould be online by the end of the year.

The U.S. Department of Education, the National Center forEducational Accountability, the Broad Foundation, and Standard& Poors’ School Evaluation Services teamed up to launch andadminister the site.

“The School Information Partnership Web site makes NoChild Left Behind data widely available, accessible and useful toeveryone interested in improving the performance of publicschools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. “This datawill not only empower parents with information about how theirchild’s school is doing, but it will also allow administrators and

teachers to diagnose the strengths and challenges of specificschools, districts and states. Once the benchmark has been set,the community can work together to set improvement goals andwork on ways to improve student achievement.”

The School Information Partnership was announced inSeptember 2003 by President Bush as a tool to help educationstakeholders make informed decisions about education policy.The Web site offers comparative tools and benchmarks that stateofficials and policy-makers can use to track schools’ progress,compare them to schools in other states, and pinpoint and learnfrom best practices.

No Child Left Behind—which is based on the principles ofaccountability, local control, options for parents, and best prac-tices—has met with mixed responses as states scramble to imple-ment its requirements. According to Stateline.org, as of earlyJuly, 27 state legislatures had drafted bills to protest NCLB’scosts, penalties and federal oversight but governors in only threestates had signed the legislation: Maine, Utah and Vermont.

For more information, visit www.schoolresults.org.

School Performance Goes Online

Data available

State preview period

Data not yet availableSource: School Information Partnership.

States with NCLB Data Online

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toolbox

If state governments were prize fighters and informationtechnology the knockout punch, Michigan would be the reign-ing champ. So says the Center for Digital Government.

The center’s comprehensive 2004 Digital States Survey exam-ined best practices, policies and progress made by state govern-ments in their use of digital technology to serve their residents.Michigan edged out Washington and Virginia to be rated numberone this year.

“We’re using information technology to support andenhance the core functions of Michigan government and toposition our state as a global economic powerhouse in the21st century,” said Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.“Information technology is playing a critical role in everyaspect of our work. Whether it’s helping us work with localgovernments and the private sector to improve efficiencies orhelping us create jobs through economic development initia-tives, information technology is at the heart of Michigan’sstate government.”

The survey takes more than 60 measurements in four cate-gories including service delivery, infrastructure, collaboration

and leadership. Cornerstones of Michigan initiatives include pro-grams that allow citizens to obtain permits, pay fines, make statepark reservations and renew licenses. Residents can search theofficial Michigan State Police criminal history record databasefor a minimal fee. The database is updated daily with felony andmisdemeanor conviction information provided by law enforce-ment, prosecuting attorneys and courts throughout the state. On alighter side, residents can access the Michigan RecreationBoating Information System with more than 1,300 public boat-ing sites and over 80 harbors and marinas throughout the state.

“Information technology is one of the most powerful toolsused by state governments to serve their citizens,” said CathileaRobinett, executive director of the center. “In the hands of someincredibly talented and knowledgeable leaders, states haveadvanced to an entirely new level of digital government. It is fit-ting now to acknowledge these digital states and the profession-als behind the scenes who are making it all happen.”

Earlier this year, the center released the results of similar sur-vey of state legislatures in a report titled Best of Breed. Roundingout the top five were Nevada, South Dakota and Minnesota (tied

for second place), Louisiana, Iowa andIllinois. The report cited several commonthreads running through state legislatures’ ITinitiatives including: the modernization ofbill tracking systems, the introduction ofwireless networks in capitols, the widespreaduse of laptop computers, and an orientationtoward the Internet to further accountabilityand transparency. The Center for Digital Government is a

national research and advisory institute pro-viding government, industry and educationleaders with decision support, research andeducational resources to help them effectivelyincorporate new technologies in the 21st cen-tury. The biennial Digital States Survey willbe conducted again in 2006.For more information, visit The Center for

Digital Government at www.centerdigitalgov.com or the Michigan Department ofInformation Technology atwww.michigan.gov/dit.

States Recognized for IT Best Practices

Michigan, long known as an industrial-era powerhouse built on auto and steel manufacturing, hasemerged as the leader, capturing first-place in the survey, followed by Washington,Virginia, Indiana,Arizona, South Dakota,Tennessee, Utah,Arkansas, Colorado and North Carolina (tied for 10th).

Dennis McKenna, CEO of the Center for Digital Government; Michigan Chief InformationOfficer Teri Takai; Gov. Jennifer Granholm; Cathilea Robinett, executive director; and PaulW. Taylor, chief strategy officer of the center.

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statesources

Whereas New Jersey residents pay a $2.05 tax on eachpack of cigarettes, Virginia’s cigarette tax is only 2.5 cents apack. Drivers in Georgia pay 7.5 cents a gallon in state gaso-line tax, while Rhode Island drivers pay 30 cents a gallon.And while Mississippi, Tennessee and Rhode Island impose a7 percent state sales tax—the highest rate in the nation—Alaska, New Hampshire, Delaware, Oregon and Montanahave no sales tax.

The logic? There is none, according to CCH Tax andAccounting. “Aside from generally low cigarette taxes intobacco-growing states, there seems to be little pattern to theway states tax consumption,” said Ken Traisman, a state taxanalyst for CCH.

The company’s 2004 survey of state consumption taxesshowed that “America is a study in contrasts.” The surveyincludes general sales taxes and the excise taxes on cigarettesand gasoline. State tax rates, however, tell only part of thestory, according to CCH, because city and county taxes alsovary widely.

The survey results are available atwww.cch.com/press/news/2004/20040629t.asp.

State Consumption Taxes:A Study in Contrasts

In a national survey in 2000, 19 percent of city officials sur-veyed said they were very pessimistic (2 percent) or mildly pes-simistic (17 percent) about the general direction the country isheading. This year, however, 45 percent are either very pes-simistic (13 percent) or mildly pessimistic (31 percent).

Four years ago, municipal officials ranked city fiscal condi-tions and overall economic conditions as the two areas that hadimproved most during the previous five years. This year, theysaid city fiscal conditions and overall economic conditions areamong the five areas that have deteriorated most.

These are among the results of The State of America’sCities 2004: The Annual Opinion Survey of Municipal ElectedOfficials, conducted by the National League of Cities.Although these figures show a marked worsening of localeconomies, the report says they are consistent with responsesduring the recession of the early 1990s.

Here are some of the report’s other findings:

� Forty-five percent of respondents have seen an increasedneed for “survival services”—food, shelter, heating and airconditioning, clothing and health care.

� More than a third of those surveyed said that, without tax orfee increases, city services will be cut next year.

� Partnerships with the federal government and states areweakening. Sixty-three percent said the impact of unfundedmandates and preemption of local authority have worsenedsince last year. Seventy-six percent said unfunded mandates

are a major problem (32 percent) or a moderate problem (44 percent).

� Fifty-six percent said their municipality’s relationship withthe state is excellent (17 percent) or good (39 percent).Seven percent said the state’s impact in their city is verypositive; 45 percent said it’s positive. However, 50 percentsay the state’s relationship with the city is a major problem(19 percent) or a moderate problem (31 percent).

� Priorities for federal action include the cost and availabilityof health services, overall economic conditions, the impactof unfunded mandates and preemption of local authority,affordable housing, unemployment, and racial and economicinequalities.

Visit www.nlc.org for information about how to obtain a copyof The State of America’s Cities 2004.

State of the Cities

Despite an historic U.S. trade deficit approaching $500 bil-lion, state governments are rapidly cutting the trade promotionprograms that small businesses depend on to compete in theglobal marketplace.

According to a recent survey from the State InternationalDevelopment Organizations, a CSG affiliate, state govern-ments have cut their trade promotion budgets by more than 20percent since 2002. However, this figure masks even deepercuts because it counts only those states that still have tradeprograms. California, a state with an economy the size of theUnited Kingdom, eliminated its trade promotion programentirely in 2003.

SIDO Survey 2004: Emerging Trends in State InternationalBusiness Development also found that while the total numberof state overseas trade offices declined from 243 in 2002 to224 in 2004, the number of trade offices in China rose by 20percent from 20 to 24. In addition, the survey found that eightout of 10 states have no mechanism for tracking service indus-try exports, despite the fact that the service industry is the sin-gle largest sector of the American economy.

To find more about SIDO’s original research, contact ChrisWhatley, CSG director of international programs, at (202)624-5460 or [email protected].

International Trade FundingFalls as Trade Deficit Rises

Most Deteriorated City Conditions*� Traffic (27 percent)� Unemployment (22 percent)� Unfunded mandates/preemption of local authority (22 percent)� Economic conditions (22 percent)� City fiscal conditions (21 percent)* Percent of city officials listing item as one of the three most

deteriorated conditions during the past five years. Source: NationalLeague of Cities.

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orget for the moment what you don’t knowabout wireless technology and focus ontwo facts: according to a recent survey bythe Pew Internet and American LifeProject, more than a quarter of allAmericans can now use wireless-enableddevices like notebook computers and cellu-lar phones to connect to the Internet. Andthanks to wireless connections, about one-

third of the U.S. work force now works from home at least parttime, according to figures released in July by In-Stat/MDR. Manyof these people will use free or cheap connections, thanks to afresh idea nurtured by the Federal Communications Commission.

Trash to TreasureUntil recently, technology and the nature of radio spectrum

conspired to prohibit license holders in the same geographic areafrom using the same frequency to transmit, for example, a televi-sion signal. Broadcasters would interfere with each other, or moreaccurately, with viewers’ ability to pick up the broadcast, becausetelevision sets could not distinguish between competing signalsusing the same frequency.

As with nearly every other practice in the public and privatesectors, the digital reformation is challenging old ideas.

One of the FCC’s biggest achievements in recent years is theculmination of a decision made in 1985 to permit unlicenseddevices to operate in so-called “junk” frequency bands—meaningnot very valuable commercially—as long as they did not interferewith licensed services. For years cordless phones and baby moni-tors, essentially “dumb” devices, filled that product niche.

Realizing how technical standards had created a boom in officecomputer networking, technologists in the late 1980s sought toestablish similar standards for wireless networks. By 1997 a groupestablished by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineershad created a technology standard with the odd name of 802.11,after the subcommittee that created it. The new standard first reg-istered with the public about three years ago near the bottom of thetechnology driven stock market crash, making it one of the fewsuccess stories in an otherwise dismal period for the industry.

Marketed by the computer industry as Wi-Fi, the standard cre-ated a broadband wireless connection of 100 feet or less—not far,but suddenly people found themselves with fast, inexpensivewireless access to the Internet. Bingo.

In urban areas of the country today, large areas are blanketedwith broadband wireless “hot spots.” Starbucks and othernational retail chains such as McDonalds have found that Wi-Ficonnections are people magnets. Because they cost so little toset up, they add virtually nothing to operating costs. Businesstravelers now rely on Wi-Fi connections at airports and city cen-ters to stay connected to the office. Supported by cheap andreadily available networking gear, Wi-Fi home networks arealso commonplace.

Racing Against Time?Cellular carriers, in contrast, have been working for some time

on their versions of high-speed wireless services. Each nationalcarrier has plans to expand or build new wireless infrastructure toaccommodate various wireless broadband technologies used intheir respective networks. These services are collectively referredto as “3G,” or third generation cellular. Cellular phones using 3G

F

Unlicensed and Unwired:The FCC’s Signal Achievement

Wireless networks are changing how we view communications networksBy Wayne Hall

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM


services often sport tiny keyboards and color screens because ofthe emphasis on transmitting data like pictures, spreadsheets andbusiness documents.

Unlike Wi-Fi, which is a well defined and widely accepted datacommunications standard, incompatible cellular technologies areclosely identified with their respective carriers. Switching carriersoften means switching phones. Having paid billions of dollars atauction for spectrum, cellular carriers must also recoup thoseexpenditures, leading to high roaming rates, indecipherable callingplans and unpopular long-term commitments.

Meanwhile, Intel has built Wi-Fi technology into its processors,which are used in the vast majority of notebook computers aroundthe world. It also recently threw its support behind a newer, longerrange version of Wi-Fi called WiMax.

Whereas Wi-Fi signal can be measured in feet, WiMax, whichoperates in both unlicensed and licensed bands, will extend thebroadband signal for miles. Municipalities and some county gov-ernments are now beginning the first cautious implementations ofthe extended technology because it offers a promising third optionfor customers who lack broadband choices from either the tele-phone or cable companies.

A New Policy, $100 at a Time The success of Wi-Fi has certainly spiced the debate over the

best methods for managing spectrum, which is, after all, publicproperty. To no one’s surprise, the U.S. General Accounting Officerecently reported that the nation’s airwaves are poorly managedbecause software-driven wireless services can increasingly bemade to use nearly any available spectrum. Current policy gener-ally assigns spectrum to services (such as radio navigation in aviation) and users (federal, nonfederal and shared) rather than permitting services to find available spectrum.

That criticism has not been lost on the FCC, which is at thebeginning of an historic overhaul that recognizes that future wire-less technologies will make service- or user-specific spectrumassignments essentially meaningless.

For example, the commission recently changed its rules gov-erning unlicensed devices to make it easier to deploy “smart anten-na” technologies. Smart antennas adjust to their environment,dynamically reusing—or avoiding—licensed spectrum as needed.

Paired with consumer hand-held technologies, such wireless tan-gos will foster even more innovative use of this public property.

In May the FCC also appointed a wireless broadband task forcethat will review spectrum management policies and regulationsand deliver recommendations to FCC commissioners this fall. Oneof the FCC’s explicit goals will be to encourage the developmentof wireless Internet service providers (WISPs), particularly inrural areas. Given recent advances in delivering voice communi-cations using Internet technologies, WISPs could establish them-selves as new, Internet-powered phone companies. The cost toenter this market as a provider is very low.

The commission may have to engage the broadcasting industry inhard bargaining before that occurs. Because radio waves in the lowertelevision bands can travel longer distances using the same power andare relatively unaffected by obstacles like trees and homes, broadbandwireless advocates have a great deal of affection for the lower reach-es of radio spectrum where broadcasters operate. Wireless broadbandis simply more effective in the lower frequencies.

They have an ally in FCC Chairman Michael Powell, who is anardent proponent of exploring those alternatives. In another of sev-eral indications that reform is coming, the agency has put theindustry on notice that it is looking at the assigned “white space”for broadband applications. That vacant spectrum has been used asa buffer to separate adjacent broadcast channels, a relic of a rapid-ly closing era.

But perhaps the greatest legacy of the development of Wi-Fiand unlicensed devices will be how such networks are capitalized.Clay Shirky, who studies Internet technologies and society, pointsout in his article, “The Possibility of Spectrum as a Public Good,”that “there are two ways to build $10 billion in network infrastruc-ture. The first is to get ten large firms to pony up a billion each[buying spectrum licenses at auctions], and the second is to get 10million users to spend a hundred dollars each [on network hotspots]. Wi-Fi fits that second model …”

Unlicensed—free—spectrum created an opening for the devel-opment of consumer broadband wireless applications like Wi-Fi,which has been an enormous success. Further exploitation of thatfree spectrum by the information technology industry to delivervoice, data and video over the airwaves will change how we viewcommunications networks. People, not government-subsidizedindustries, are creating a wireless future one $100-purchase at atime. That’s economic development.

—Wayne Hall is technology program manager for NASTD—Telecommunications and Technology Professionals Serving StateGovernment, an affiliate of The Council of State Governments.

Starbucks and other national retail chainssuch as McDonalds have found that Wi-Fi

connections are people magnets.Because they cost so little to set up, theyadd virtually nothing to operating costs.

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Gov. Mark R.Warner of Virginia turned a personal challenge into a public service pow-erhouse that is helping thousands of Virginians find health and aging information for seniorcitizens and their families.

Before he was elected governor in 2002, Warner was a successful venture capitalist inNorthern Virginia who funded innovative ideas and who knew the value and importanceof the Web as an information resource.

Warner felt powerless, however, when his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dis-ease.Warner’s parents live in Connecticut and his father was striving to find basic informa-tion about caring for his wife such as how to find the right doctor.

“I am a reasonably well-informed person; successful in business. Dad didn’t know where toturn, so I tried to help him,”Warner said during an interview with State News.“What we foundwas that even state aging agencies do not know all the resources that are available.”

Aging’s ‘GoldenOpportunities’

By Jack Penchoff

Gov. Mark Warner calls for policy-makers to rethink policies on aging

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Help for SeniorsWarner’s quest led to the development in 2001 of Senior

Navigator.com, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Virginia HealthCare Foundation, a public/private partnership devoted toincreasing access to health care for Virginia’s uninsured andmedically underserved.

The site provides information on 18,000 programs and serv-ices in Virginia that serve the aging and their caregivers, someof whom live out-of-state.

Although Warner’s focus before he took office wasSeniorNavigator.com, his vision about aging issues and theirimpact on society is much broader today.

“Policy-makers, including me, do not fully understand theramifications of the aging of our population,” he said. “Over thenext 10 years, 76 million baby boomers will be entering retire-ment age.”

Warner believes state governments need to prepare fortoday’s seniors who will be active in civic and cultural affairswell into their 70s and 80s, especially in the Southern states thathave become destinations for retirees.

A New Way of ThinkingAs chair of the Southern Governors’ Association, Warner

plans to engage his Southern colleagues in a discussion on agingduring the SGA’s annual meeting in Richmond, Sept. 12-14.“In the South we have a disproportionately high number of sen-iors. We need to lead the nation,” he said.

SGA, an affiliate of The Council of State Governments, is smallenough for governors to exchange ideas, he said. “We need to stepback from the latest view for prescription benefits or tax breaksand rethink how we deal with the aging population.”

Warner said he supports benefits for seniors, “but if we thinkonly about how we can add taxes or health care or related ben-efits, the demographic shift will break the bank.”

In Virginia, for example, senior citizens were allowed to deduct$12,000 off their state income tax, regardless of their income.

“We were letting millionaires take off $12,000 from theirtaxes, while we were cutting Medicaid for seniors in need,” hesaid. “It was costing the state millions of dollars and growingexponentially. We had the lowest Medicaid reimbursement inthe nation. It wasn’t fair.”

Working with two of the largest senior citizen organizations,AARP and the National Association of Retired FederalEmployees, Virginia restructured its system so that thosealready receiving the tax break were grandfathered in. Nowthere are income limits for seniors to qualify for the tax break.

“AARP and NARFE were both willing to be part of the taxstructuring,” said Warner. “They were part of the solution.”

Shifting DemographicsPolicy-makers should begin studying aging in the light of

shifting demographics in which “a tidal wave of seniors” areliving longer and are more active members of society.

“We still mostly approach the issue of aging from a silo ofhealth care and nursing homes. We have to stop this notion thatseniors over 65 are no longer productive,” he said.

In the early 1900s, 65 became the generally accepted age forretirement. “Age 65 was set when the average life expectancywas 44,” he said.

By 1933, when Social Security was introduced, the averagelife expectancy was 59 and a senior citizen who reached age 65could expect to live an additional 13 years, according to theSocial Security Administration.

Today, the average life expectancy is 76 and a senior whoretires at age 65 can expect to live 18 more years.

“We have made giant strides in medical technology. It is rac-ing much faster than social policy,” said Warner. “We’ve madeenormous medical breakthroughs to help seniors live longer, butwe have not done enough to allow them to grow old with digni-ty and independence.”

Across Policy AreasTo improve the quality of life for seniors, said Warner, policy-

makers have to address aging issues across state government ineducation, transportation, housing and economic development.

“The private sector is way ahead on this,” said Warner, citingthe development of elder-friendly communities. These commu-nities address issues such as providing transportation for elder-ly citizens who can no longer drive, but want to remain active.

Even education, which primarily centers on the young, is anaging issue, said Warner. “How do we keep seniors involved incontinuing to learn?”

And any policy discussions about aging must include therealm of the caregiver.

“A decade ago there wasn’t much discussion about caring forparents. Today, with the aging population, there are few peoplewho are not caregiving in some form,” Warner said.

A 2002 study by the insurance carrier, MetLife, estimates thatthe 25 percent of Americans who care for a parent in some formlose more than $11 billion annually in wages, Social Securityand pension fund contributions.

And the trend in adults caring for their parents continues to rise.The Boston Globe reported in July that the average adult couplehas more parents and parents-in-law than they do children.

Warner hopes his SGA aging initiative, “GoldenOpportunities” and his role this year as chair of the NationalGovernors’ Association, will help shift the discussion aboutaging issues.

“My hope is that we come away with people thinking aboutaging in a different way,” said Warner. “If we continue with thisnotion of retirement at 65, we lose a lot of productivity.”

—Jack Penchoff is senior editor of State News magazine.

“We still mostly approach the issue of agingfrom a silo of health care and nursing homes.We have to stop this notion that seniors over65 are no longer productive.”

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM

Marie is a 20-something single mother with bipolar disor-der. Her mental illness, coupled with a learning disability anddrug addiction, has hampered her efforts to finish her GEDand hold down a job. She and her son get by with state assis-tance including welfare, food stamps and Medicaid. She isnot supposed to drive, so she relies on friends and familymembers to take her to frequent doctor, counselor and gov-ernment agency appointments.

In her teens, she began to use illegal drugs to manage severedepressive episodes. Marie actually learned about her bipolar dis-order while in drug rehabilitation the first time, but the treatmentfacility could not address her dual diagnosis of chemical depend-ency and bipolar disorder. Only after suffering a relapse was sheable to get into a program that could deal with both issues. “Mycounselors admitted that my substance abuse was related to my

mental illness, but they really didn’t have the staff there to helpme,” she said.

Marie is what her state calls a high-risk case. Because of hermultiple challenges, she receives support and services from mul-tiple state agencies and systems of care, and often these systemsare not well coordinated. Marie feels lucky that she has beenassigned a single case manager to help manage all the paperworkand coordinate all of her social service needs. Others with her con-dition are not so lucky.

Marie’s story is just one example of why individuals, familiesand states face enormous challenges in creating systems of careand social supports for people with mental illness. Advocates andgovernment leaders argue that too often government programs aremerely band-aids that do not aid long-term recovery, but someleaders are trying to change this.

By Trudi Matthews

On theRoad toRecoveryStates are transforming mental health care

“The biggest difference betweennow and 20 years ago is that wecan say confidently that recoveryfrom mental illness is a real possibility.We can help peoplewith mental illness get the lifethey want in the community.”

—Dr. Charles Curie, administrator, Substance

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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the council of state governments 15

The Need for TransformationIn April 2002, President Bush established the President’s New

Freedom Commission on Mental Health to do a comprehensivestudy of the nation’s mental health system. The commission’s finalreport, released in July 2003, found mental health in the UnitedStates to be “a patchwork relic” of fragmented, disconnected serv-ices. The commission agreed that the system was beyond simplerepair and was desperately in need of a massive overhaul.

“Mental health care in the United States has never had a clearstrategic vision,” said Dr. Charles Curie in an interview with CSG.“It has been characterized by a range of systems with significantgaps that have grown up over time.” Curie, a member of the com-mission, is administrator of the Substance Abuse and MentalHealth Services Administration, the federal agency devoted tomental health and substance abuse services.

Many state leaders see similar problems. “We have so manymore tools and a better understanding of how to treat mental ill-ness,” said Rep. Kathie Garrett of Idaho, who has worked as amental health advocate. “But this has not translated into a bet-ter way of doing things. We spend more money on fixing crisesthan on prevention.”

“Most people don’t realize that depression and other mental ill-nesses are treatable,” said Maryland Delegate Adelaide Eckardt,who is a psychiatric nurse. “We must get treatment early to peoplebecause this prevents permanent damage and impairment fromhappening when a condition goes untreated.”

Indiana Sen. Gary Dillon, a physician, agrees. “The fragmen-tation of our health care system contributes to our problems withmental health. People are not getting the optimal care they need atthe right time.”

The Scope of the IssueAccording to the Surgeon General’s report on mental health

published in 1999, roughly one of every five Americans suffersfrom some kind of mental disorder in a given year. Of this num-ber, 5 percent suffer from some form of serious mental illness,such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Among children,nearly one in 10 has a mental disorder severe enough to causeimpairment.

Other state/local

Other federal

Medicare

MedicaidMedica

Public

Other private

Out of pocket

Private insurance

Private

12%

20%

4%

19%

24%

18%

3%

Mental Health Spending, 1997

According to theSurgeon General’sreport on mentalhealth published in1999, roughly one of every fiveAmericans suffersfrom some kind ofmental disorder in a given year.

Source: Mark,TL, Coffey RM, King E, et al. (2000). “Spending on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment, 1987-1997.” Health Affairs. 19 (4): 108-120.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM


While few families remain untouched by mental illness, lessthan one-third of adults and fewer than half of all children withdiagnosable mental disorders receive some form of treatment dur-ing the year.

In 1997, the direct costs of treating mental illness were estimat-ed to be $71 billion, according to SAMHSA. Indirect costs to thenation due to lost productivity, crime and other social costs wereestimated at $79 billion.

For those who seek treatment, states provide and finance a largepart of mental health care. Public funding makes up 57 percent ofmental health care spending, compared to just 46 percent of healthcare in general, according to the New Freedom Commissionreport. States provide more than 50 percent of publicly financedmental health care through Medicaid and state mental health agen-cies. Mental health patients make up 30 percent of states’high-costMedicaid enrollees.

The cost of untreated mental illness is also born to a largedegree by states. Mental illnesses account for nearly one-quarterof all disability worldwide. About 90 percent of people with severemental illnesses are unemployed. Most want to work but are afraidof losing state health care coverage and other benefits that are vitalto continued recovery.

A Government Accounting Office report estimated that nearly13,000 families had to give up custody of their children in 2001 tostates’ juvenile justice or foster care systems to get their childrenthe mental health treatment they needed. Of those in juveniledetention, 65 percent of boys and 75 percent of girls have a psy-chiatric disorder.

The States’ Role in Systemic ChangeThe President’s New Freedom Commission report emphasized

the need for recovery to be the guiding framework for funding andpolicy at the federal, state and local levels.

“State policy-makers are central to the process of transforma-tion of the mental health system,” said Curie. “They can opera-tionalize transformation by bringing all of the departments in stategovernment together to develop a plan for recovery in childrenand adults with mental illness.”

At a recent Health Policy Forum on mental health hosted byCSG, state leaders from across the country discussed the need forsystemic change in the mental health system and states’ role in theprocess. Attendees identified a number of ways for state leaders toparticipate in transforming the system.

One approach is for states to develop a comprehensive statemental health plan with all relevant stakeholders at the table.Nevada state Sen. Randolph Townsend, who served on the NewFreedom Commission, was instrumental in the passage of SB 301in Nevada in 2003. This law established the Nevada Mental HealthPlan Implementation Commission, which is charged with devel-oping a statewide action plan to address the New FreedomCommission’s recommendations.

States are also fostering interagency and multibranch collabora-tion and integration of service systems. Such collaborations areespecially necessary to develop and implement comprehensive,coordinated approaches for consumers who are heavy users of var-ious government programs. CSG’s Criminal Justice Mental HealthConsensus Project (see page 37) has aided many states in develop-ing interagency initiatives to deal with mentally ill offenders.

“Integrated approaches help people get the care they need.Thismeans not only medical care but also social services and connectionswith society,” Curie said.“We also need links with other systems suchas child welfare, education and the juvenile justice system, with clearpathways to mental health assessment and treatment.”

Continued on page 37

Workshop on Transforming theMental Health Care System

A workshop titled “On the Road to Recovery: StatesTransforming Mental Health Care,” will be held onWednesday, Sept. 29 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at CSG’sAnnual State Trends and Leadership Forum in Anchorage,Alaska.The featured speaker will be Dr. Charles Curie,administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration. Curie, a former state mentalhealth agency director, will discuss the findings of thePresident’s New Freedom Commission and how statesand the federal government can work together moreclosely to transform mental health care in the UnitedStates from a fragmented system to one that supportsrecovery and life in the community.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM


State Expenditures Total Rank FY 01 Per Capita Per Capita Rank

Alabama $253,279,095 26 $56.97 39Alaska $51,444,549 48 $81.36 22Arizona $472,341,791 15 $89.36 18Arkansas $75,737,397 42 $28.25 50California $3,147,792,993 2 $91.61 15

Colorado $282,614,825 25 $64.24 31Connecticut $439,519,867 17 $128.85 6Delaware $73,505,846 44 $92.70 14District of Columbia $226,558,837 28 $397.84 1Florida $578,266,440 12 $35.41 47

Georgia $380,647,277 21 $45.59 43Hawaii $213,643,908 29 $175.21 3Idaho $60,524,315 46 $46.01 42Illinois $789,861,370 6 $63.54 32Indiana $394,000,682 19 $64.70 30

Iowa $213,046,761 30 $73.18 26Kansas $161,844,236 33 $60.31 36Kentucky $196,918,103 32 $48.64 41Louisiana $200,926,081 31 $45.18 44Maine $137,507,731 35 $107.31 11

Maryland $677,806,345 10 $126.62 7Massachusetts $682,218,519 9 $107.38 10Michigan $895,065,635 4 $89.96 17Minnesota $517,963,917 14 $104.60 12Mississippi $246,792,149 27 $86.71 21

Missouri $336,198,023 23 $59.96 37Montana $111,722,233 38 $124.04 8Nebraska $86,563,973 40 $50.73 40Nevada $120,210,842 37 $57.31 38New Hampshire $140,484,321 34 $112.03 9

New Jersey $763,057,140 7 $90.31 16New Mexico $59,378,289 47 $32.60 49New York $3,331,688,218 1 $175.97 2North Carolina $616,120,223 11 $75.57 24North Dakota $49,853,968 49 $78.90 23

Ohio $692,287,984 8 $61.12 34Oklahoma $136,072,416 36 $39.49 45Oregon $336,847,640 22 $97.39 13Pennsylvania $1,859,763,966 3 $151.98 4Puerto Rico $72,184,769 45 $18.88 52

Rhode Island $92,499,566 39 $87.71 20South Carolina $299,401,952 24 $73.99 25South Dakota $45,696,380 51 $60.65 35Tennessee $395,202,700 18 $69.13 28Texas $796,974,433 5 $37.53 46

Utah $73,790,335 43 $32.64 48Vermont $79,658,335 41 $130.46 5Virginia $466,572,662 16 $65.18 29Washington $525,564,708 13 $88.13 19West Virginia $45,804,114 50 $25.52 51

Wisconsin $389,416,626 20 $72.39 27Wyoming $30,097,068 52 $61.12 33

Source: National Mental Health Information Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

State Mental Health Agency, Mental Health Actual Dollar and Per Capita Expenditures, 2001

statesnapshots

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM


trendsalert

s the number of immi-grants grows and thedemographic makeup ofthe immigrant populationchanges, states must

address issues related to populationgrowth as well as social, economic and cultural diversity. Consequently, there areat least two major issues for states toaddress concerning immigration and health care.

The UninsuredFirst, the foreign-born population is

more than twice as likely as natives to beuninsured. Most of this gap, however, canbe explained by differences among twosubgroups of the foreign-born popula-tion—naturalized citizens and nonciti-zens, who include undocumented as wellas resident aliens.

Without health insurance, someimmigrants rely on emergency roomcare. This drives up health care costs forpublic and private payers.

Certain legal immigrants may qualifyfor Medicaid after they’ve been in the country for five years;states have the option of whether or not to provide Medicaidfor qualified immigrants. According to a recent publication bythe Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, 18states provided Medicaid coverage to some legal immigrantsin 2003, without reimbursement from the federal government.As Medicaid costs continue to spiral upward, this issue couldhave major fiscal implications for the states.

Some states and localities have started to look at ways toreduce the number of uninsured immigrants. For instance,Healthy NY, a program in New York state, provides publiclyfunded insurance and incentives for employers to provide cover-age. Healthy NY creates state-sponsored benefit packagesthrough HMOs to encourage small businesses to provide healthinsurance. In addition, the working uninsured can purchase state-sponsored health insurance. Eligibility varies but is typicallybased on income.

Rather than creating incentives for employers to providehealth insurance, some states are using the public health systemto increase health care coverage. One way to do that is to aggres-sively market the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

(SCHIP) to children in immigrant families.There are other ways states can help improve access to

health care. The Illinois Department of Human ServicesBureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services provides fundingfor three suburban health clinics in areas with large immigrantpopulations. These clinics provide services for impoverishedimmigrants whether they are legal or illegal.

Health LiteracyThe second major issue that immigrants face is linguistic

and cultural barriers that affect how well they understandhealth care information. Health literacy—the ability to read,understand and act on health information—is low among non-English speakers. People from different parts of the worldview disease and illness in different ways. People from differ-

ent cultures may shy away from certaintreatments, and some cultures may preferhomeopathic or nontraditional treatmentover mainstream medical treatments.

Most states already address languagebarriers in the public health care systemin one way or another. Currently, 40states have laws dealing with languagebarriers in health care. Just speakinganother language is not enough. Therecan be variations in dialect, socioculturaldifferences and problems with under-standing medical terminology.

One approach to breaking down lin-guistic and cultural barriers is to focuson the skills of health care providers.

Lawmakers can create policies and programs to promote for-eign languages in college health care curricula. They can alsopromote cultural competency in medical and nursing programsand professional education for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Another approach is to concentrate on the patients, ratherthan the health care providers. Many state health departmentsand Medicaid programs prepare multilingual patient educationmaterials to help non-English speakers understand how to usethe health care system and deal with certain conditions, suchas a diabetes, asthma, heart disease and pregnancy.

Immigrants face some of the same problems that the nativepopulation does in terms of finding access to affordable healthcare. In addition, immigrants face linguistic and cultural barri-ers that can affect the quality of their care. As immigrationcontinues to increase, states are expected to focus more onpolicies and programs to address immigrants’ access to qualityhealth care services.

—Melissa Taylor Bell is associate director of research at TheCouncil of State Governments.

Increasing Immigrants’ Access to Quality Health CareBy Melissa Taylor Bell

AThe foreign-born

population is more thantwice as likely

as natives to be uninsured.Without

health insurance, someimmigrants rely on

emergency room care.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:31 AM


ildfires have raged inAlaska and California inrecent months, causing bil-lions of dollars in damageto homes and rearrangingthe landscape. Yet whenthese events compete with

news of the war on terrorism, the fires lose out. With all the recent attention on the 9-11

Commission report, the upcoming election and thecandidates’ platforms on homeland security and thebattle against terrorism, it appears as though prepar-ing for disasters is among our nation’s top priorities.

But what about natural disasters? Is the nation pre-pared to adequately respond to the next big hurricaneor earthquake?

A new report indicates that federal funding forbasic emergency preparedness has fallen off in recentyears in favor of grants for terrorism prevention andresponse. According to the 2004 NEMA BiennialReport: Organizations, Operations & Funding for

State Emergency Management & Homeland Security,produced by the National Emergency ManagementAssociation, the focus on terrorism preparedness infederal grant funding has left states with much of theburden for the costs of natural and manmade disas-ters. Coupled with state budget deficits over the pastthree years, the fiscal strain on disaster managementmay leave states unprepared and underfunded forhazards of all kinds.

The report examines funding, spending, organiza-tional and operational issues for all 50 state-levelemergency management programs, including thosewith responsibility for homeland security.

A Shift in MomentumThroughout the 1990s, steady increases in spend-

ing on emergency management were an encouragingsign that the federal government and states werestrengthening their investment in public safety.However, the fiscal strain on state budgets post-Sept.11 left a dent in funding for disaster management.

W

National report reveals funding is inadequate for natural disasters By Amy C. Hughes

Are StatesReally Prepared?

Photo courtesy of The Federal Emergency Management Agency

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM

According to the NEMA report, in fiscal year 2003 total spend-ing by states on disaster management amounted to $2.1 billion—an increase of less than 10 percent compared to fiscal year 1999.Average spending by states on disaster management declined by$2 million. The report noted an increase in spending on emergencymanagement among larger states, and decreases among small tomedium sized states.

Of the billions of dollars spent on emergency management, 50percent is dedicated to preparedness activities, such as planning,training personnel, statewide disaster exercises, emergency publicwarning tests, and community disaster education programs. Theemphasis on preventing and preparing for disasters has increasedsignificantly from previous years in part due to the intense focuson homeland security and terrorism preparedness. But in disastermanagement, it is important to consider all phases—from the firstsign of danger, until the last brick is replaced. Any weak link in thechain can leave states vulnerable to the next hazard; and, if toomuch emphasis is placed on terrorism, states may be less preparedfor the inevitable fire, flood, earthquake or hurricane.

Cuts in Critical Federal ProgramsIn the realm of emergency management, states and local gov-

ernments are intrinsically tied to many federal programs that assistgovernment, business and homeowners in recovering from cata-strophic disasters. The shift in focus by the federal governmenttoward funding for terrorism has resulted in less money for tradi-tional emergency management programs.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides up to 75 per-cent of the cost of mitigation projects that are used to reduce thedamage caused by future disasters. Such projects include propertybuy-out programs in flood-prone areas and the construction of tor-nado shelters and “safe rooms” for schools. Under new guidelinesissued in fiscal year 2003, the federal government reduced fund-ing for such programs by half, forcing states to make adjustmentsin ongoing projects and eliminate others altogether. Thousands ofhomes, businesses and public facilities remain vulnerable becauseof these funding cuts.

Another critical program for states is the EmergencyManagement Performance Grant program, which was created dur-

ing the civil defense era of the 1950s to help provide for the coun-try’s security through a local/state/federal partnership to plan,train, exercise and educate for potential nuclear attacks. The pro-gram has evolved over the years to address all of the hazards thatthreaten communities, states and the country. The EMPG programis one of the few federal grant programs that allow use of funds forstaff positions, and it remains a critical means through which statesand especially local governments maintain full-time emergencymanagement personnel.

Despite the importance of these funds in supporting a nationalemergency preparedness and response infrastructure on the stateand local levels, the EMPG program has been seriously under-funded throughout the past decade. A growing shortfall has causedmany states to appropriate additional funds to support local emer-gency management programs; but the current fiscal crisis, whichmost states project will continue into the future, makes it impossi-ble for them to fully compensate for the shortfall. The homelandsecurity grants are not adequate replacements for the EMPG pro-gram because they do not allow funds to be used for staff posi-tions, and they focus specifically on terrorism.

The NEMA study determined that adequately funding emer-gency management programs on the community level wouldrequire more than $245.9 million. Without this funding, manyemergency management programs—including those that handlehomeland security—will be reduced or dismantled altogether.

Too High a Cost?After Sept. 11, the Department of Homeland Security made

additional grants available to state and local jurisdictions forspecific needs related to terrorism preparedness and response.Most of these required the state and/or local jurisdiction to sharein the cost. Programs such as the Emergency Operations CentersGrants, the Urban Area Security Initiative and the InteroperableCommunications Grant required as much as a 25 percent cost match.

As part of the grant application process, states were requiredto demonstrate that money was immediately available to matchthe federal portion before the grant was awarded. In decidingwhether to apply for the grants, states also had to considerwhether personnel and money were available to administer the

Key Findings of the 2004 NEMA Biennial Report

• $246 million is immediately needed to maintain thecapabilities of state and local governments to pre-pare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

• $1.6 billion will be needed in the next two to fiveyears to construct and maintain state and localemergency operations centers.

• $1.5 billion will be needed in the next two to fiveyears to upgrade or acquire public warning systems.

The 2004 NEMA Biennial Report: Organizations, Operations& Funding for State Emergency Management & HomelandSecurity is available for purchase on the NEMA Web siteat http://nemaweb.org?1021.The flagship publication of theNational Emergency Management Association, it is theonly report of its kind to examine funding, spending, orga-nizational and operational issues for state-level emer-gency management. It offers a nonpartisan perspective onstate emergency management policies and programs thataffect the states’ ability to prepare for, respond to andrecover from disasters and hazards of all kinds, includingacts of terrorism.

Report Now Available

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM

grants and to provide technical assistanceto locals in using the funds in accordancewith the state’s homeland security strate-gy. If the cost shares and other resourceswere not available, many states simplychose not to apply.

The NEMA report indicated that costshares among these and other federal grantprograms prevented 39 states from takingadvantage of a total of $23 million in grantfunding. This amount may have been sig-nificantly higher, but states have adjustedto the financial strain by reallocating spe-cial appropriations, reprioritizing projects,or passing more of the costs to local juris-dictions than in previous years in order toavoid missing out on federal assistancealtogether.

In some cases, the grants only addressedan immediate need compared to the long-term costs of doing business before, duringand after a disaster. The 2002 EmergencyOperations Center Grant was intended toassist state and local governments by offer-ing $81 million in competitive grants tostrengthen the security and efficiency ofthe “nerve center” of disaster operations.While the grant greatly increased certainstates’ capabilities to facilitate emergencyoperations, the expense to build, retrofit,upgrade and enhance state and local EOCsnationwide far exceeds the funds that weremade available.

The NEMA report projects that duringthe next two to five years, more than $1.6billion will be needed to construct and maintain state and local pri-mary and alternate EOCs. This includes the costs to consistentlyupgrade equipment and software, train personnel, and conductoperations during emergency and non-emergency situations.

States Find a WayDespite the slowing rate of spending on disaster services, and a

complete overhaul of the federal emergency management infra-structure, states are finding ways to ensure that there are sufficientresources to assist local jurisdictions and disaster victims.

According to the NEMA report, the use of disaster trust fundshas grown from 19 states in fiscal year 1999 to 32 states in fiscal year 2003. These types of funds offer a secured “nest egg” and a more predictable source of funding in times of dis-aster. These funds can be used to directly support disaster pro-grams and supply the cost match required by federal disasterassistance programs.

In addition, states are adopting innovative approaches to pro-vide other sources of funding for disasters. For example, Arkansasuses fees paid by private sector companies that use or store haz-

ardous chemicals to support hazardous material training programs.The state also maintains a separate state-funded program for disaster assistance and mitigation projects. The disaster fund isresupplied through legislative appropriation as needed in order tomaintain a steady balance of funds that can be accessed through agubernatorial proclamation.

In Kentucky, the governor can issue an executive order for dis-aster funds, which are drawn from unbudgeted excess revenues. InMississippi, the state Legislature has the authority to generate rev-enues to fund the non-federal share of disaster costs through thesale of general obligation bonds.

States will always depend on the federal government to providefinancial assistance when disasters overwhelm local and stateresources, but the creation and use of state alternate fundingsources demonstrate a commitment on the part of governors andlegislators to further invest in protecting their citizens, communi-ties and economies.

—Amy C. Hughes is a policy analyst with the National EmergencyManagement Association, an affiliate of The Council of StateGovernments.


SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM


t’s the biggest state in the nation—more than twicethe size of Texas. It was the 49th state to enter theunion, in 1959. Its nickname is “The Last Frontier”;its motto, “North to the Future.”

It’s the home of glaciers, fjords and the Iditarod.Populated by bald eagles, grizzly bears and hump-back whales, it has more caribou than people.

It is, of course, Alaska—a rugged, majestic landwith bountiful natural resources, a rich history and

a unique place in our national imagination.Despite its image as a picturesque wilderness, Alaska is

located in the middle of one of the most thriving regions in theworld: The Pacific Rim. The 21 nations bordering the Pacific

Ocean contribute more than 60 percent of globalgross domestic product and include five of the

world’s top 10 economies: the United States,Japan, China, Canada and Mexico.

And, as a major source of oil, Alaskaplays a key role in the U.S. economy.

This September, state officialsfrom across the country will learnfirst-hand about Alaska’s resources,hospitality and potential during TheCouncil of State Governments’ 2004State Trends and Leadership Forum,which will be held in conjunctionwith the CSG-WEST AnnualMeeting in Anchorage Sept. 25–29.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski,CSG president; Minnesota Sen. John

Hottinger, CSG chairman; and IdahoSen. Bart Davis, CSG-WEST chairman,

invite you to join colleagues from all threebranches of government as they explore the

forum’s theme: “The Pacific Rim: Leading theWay.” Plenary sessions will include the following:

� Opening Plenary—Gov. Murkowski will wel-come attendees and highlightAlaska’s growing role in the region.

� Our Energy Future: Where Do We Go FromHere? With domestic energy prices escalating to newhighs, and worldwide oil production controlled by OPECnations, what are the short- and long-term prospects forAmericans? Panelists will discuss current trends and futurepolicy options regarding supply and demand, energy pro-ducing technologies, alternative energy sources, environ-mental issues and more.

� Emerging Trends in U.S.-Asia Relations—Learn aboutemerging trends in the political, economic and culturalrelationships that link American states to the broaderPacific Rim.

Other sessions will focus on important trends and issuesaffecting the states, from identity theft to health care costs, fromelectricity transmission to revitalizing rural communities. (See“State Trends” on pages 24–27 for more detailed descriptions oftopics CSG’s policy task forces and committees will addressduring the meeting.)

Attendees will also hear about the implications of federalpolicies such as the No Child Left Behind Act, the Medicare

ICSG’s Annual State Trends and Leadership Forumand CSG-WEST Annual Meeting offer insights,interaction and excitement

By Laurie Clewett

North to the Future

Alaska is located in themiddle of one of the mostthriving regionsin the world:The PacificRim.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM

Modernization Act, the NationalAnimal Identification System, national

ocean policy and transportation funding.Other meeting highlights include sessions such as:

� The Price of Government: Getting the Results We Needin an Age of Permanent Fiscal Crisis—Author PeterHutchinson will highlight a budget process that uses aresults-oriented approach, shifting the focus from spend-ing cuts and increasing taxes to purchasing results thatmatter most at a price citizens are willing to pay.

� Life with Term Limits: Who Wins, Who Loses and WhoCares? Boise State University Professor Gary Moncriefwill report on a national survey on the impacts of termlimits on state legislatures, and lawmakers from term-limited states will provide practical insights on life withterm limits.

� Predictions for the 2004 Elections—Internationally rec-ognized pollster John Zogby will describe the landscapeof politics and elections in America and the West duringthe CSG-WEST Executive Committee meeting.

� NAFTA at 10: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities forNorth American Economic Integration—A diverse panelrepresenting all three NAFTA countries will discuss future

trends, challenges and opportunities for mutually benefi-cial economic cooperation within North America.

� Legislative Civility: Can It Survive Polarized Votersand Contentious Politics? Is civility on the decline instate legislatures? If so, why and what can lawmakersdo about it? Experts such as Alan Rosenthal from theEagleton Institute of Politics will review changes in theAmerican political landscape that may damage the leg-islative process and the public’s perception of stategovernment.

� On the Road to Recovery: States Transforming MentalHealth Care—This session will look at the state ofmental health care in the United States, analyzingtrends in systems change, services and funding. Dr.Charles Curie, administrator of the U.S. SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Services Administration, willdiscuss the state-federal partnership. (See “On the Roadto Recovery,” page 14, for more information.)

� Media Strategies for Dealing with an Angry Public—Fortune 500 trainer and award-winning Canadian jour-nalist Jeff Ansell will demonstrate combat tactics tohelp lawmakers diffuse hostile situations where mediarelations are critical.

At the joint CSG Annual State Trends and LeadershipForum/CSG-WEST Annual Meeting, you will not only net-work with colleagues in a relaxed, nonpartisan atmosphere,you’ll also have the chance to see the stunning sights of Alaska.The Alaska Host State Committee has arranged an unforget-table lineup of tours and entertainment, starting with theSeward Train and Boat Cruise on Saturday, Sept. 25. Attendeeswill travel to Seward by train on a national scenic corridor.Then they’ll take a four-hour boat cruise of Resurrection Bay,including a salmon buffet lunch on Fox Island.

For more information about the combined CSG 2004State Trends and Leadership Forum and CSG-WEST AnnualMeeting, visit www.csg.org (keyword: Alaska).

—Laurie Clewett is the associate editor of State News.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM


Some experts believe that as much as 30 percent to 40 percentof our health care spending goes to poor quality care. A recentnational report found that the health care quality chasm is respon-sible for 57,000 avoidable deaths, 41 million sick days, and $11billion in lost productivity each year.

Given the expense and how lapses in quality affect constituents’lives, state policy-makers can’t afford to overlook the role of qual-ity in purchasing, providing, studying and regulating health care.“The economic costs of lost productivity, the health care costs oflife-threatening complications, and the personal costs of limitedfulfillment are costs our state can ill afford to pay,” said Dr.Lawrence Harkless, chairman of the Texas Diabetes Council andprofessor of medicine at the University of Texas Health SciencesCenter in San Antonio.

Some states have stepped up to the plate, infusing quality intotheir health care decision-making process. For example, for itsbehavioral health program, Iowa Medicaid ties financial incentivesand penalties to performance measures. Contractors can berewarded for nine performance measures, including the rate of

Health Care Quality: ImprovingCare and Controlling Costs

TrendsForum:A Look Aheadin Alaska

statetrends

A recent national report found that

the health care quality chasm is

responsible for 57,000 avoidable

deaths, 41 million sick days, and $11

billion in lost productivity each year.

In the midst of budget debates and partisan battles, manystate officials are so busy dealing with pressing, immediate issuesthat they don’t get the chance to look ahead. In September,state officials from around the country will step out of their nor-mal routines to examine issues that are just as important as theday-to-day problems, but that require some long-term planningand an eye toward the future.

Here are a few of the topics CSG’s policy task forces andcommittees will consider during the joint 2004 State Trends andLeadership Forum/CSG-WEST Annual Meeting in Anchorage,Alaska Sept. 25–29.

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Electricity TransmissionExpansion: Is a Federal SolutionReally Needed?

Events such as the recent blackouts in the Midwestern andNortheastern United States have heightened public concern andhighlighted the critical need to upgrade and expand the nation’selectricity transmission capacity. However, formidable obstaclesexist to achieving that goal in an efficient and timely manner.

There are 157,810 miles of electricity transmission lines in theUnited States, according to the National Energy Policy Reportprepared by the Bush administration’s National Energy PolicyDevelopment Group. Only 7,000 miles of new transmission linesare projected to be put in place in the coming decade—far short ofthe anticipated increase in demand for electricity during that time.

Electric transmission lines are designed to carry electricalpower from the source of generation to the end-user. As there isgenerally no storage capacity, electricity moves at the speed oflight over these transmission lines. This requires an incrediblysophisticated level of coordination to ensure sufficient output toreliably meet the demand for electricity within the power grid—asystem of interlocking transmission lines serving a particular geo-graphic area.

emergency room visits for mental health or substance abuse treat-ment per 1,000 enrollees and the percentage of discharge plans thatare implemented. They can be penalized for 10 performance meas-ures, such as the timeliness of new enrollee information beingmailed and the percentage of children discharged to a shelter.

Utah offers a financial incentive to contractors for its Early andPeriodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment program, known asthe Child Health Evaluation and Care program. This program pro-vides comprehensive health and developmental histories, immu-nizations, vision and hearing screenings, and periodic dental care,among other services. The goal was to increase the number of eli-gible children receiving services to 80 percent. Since implementa-tion, participation rates have generally improved with some plansachieving rates above the target.

Other examples of state quality initiatives can be found inDiabetes Care Quality Improvement: A Resource Guide for StateAction. This publication is a joint effort by CSG, Medstat and theAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality to identify innovativemodels and best practices among state diabetes care programs. Theguide contains data from the National Healthcare Quality Reportand the National Healthcare Disparities Report that will help stateofficials assess the quality of diabetes care in their states and mapout a plan for improvement.

CSG has invited a panel of national experts to examine theissue of health care quality during the Health Policy Task Forcemeeting at CSG’s 2004 Annual State Trends and LeadershipForum. The session will take place Monday, Sept. 27 at 2:00 p.m.

—Jenny Sewell, senior health policy analyst, [email protected]

Among the most significant impediments to expanding thenation’s power grid are the difficulties in permitting and siting ofnew regional transmission lines that cross through several states.Different states often have differing permitting processes andrequirements, as well as varying opinions regarding the costs andbenefits of a proposed project.

The National Energy Policy and many people within the utilityindustry advocate granting general siting authority to the federalgovernment, much in the same way that the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission currently regulates natural gas transmis-sion. In addition, there is a growing demand to increase transmissionfor renewable energy generating sources, such as wind farms, whichoften lack an adequate means to get their electricity to consumers.

On Tuesday, Sept. 28 at the Annual State Trends and LeadershipForum, the CSG Environmental Task Force will explore the issuesrelating to electricity transmission infrastructure expansion, sitingdifficulties and environmental considerations. Experts from federaland state regulatory agencies, along with representatives from theelectrical utility industry, will present their perspectives and offersolutions to help resolve the pressing need to increase transmissioncapacity and reliability, while protecting natural resources and envi-ronmental quality.

—Ron Scott, environmental policy analyst, [email protected]

Among the most significant impediments to expanding the nation’spower grid are the difficulties in permittingand siting of new regional transmission linesthat cross through several states.

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Changes in the rural economy have state policy-makersscrambling to attract industry and to encourage local entrepre-neurs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 60 per-cent of principal farm operators rely on off-farm work for a significant amount of the family income. Thus rural employ-ment options are important for farm families, as well as non-farm families.

Manufacturing is disproportionately located in nonmetropoli-tan areas, making it an important source of employment for ruralworkers. Even though U.S. manufacturing employment declinedduring the last decade, many plants moved from urban to ruralareas, creating a rise in rural employment. However, rural areasrespond quite differently to economic shocks than urban areas.Rural employment is more sensitive to exchange rates and exportmovement than overall employment.

The manufacturing downturn that began in 2000 hit rural areasquite hard. Weak exports, rising imports and technologicaladvances have particularly affected the textile and apparel indus-tries. These industries are geographically concentrated in ruralcounties and have experienced significant worker layoffs andplant closings. But nearly all types of factories, whether high techor durable goods, have been affected.

In addition, rural areas did not experience the boom in serviceactivity that metropolitan areas have enjoyed, so the loss of man-

ufacturing jobs since 2000 has been exceptionally hard felt in ruralcommunities.

At CSG’s Annual State Trends and Leadership Forum, DavidSwenson, community programs economist for Iowa StateUniversity, will present a snapshot of rural population, employ-ment and manufacturing trends to the Agriculture and RuralPolicy Task Force Emerging Trends Subcommittee.

Then the task force will look at policy options for dealing withthe changing rural economy, such as the following examples:

� The Kansas Rural Life Task Force recently completed areport on ways to renew and sustain rural communities. Thestate has invested in the Sirolli Enterprise Facilitation modelfor several communities and is looking at other ways todevelop entrepreneurship. Kansas Sen. Steve Morris willdescribe his state’s efforts.

� New York has completed a market study analysis of the futureof agritourism, providing potential program operators withdata and technical assistance. Sen. Nancy Larraine Hoffmannwill brief attendees on her state’s progress in this area.

� In the small town of Fairfield, Iowa, 21st century entrepre-neurs are an increasingly critical force. Burt Chojnowski ofthe Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association will present optionsfor revitalizing America’s rural communities

statetrends

Identity theft is the fasting growing white-collar crime todayand has been the number one crime reported to the Federal TradeCommission over the past four years. According to a 2003 surveyby the FTC, 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theftin 2002, resulting in losses of roughly $48 billion for businessesand financial institutions and $5 billion in out-of-pocket expensesto the victims.

Today, states are wrestling with ways to reduce the risk of iden-tity theft and to better identify possible cases of the crime. They areworking to more effectively investigate and prosecute the recordnumber of cases and are searching for improved methods to restorea victim’s identity and credit.

The Council of State Governments’ Public Safety and JusticeTask Force will examine innovative laws and programs that aim toaddress this growing concern. The following initiatives exemplifystate responses the task force will discuss in Anchorage:

� Virginia’s Identify Theft Passport Program, codified into lawin 2003, is designed to protect victims from unlawful deten-tion or arrest for crimes committed by someone else under astolen identity.

� Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox recently launched anidentity theft campaign to find and prosecute incidents ofidentity theft whose victims are vulnerable adults. “MIIdentity” involves visits to adult care facilities to conductinterviews with residents and free credit checks to determineif they are victims of identity theft.

Solving the Identity Theft Puzzle� Thanks to legislation enacted in 2002, California allows res-

idents to initiate a law enforcement investigation if theybelieve they are a victim of identity theft and requires locallaw enforcement officials to conduct such investigations.

The private sector and federal government also play criticalroles in preventing identity theft. National consumer reportingagencies, banking and credit lending companies, and retailers, forexample, must comply with a host of new federal and state lawsand regulations. They are also inventing new technological solu-tions to safeguard personal information, with a particular focus onInternet-based transactions and solutions.

The Federal Trade Commission and other federal agenciesare increasingly relying on state and local officials to disrupt theidentity theft trend. New federal tools, such as the ConsumerSentinel program, are yielding positive results in assisting lawenforcement officials to identify crime trends at the local, stateand national levels.

This policy session on Monday, Sept. 27 will showcase per-spectives and solutions from state policy-makers, law enforce-ment, the private sector and the federal government. Speakers willdiscuss the issues, such as how government and businesses canwork together toward common goals without creating excessiveburdens, as well as short and long-term strategies for the states.

—Chad Foster, public safety and justice policy analyst,[email protected]

Revitalizing Rural Communities

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Three regions, three approaches—all are making a difference intheir rural communities. Task force members will also have anopportunity to share the practices that are working in their commu-nities during the policy session and the business meeting, as thetask force discusses recent legislation focusing on agriculture andrural issues.

—Dr. Carolyn Orr, chief agriculture and rural policy analyst,[email protected]

The CSG Agriculture and Rural Policy Task Force willhost an update on the National Animal IdentificationPlan on Monday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 a.m. at the AnnualState Trends and Leadership Forum in Anchorage. U.S.Department of Agriculture Animal IdentificationCoordinator Neil Hammerschmidt will brief attendeeson the plan’s current status and the states’ role.

Hammerschmidt was instrumental in developing theWisconsin livestock-premise-identification system, whichthe USDA has selected as the starting point for theNational Animal ID system. The WLIC system will serveas the interim registration system for states. It applies toall livestock species and the premises on which they arelocated. For more information on the livestock premisesystem visit www.wiid.org—or just come to Anchoragefor the most up-to-date information!

Update on National Animal ID Plan


Almost three years later, the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act isjust as controversial—if not more so—than when it was passed.Lawmakers are troubled by the act’s implementation and itsimpact on the states. Most legislators agree that all students shouldbe well-educated, regardless of ethnic, demographic or economicdiversity. However, holding states accountable is not easy. Policy-makers disagree on the best methods and processes to achievehigh academic standards, qualified teachers and challenging cur-ricula in our nation’s schools.

No matter where you stand on this issue, you won’t want to missDewayne Matthews of the Education Commission of the Statesand Kati Haycock, director of Education Trust, debate the act’s suc-

cesses and challenges. Four top legislators representing each of theCSG regions will lead a roundtable discussion on options for statesas they seek to comply with the act’s spirit, while watching budgetsand maintaining a strong role for state and local governments.

State legislators preparing for their upcoming legislative ses-sions will want to be informed on the current status of educationreform across the country as they enter into discussions about fed-eral expectations and local demands to improve education in the2004-2005 school year. The workshop will meet on Wednesday,Sept. 29 at 9:00 a.m.

—Amanda Mays, program manager, [email protected]

No Child Left Behind Controversy Continues

You may not live near the ocean, but you’ve probably been tovisit at least once in your life. While coastal counties comprise only17 percent of the land area in the contiguous United States, they arehome to more than 53 percent of the total U.S. population.

More than 180 million people visit the coast every year,bringing new jobs, businesses and recreation to the coastalstates. Tourism and recreation—including resorts, restaurants,vacation housing, fishing and marinas—have created one of thenation’s largest and fastest-growing economic forces. Morethan 89 million people a year participate in marine-relatedrecreation. It is clear that the oceans are critical resources thatmust be protected.

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy was mandated by theOceans Act of 2000, authorized by Congress and appointed by the

president. The commission is required to establish findings andmake recommendations to the president and Congress for a coordi-nated and comprehensive national ocean policy. The new policywill address a broad range of issues, from the stewardship of marineresources and pollution prevention to enhancing and supportingmarine science, commerce and transportation.

Join Scott Rayder of the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration and Kameron Onley of the White HouseCommission on Environmental Quality for a lively debate on thecurrent status of the report and its impact on state governments onMonday, Sept. 27 at 4:00 p.m. For more information about the com-mission, visit www.oceancommission.gov.

—Amanda Mays, program manager, [email protected]

National Ocean Policy Recommendations

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perspective

ver the past 30 years, college tuition rates haveconsistently increased at two to three times therate of inflation each year. During this sameperiod of time, federal financial aid fundinghas shifted away from student grants andtoward providing access to guaranteed studentloans. Today, nearly 60 percent of all federalfinancial aid is in the form of loans, substan-

tially increasing the number of college graduates faced with theburden of repaying enormous student loan debt upon enteringthe work force.

Concerned by the mounting financial strain placed on youngprofessionals, states began to develop innovative programsdesigned to help families and students save for their college edu-cation. The original plans were createdin the late 1980s by states such asFlorida, Michigan, Ohio andWyoming.

Michigan developed its programbased on educational philanthropistEugene Lang’s idea that if childrenknow their college will be paid for,they will be motivated to succeed.Former Gov. James Blanchard startedthe prepaid tuition program with thegoal of making the state’s tax free sta-tus available to all people so that theycould save for their children’s educa-tion. This would offer parents thepeace of mind of knowing their chil-dren would have the option of a col-lege education, and would motivateMichigan youth to excel in school.

The development of InternalRevenue Code Section 529 in 1996and the resulting federal tax break (taxdeferred treatment on the earningswhen used for higher education)spurred the growth of college savingsplans nationwide. From 1996 to 2000,30 states developed and launched Section 529 plans, dramaticallyincreasing the opportunities for families to begin to save for therising costs of higher education. The enactment of the EconomicGrowth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act on June 7, 2001, com-pletely exempted the earnings of Section 529 plans from federaltaxation, and provided further congressional support for thestate-run Section 529 college savings plans.

To date, more than 6.5 million families have saved more than$50 billion in Section 529 college savings plans. Additionally,

more than 225,000 students nationwide have used these pro-grams to help pay for their college education.

States Lead the WayIn their work to promote saving for college, states have

provided leadership and innovation to improve educationaland economic opportunities for all Americans. Coming in anera of concern over corporate governance activities andincreased governmental regulations in the markets, Section529 college savings plans are a shining example of what canbe achieved by a public-private partnership administeredthrough a state mandate.

State oversight assures that the average working family cantake advantage of Section 529 plans by offering investment

options tailored to the specific needs ofthe middle class American family, and bydoing so without necessarily charginghigh sales loads and commissions.Additionally, the states’ roles in selectingfinancial firms or investment managersthrough competitive procurement proce-dures assure participants that they receivebetter pricing and account servicing thanthey could obtain otherwise.

Amidst the recent allegations of mutualfund mismanagement and related investi-gations, state leadership and fiscal over-sight helps to ease the fears of accountholders. States are already major playersin the financial services industry, asissuers of municipal bonds and adminis-trators of public pension funds. Amongthe largest institutional investors indomestic and foreign markets, states arewell positioned and have the expertise tooversee their college savings plans.Additionally, the states are taking steps toexpand available investment options whilepushing the financial services industry toimprove upon existing Section 529 plans.

Section 529 plans have become one of the most attractive college savings vehicles available today. States will continue toprovide opportunities for families to save while maintaining maxi-mum flexibility of benefits and control of the assets. And, as statescontinue to provide critical oversight, Section 529 plans will con-tinue to evolve to meet the savings needs of American families.

—Chris Hunter is a program manager with the NationalAssociation of State Treasurers, a CSG affiliate.

States Foster College Savings RevolutionBy Chris Hunter

OW

To date, more than6.5 million familieshave saved morethan $50 billion in

Section 529 collegesavings plans.

Additionally, morethan 225,000 stu-dents nationwidehave used these

programs to helppay for their college

education.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM

hen Michael J. Elmendorf II first learnedabout the concept of youth courts, he was-n’t convinced. “I was pretty skeptical[about] placing kids out of the traditionaljustice system into a court with other kids,”said Elmendorf, chairman of the New YorkState Juvenile Justice Advisory Group forGov. George E. Pataki’s office.

But after a site visit to a youth court in Odessa, Texas, hethought the idea would work for New York. “It doesn’t take muchtime to see that the traditional juvenile justice system does nothave the resources to focus on first-time offenders,” he said.

Elmendorf was concerned that in the traditional system, “nothinghappened to some of the first-time offenders. This, I think, sendsa message that the system is not going to really punish them.” Asa result, young people may end up back in the system for a moreserious offense.

Youth courts, on the other hand, not only address juvenile delin-quency, they can also serve a key role in teens’ fundamental devel-opment as citizens in the community. What’s more, they are lessexpensive than many traditional programs.

“Due to the strong volunteer support that youth courtsreceive, youth court programs are among the least expensiveyouth sanctions programs for communities to operate,” accord-

Innovative programs address delinquency and encourage civic involvement among teens

By Sarah S. Pearson

What’s Behind Youth Courts’Growth Spurt?

WYouth attorney makes his opening remarks.

Photo courtesy of the National Youth Court Center.

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ing to J. Robert Flores, administrator of the U.S. Department ofJustice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.“In other words, youth courts deliver results in a significant cost-effective manner that gets the attention of both the lawmakers andthe policy-makers.”

Indeed, as the budget crunch continues and legislators seekinnovative ways to deal with first-time juvenile crime, states andlocal communities are increasingly turning to this promising, inex-pensive approach.

What Are Youth Courts?Youth court programs target teens between the ages of 11 and

18 who have committed minor delinquent or status offenses orwho are engaging in problem behavior at school. Youth courts(also called teen, peer and student courts) are typically establishedas diversion programs, and most require young people to admittheir guilt in order to participate. The program’s primary functionis to determine an appropriate sentence tailored to meet the youngperson’s needs that will also help them repair the harm caused bytheir actions.

One of the courts’ most compelling attributes is that theteenagers are sentenced by their peers. Sentencing options mayinclude community service, attending an educational class, writingan apology to the victim or writing an essay. Many programs alsorequire offenders, known as respondents, to serve as a juror infuture cases. This helps them gain experience as contributingmembers of their communities.

Youth courts foster civic engagement and provide opportunitiesto explore careers. They are driven and led by youth, allowing vol-unteers and respondents to participate in their community and gainvaluable life and career experience as they work alongside juve-nile justice professionals, school personnel and community mem-bers. The courts provide a venue where youth identify problemsand develop solutions to community and school issues. As a serv-ice-learning program, they help young people develop soundproblem-solving, decision-making and critical thinking skills.

According to Tracy Godwin Mullins, director of the NationalYouth Court Center, the number of youth courts has increasedfrom 78 in 1994 to more than 950 today in 48 states and theDistrict of Columbia. This impressive growth coincides with mod-est, discretionary federal funding; supportive legislation at thestate and local levels; and development of national youth courtguidelines and the training and technical support provided by theNational Youth Court Center.

Successful State ModelsAfter learning about youth courts, Gov. Pataki’s administration

asked the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services to part-ner with communities to create youth court programs across thestate. The town of Colonie became the model for the rest of thestate. Today, New York leads the nation in the number of pro-grams, with 102 sites, and Michael J. Elmendorf II firmly believesin their value.

To make the concept work in other states, Elmendorf recom-mends involving everyone from state officials to local policy-makers, probation departments, schools, the court system andcommunity partners. If done correctly, youth court will quickly

become an accepted and useful component in a state’s juvenilejustice system.

Along with New York, several other states illustrate the growthand potential of youth courts. Texas boasts some of the longestrunning teen court programs, which date back to the early 1970s.Texas has written provisions for teen courts into the Code ofCriminal Procedure (used by municipalities) and the Family Code(used by county and district courts). The two pieces of legislationare almost identical, including the section that describes a fee, not

The National Youth Court Center, Office of JuvenileJustice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of JusticePrograms, U.S. Department of Justice; and NationalHighway Traffic and Safety Administration, U.S.Department of Transportation have designatedSeptember 2004 as the third annual National YouthCourt Month. National Youth Court Month providesyouth courts an opportunity to share and celebratetheir programs’ successes; recruit new volunteers andhonor current youth and adult volunteers; and engagetheir volunteers, respondents and staff in communityservice-learning projects to promote the youth courtand assist other agencies in the community.

This year’s theme is “Serving Communities—Changing Lives.”The National Youth Court Center hasdeveloped a 2004 National Youth Court Month Action Kitto help youth courts prepare for this year’s events.Theaction kit contains tips for planning events and activities,suggested activities to commemorate the month, strate-gies for communicating more effectively with the media,and a listing of national youth court resources. It is avail-able online at www.youthcourt.net.

The National Youth Court Center was created bythe Office of Juvenile Justice and DelinquencyPrevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Departmentof Justice with support from the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department ofTransportation.The NYCC is managed by the AmericanProbation and Parole Association, in conjunction withThe Council of State Governments in Lexington, Ky.

The center serves as a clearinghouse for information,develops resource materials, and provides training andtechnical assistance on developing and enhancing youthcourt programs.

For more information on youth courts, contact theNYCC at APPA, c/o CSG, P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY40578; (859) 244-8193 or [email protected] our mainWeb site at www.youthcourt.net or our youth volunteerWeb site at www.ycyouth.net.

September is National YouthCourt Month

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to exceed $10 per child, designed to help offset some of the pro-gram’s costs.

The premier champion for teen courts in Texas is state Sen.Royce West, who attributes his commitment to his experience asjudge for a local teen court. “I thought it was such a novel idea andI became a fan. I didn’t have any problems passing legislation forit,” West said. “My colleagues are fans for the same reason. … Itallows young people to participate in the [justice] system. It givessomeone who is of the similar age an idea of what a real court set-ting is about and how their peers feels about their actions. It’s greatall the way around.”

West advised other policy-makers considering teen court legis-lation to see a court in action. “It is impor-tant to see young people participating in theprocess. … It can be a positive influence intheir lives.”

A Cost-Effective SolutionFlorida’s first teen court started in

Sarasota 16 years ago as a collaborativeventure between the Junior League ofSarasota and 12th Circuit Chief JudgeGilbert Smith and Judge Paul E. Logan.According to Kimberly Walsh Turner,president of the Florida Teen CourtAssociation, in 1998, the FloridaDepartment of Juvenile Justice awarded$1.5 million to counties through grants toenhance and develop new teen courtsthroughout the state. As a result, the num-ber of programs surged: 57 teen court pro-grams are active in the state today.

“There is no question that teen court iscost effective for the state of Florida,” saidKatie Self, executive director of TeenCourt of Sarasota, Inc. and co-founder ofthe Florida Association of Teen Courts, Inc.Currently, teen court programs statewidehandle 25,000 cases at a cost of approxi-mately $400 per youth—thousands lessthan the cost for youth adjudicated throughthe circuit court.

Florida is one of the few states that havepassed legislation that supports the devel-opment of teen courts and also has a provi-sion for funding. Sen. Rod Smith ofGainesville, Florida’s leading champion of teen court legislation,believes young people will rise to the occasion if they are givenmore responsibility. “We used teen court as a diversion programfor minor offenses and got our monies worth,” he said.

Smith, former chairman of the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice,was in charge of finding funding for the court.“The programseemed like the best solution for teens,” he said. “I went to sever-al teen court proceedings, watched the judge and listened to theadvice given to offenders, and I felt that it had an impact.”

This year, Florida passed new legislation that potentiallyincreases funding for teen courts across the state. The Article V

“Glitch” Bill will allow counties to collect a $65 fee for anycriminal or traffic court case, either felony or misdemeanor.Twenty-five percent of the fee must be used for juvenile preven-tion programs, including teen court. The new legislation, guid-ed by Smith, sailed through the House and Senate with overwhelming support.

The benefits of youth courts to respondents, volunteers andcommunities are difficult to ignore. Strong volunteer support forthe courts make them one of most cost-effective ways for commu-nities to handle minor delinquent and status offenses and invest inyouth, preserving our communities and protecting our most pre-cious resource—our young people.

—Sarah S. Pearson is a senior program associate with theAmerican Youth Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. She is theauthor of Finding Common Ground: Service-Learning andEducation Reform; Leveling the Playing Field: Technology as anEqualizer in Education, Transition to Careers and Daily Life; andBuilding an Effective Citizenry: Lessons Learned from Initiativesin Youth Engagement. An expanded version of this article, Policy-makers Support Youth Court: Voices and Recommendations fromthe Field, will be published by the National Youth Court Centerthis fall.

Youth volunteers prepare fortheir case. Photo courtesy of theNational Youth Court Center.

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Close to 600 people attended the 59th Annual Meeting of theMidwestern Legislative Conference in Des Moines, Iowa,where legislators from across the region exchanged ideas andparticipated in various public policy sessions and professionaldevelopment workshops.

Lawmakers also officially welcomed a new MLC affiliate,bid farewell to a longtime leader and passed five public policyresolutions.

On July 11, MLC Chair Iowa Rep. Libby Jacobs announcedto fellow Executive Committee members that the Canadianprovince of Manitoba had become an affiliate member of theconference.

After being formally welcomed, Manitoba LegislativeAssembly Speaker George Hickes told MLC ExecutiveCommittee members that the new affiliation would enhancerelations between Midwestern states and provinces.

The provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan are alreadyMLC affiliates.

Also at this year’s meeting, lawmakers honored the service ofretiring Iowa Rep. John Connors, a leader not only in his homestate, but of the MLC. He twice served as MLC conference chairand also once was national chair of The Council of StateGovernments.

The longtime firefighter’s 32 years of service in the IowaHouse are the longest in the state’s history.

Other meeting highlights included policy sessions on numer-ous issues, from regional economic development strategies andalternative fuels technology, to early childhood education andhealth care cost containment.

Lawmakers also took part in professional development ses-sions on “creative policy-making” and how to improve theircommunications skills. Speakers at this year’s meeting includedPulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam and economicdevelopment expert Richard Florida.

The MLC passed several resolutions related to strengthen-ing rural communities. In a resolution on “EncouragingLegislators to Provide Leadership for Buying Locally,” mem-bers affirmed the importance of supporting local businesses andpurchasing in their communities. The resolution is based on thefact that a strong rural economy depends on profitable agricul-

ture and retailing, strong schools and health care; it expands theconcept of buying locally beyond farmers’ markets and produceto include the car dealer and hardware store.

The legislators also passed a resolution to further the devel-opment of wind energy, recognizing the importance of its eco-nomic and environmental benefits to the region. Two other res-olutions focus on the National Animal Identification Programand seek compatibility between U.S. and Canadian ID pro-grams, as well as USDA support for a multistate Midwest pro-posal to implement the National ID program. To see all the res-olutions from the meeting, visit www.csgmidwest.org/About/MLC/Resolutions.htm.

Midwestern Legislators Gather for Annual Meeting

Two long-time legislators have retired from state govern-ment. New Mexico Sen. Manny Aragon and Iowa Rep. JohnConnors both retired recently after three decades of dedicatedservice to their constituents and their states.

Connors was the longest serving member of the Iowa House ofRepresentatives. First elected in 1972, he served 16 consecutiveterms. His leadership positions included assistant Democraticleader and speaker pro tempore, a post he held from 1983-1992—the longest tenure in state history. Connors was one of only two

Midwestern legislators to twice serve as chair of the MidwesternLegislative Conference—in 1987 and 1994. In 1992, he wasnational chair of The Council of State Governments.

“I’ve really enjoyed the process of working with people andfor the people,” Connors told the Press Citizen. Now, he plansto spend more time with his family, travel and do volunteerwork in the community.

Like Connors, Aragon has a long and distinguished history ofstate service. Initially elected in 1974, he was the first Hispanic

Long-Time Legislators, Friends of CSG Retire

csgspotlight

Iowa Rep. John Connors and MLC Chair Iowa Rep. Libby Jacobsembrace as she presents the retiring legislator with a plaque thank-ing him for his years of service and leadership to the organization.

SeptSN,04 1/27/05 10:32 AM

csgspotlight

On July 8-10, the New Mexico Legislature hosted the eighthforum of the Border Legislative Conference. The forum, held inSanta Fe, provided legislators the opportunity to discuss borderhealth and economic development issues. BLC members adopt-ed recommendations for creating a secure, fast and intelligentmanufacturing zone along the border. These recommendationswill be presented at the upcoming Border GovernorsConference in New Mexico.

Border legislators sought the assistance of binational health

organizations to develop and identify best practices to reduceduplication of services and to leverage federal and state fund-ing. Moreover, BLC members expressed concern about legisla-tion in the U.S. Congress aimed at reducing the amount of pre-scription medication that can be purchased in Mexico andbrought into the United States. For more information about thisforum or the BLC, please visit www.csgwest.org/blc/home.html.The BLC will convene next in late fall 2004 in the Mexicanstate of Sonora.

New Mexico Hosts Binational Legislative Forum


Arizona Sen. Robert Cannell, vice chair of the Border Legislative Conference, welcomed members to the eighth Border Legislative Conference inSanta Fe. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also welcomed the group, along with Speaker of the New Mexico House Ben Lujan. Left to right:Diputado Ricardo Arturo Castro Lopez, BLC chair and member of the Chihuahua State Legislature; Arizona Sen. Robert Cannell, BLC vice-chair,Gov. Richardson; New Mexico Sen. Jim Carraro is standing directly behind Speaker Lujan and New Mexico Rep. Mary Helen Garcia.

in the country to become Senate president pro tempore, a post he held from 1998 to 2000.At the time of his retirement in June, he was the New Mexico Senate majority leader.

Aragon, a long-time supporter of higher education, left the Legislature to become pres-ident of New Mexico Highlands University on July 1.

He was the first Western legislator to serve as chair of both the regional and nationalorganizations of CSG. From 1996-1997, he was chair of CSG-WEST, and in 2001 he wasthe national CSG chair. He was also a member of the CSG-WEST Executive Committee,and the Western Water and Environment Committee.

“The real record of his achievements is the esteem and affection in which he is held bythe people of New Mexico who he has served these past 30 years,” said Idaho SenateMajority Leader and CSG-WEST Chair Bart Davis.

Sen. Manny Aragon

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The American Probation and Parole Association has beenawarded a grant to study current practices among probationand parole organizations nationwide in preventing supervisedoffenders from possessing and using guns, and in searching forand seizing guns held illegally. The grant was awarded by theBureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, inconjunction with Project Safe Neighborhoods.

APPA will develop and offer training and technical assis-tance for probation and parole professionals. The associationwill collaborate with other agencies to promote proactiveenforcement of existing gun law restrictions, which mayinclude referring dangerous offenders to United States attor-neys for federal prosecution. The project will allow probationand parole professionals to join with other Project SafeNeighborhoods partners to prevent and combat gun crime.

The association will offer probation and parole profes-sionals and allied agencies technical assistance on illegalfirearms reduction strategies. APPA will contact probationand parole jurisdictions in the near future to gather back-ground information and to identify effective practices andprograms. Association members will also have the opportu-nity to consider a resolution in support of gun-crime-reduc-tion initiatives by probation and parole agencies.

For additional information, please contact Nick Muller,project director, American Probation and Parole Association,P.O. Box 11910 Lexington, KY 40578-1910. Phone: (859)244-8056, fax: (859) 244-8001, e-mail: [email protected].

Project Safe Neighborhoods:Training Probation and ParoleProfessionals to Reduce Gun Crime

csgspotlight

The American Probation and Parole Association recently gavean award to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of JusticePrograms, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preventionfor its renowned leadership and support for youth courts. Youthcourts address juvenile crime while promoting civic engagementamong America’s young people.

APPA President Andrew Molloy presented the award during theplenary session at the APPA Annual Training Institute in Orlando,Fla. on July 26. Lizette Benedi, deputy assistant attorney generalwith the Office of Justice Programs, accepted the award on behalfof Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels.

“Youth courts offer youth who have committed minor delin-quent and status offenses with a timely and cost effective alterna-tive to the traditional juvenile justice system,” Molloy said. Heemphasized that because of the incredible support that OJP hasprovided to the APPA’s national youth court initiative, the numberof youth courts has increased by more than 1,000 percent in thelast decade. More than 950 programs currently operate in 48 statesand the District of Columbia.

“While youth courts can lessen the burden on the juvenile jus-tice system, they can also be a way of empowering youth,” Benedisaid while accepting the award. “By giving young people a legal-ly and socially sanctioned forum for holding their peers responsi-ble for their actions, youth courts teach problem solving, respectfor the law, and accountability.

“But perhaps more important, the courts help build self-esteemand send a message to teens that they matter. Youth courts workbecause they build on this confidence and create opportunities foryouth—opportunities that enable them to make a difference.”

U.S. Department of JusticeHonored for Support of Youth Courts

Left to right:CarlWicklund, executivedirector, AmericanProbation and ParoleAssociation; AndrewMolloy, president,American Probationand ParoleAssociation; LizetteBenedi, deputy assis-tant attorney general,Office of JusticePrograms; TracyGodwin Mullins,director, NationalYouth Court Center.

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As of July 1, the National Association of State ChiefAdministrators became an affiliate of The Council of StateGovernments. NASCA brings together chief officials fromadministration and general services to discuss matters of mutu-al concern and to exchange information and ideas.

By promoting interstate communication and showcasinginnovative programs, the association helps members implementpublic policy and improve government efficiency and effective-ness. NASCA also provides annual leadership development tonewly appointed administration and general services officials.Formed in 1976, the association includes members from all 50states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

NASCA membership is drawn from the department in stategovernment which is primarily responsible for administrationand general services management. Each state, territory or fed-eral district may have an unlimited number of members: thedepartment head and any designees directly charged withdelivering administration and general services. In addition,corporate membership is offered to organizations and busi-nesses interested in working with state leaders to improvegovernment operations.

The association’s Annual Meeting will take place inBaltimore, Md. Sept. 18-21. For more information, please visitwww.nasca.org or contact Marcia Stone at (859) 244-8181 [email protected].

CSG Welcomes New Affiliate

The Re-Entry Policy Council released a 20-page ReportPreview in June, in advance of the full Report of the Re-EntryPolicy Council—a comprehensive, bipartisan document designedto help policy-makers improve the likelihood of individuals’ suc-cessful transition from prison or jail back into their home commu-nities. The preview briefly explains what the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council will offer different audiences, introducessome of its principal ideas and explains how to navigate the full600-page report.

CSG established the council two years ago, bringing togethermore than 100 policy-makers and practitioners to develop biparti-san recommendations on prisoner re-entry. “Ensuring the safe andsuccessful transition of adults from jail or prison to the communi-ty is critical to our ability to control both public spending and pub-lic safety,” said South Dakota state Sen. Eric Bogue, co-chair of

the council. “Re-entry is an issue which should be of concern toRepublicans and Democrats alike.”

Recently, CSG applauded the announcement of “The SecondChance Act,” a federal bill introduced in June by U.S. Rep. RobPortman (Ohio) and co-sponsored by Rep. Danny K. Davis (Ill.),Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (Ohio), and Rep. Mark Souder (Ind.).This bill will address the need for innovative approaches in tack-ling the public safety and budgetary challenges around the coun-try caused by the growing number of offenders being releasedfrom prison and jail and re-entering communities. The act offersfunding opportunities for a wide array of state and local re-entryinitiatives. U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas will introducesimilar legislation soon in the Senate.

For more information on the Re-Entry Policy Council, visitwww.reentrypolicy.org.

Re-Entry Policy Council Releases Preview Report

csgspotlight

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The winner of the first Virgil F. PuskarichState and Regional Staff Leadership Awardis Dr. Michael King, executive director ofthe Legislative Office of Research Liaisonin Pennsylvania. The award, named afterthe late Virgil Puskarich, former executivedirector of the Pennsylvania LocalGovernment Commission, was presented toKing during the Eastern RegionalConference annual meeting held in Augustin Springfield, Mass. The annual awardwill be given to a senior state legislativestaff person from the ERC region whoseaccomplishments on behalf of his or herlegislature and CSG/ERC promote the mission and value of both.

To order please call 1-800-800-1910,visit www.csg.org (keyword: store) or contact us at [email protected]

Get the latest innovative laws from around the country in the 63rd volume of Suggested StateLegislation.

csgspotlight

New Award Honors Virgil Puskarich

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On the Road to RecoveryContinued from page 16

States are also increasingly responding to a new trend in men-tal health toward evidence-based practices—interventions withclear scientific evidence demonstrating improved client out-comes. There are many types of evidence-based practices thatstates can implement. Assertive community treatment, forexample, uses a multidisciplinary team of professionals to pro-vide community-based, comprehensive, integrated services forclients. “ACT teams have demonstrated that they can keep peo-ple with severe and persistent mental illness in the community,”Garrett said.

The state of Texas pioneered the use of a medication algo-rithm to ensure quality, cost-effective and appropriate use ofmental health drugs. With this approach, clinicians follow astep-by-step flow chart to determine the best choice of medica-tion for an individual with a serious mental illness. States havealso increasingly implemented comprehensive treatment for co-occurring disorders, such as chemical dependency and bipolardisorder, as Marie’s case illustrates. Other evidence-based prac-tices include supported employment, self-management educa-tion and family psychoeducation.

The Challenges of Fostering RecoveryOne of the major ongoing challenges for states in transforming

mental health care is funding. “There is awareness now that wecan treat people with brain disorders,” said Vermont Rep. TomKoch. “More people are getting treatment but it is costing us more,just as with other illnesses.”

Another issue that prevents change is the stigma surroundingmental illness. “Mental illness needs to be treated like other chron-ic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes,” said Rep. Garrett.“There is a lack of understanding of the concept of recovery, thatpeople still need ongoing treatment and supports.”

Despite the challenges, leaders believe it is time to forgeahead with bold plans for the future. “The biggest differencebetween now and 20 years ago is that we can say confidentlythat recovery from mental illness is a real possibility,” saidCurie. “We can help people with mental illness get the life theywant in the community.”

Marie echoes these sentiments. “I don’t want my son to worryabout if I am going to have a breakdown,” she said. “I want to livelike normal people do. I want to have a nice house and get a goodjob and take care of my son.”

—Trudi Matthews is associate director of health policy at TheCouncil of State Governments.

CSG’s New Mental Health Tool KitAt a recent CSG Health Policy Forum on mentalhealth, attendees identified the critical need for tailoredinformation to help them work on mental health issuesin their states. In response, CSG has prepared a MentalHealth Tool Kit that builds on the forum’s themes—enhancing outreach, access and quality—and that willserve as a comprehensive, easy-to-use resource forstate policy-makers.The Mental Health Tool Kit wasproduced through an educational grant from Wyeth.Contents include:

� A fact sheet with background information on men-tal illness and the mental health care system;

� An issue brief that incorporates consensus discus-sion from the Health Policy Forum;

� A fact sheet that profiles trends in state responsesto mental health and provides examples of stateapproaches;

� A fact sheet on developing a communications strategy;

� A list of contact information for national and statemental health programs, advocacy groups andresearch organizations;

� A list of examples of recent mental health legislation;

� Additional resources including a copy of the executive summary of the final report from thePresident’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

For a limited time, CSG is distributing complimentarycopies to state officials.To order a copy, contact SarahDonta at (859) 244-8244 or [email protected].

CSG Criminal Justice Mental Health ConsensusProjectCSG has coordinated The Criminal Justice MentalHealth Consensus Project, an unprecedented, nationaleffort to improve the response to people with mentalillness who are involved with or at risk of involvementwith the criminal justice system. CSG worked with abipartisan, multidisciplinary group made of law enforce-ment, corrections administrators, leaders in the mentalhealth community, state budget officials and state elect-ed officials to tackle the complex but pressing problemof people with mental illness in the criminal justice sys-tem.The Consensus Project has developed a report anda variety of legislative and programmatic resources toaid states. For more information, including descriptionsof state initiatives, visit www.consensusproject.org.

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This calendar lists meetings as designated by CSG’s Annual Meeting Committee.For details of a meeting, call the number listed. “CSG/” denotes affiliate organiza-tions of CSG.Visit www.csg.org for updates and more extensive listings.

Other meetings have value to state officials. Purchase a meeting listing by calling1 (800) 800-1910 or by e-mailing [email protected] your meetings to thou-sands in the state government market through an advertisement, a Web listing, or abanner ad in In the News, CSG’s weekly electronic newsletter. Get your free sub-scription to In the News at www.csg.org.

September 2004

Sept. 11-15 CSG/National Emergency Management Association Annual Confer-ence—New York, NY—New York Hilton & Towers.Visit www.nemaweb.org

Sept. 12-14 CSG/Southern Governors’ Association Annual Meeting—Rich-mond, VA—Hotel TBA. Contact Liz Purdy at (202) 624-5897 [email protected]

Sept. 12-15 CSG/NAST Western and Midwestern State Treasurers Conference—Grand Teton,WY —Jackson Lake Lodge. Contact Adnee Hamiltonat (859) 244-8174 or [email protected] or visit www.nast.net

Sept. 18-21 CSG/National Association of State Chief Administrators AnnualConference—Baltimore, MD—Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel.Contact Marcia Stone at (859) 244-8181 or [email protected]

Sept. 25-29 CSG Annual State Trends and Leadership Forum—Anchorage, AK— Egan Convention Center. Visit www.csg.org or contact WandaHines (859) 244-8103 or [email protected]

Sept. 25-29 CSG-WEST Annual Meeting—Anchorage, AK—Hilton AnchorageHotel. Contact Cheryl Duvauchelle at (916) 553-4423 or [email protected]

Sept. 27-29 CSG/National Youth Court Center: Implementing and EnhancingYouth Court Programs—Portland, OR. Contact the NYCC at (859)244-8193 or [email protected]

Sept. 28-Oct. 1 CSG/National Association of State Facilities AdministratorsWestern Regional Meeting—Scottsdale, AZ—The Scottsdale PlazaResort. Contact Marcia Stone at (859) 244-8181 or [email protected]

October 2004

Oct. 17-19 CSG/National Association of State Facilities Administrators GreatPlains Regional Meeting—Madison,WI—Monona Terrace Communityand Convention Center. Contact Marcia Stone at (859) 244-8181 [email protected]

December 2004

Dec. 4-7 CSG/National Association of State Treasurers Treasury Manage-ment Conference—Scottsdale, AZ—Doubletree Paradise Valley.Contact Adnee Hamilton at (859) 244-8174 or [email protected] visit www.nast.net

Dec. 7-10 CSG/CSG-WEST Western Legislative Academy—Colorado Springs,CO. Contact Cheryl Duvauchelle at (916) 553-4423 or [email protected]

January 2005

Jan. 28-30 CSG/Rural Policy Research Institute/National Conference of StateLegislatures: 2005 Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit—Memphis,TN—The Peabody Memphis. Contact Dr. Carolyn L. Orr at(859) 244-8221 or [email protected]

February 2005

Feb. 12-16 CSG/National Emergency Management Association Mid-YearConference—Washington, D.C.—The Capitol Hilton. Visit www.nemaweb.org

Feb. 13-16 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association Winter TrainingInstitute—Anaheim, CA—Hyatt Regency Orange County. ContactKris Chappell at (859) 244-8204 or [email protected]

Feb. 26-March 1 National Governors Association Winter Meeting—Washington,D.C. Susan Dotchin at (202) 624-5327 or [email protected]

June 2005

June 5-8 CSG Spring Committee and National Task Force Meeting—LakeTahoe, CA—Resort at Squaw Creek. Contact Wanda Hines at (859)244-8103 or [email protected]

June 19-22 CSG/National Association of State Treasurers Midwest & WesternState Treasurers—Rapid City, SD—Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn.Contact Adnee Hamilton at (859) 244-8174 or [email protected] visit www.nast.net

June 25-29 CSG/National Association of State Facilities Administrators/National Association of State Chief Administrators Joint AnnualConference—Phoenix, AZ—Ritz Carlton. Contact Marcia Stone at(859) 244-8181 or [email protected]

July 2005

July 8-12 CSG/Midwestern Legislative Conference 11th Annual BowhayInstitute for Legislative Leadership Development—Madison, WI—Fluno Center for Executive Education.Contact Laura Tomaka at (630)810-0210 or [email protected]

July 16-19 National Governors Association Annual Meeting—Des Moines, IA.Contact Susan Dotchin at (202) 624-5327 or [email protected]

July 24-27 CSG/Eastern Regional Conference Annual Meeting—Connecticut.Contact Pamela Stanley at (212) 482-2320 or [email protected]

July 24-27 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association 30th AnnualTraining Institute—New York, NY—Marriott Marquis Hotel. ContactKris Chappell at (859) 244-8024 or [email protected]

July 27-30 CSG/National Lieutenant Governors Association Annual Meeting—Waikiki Beach, HA—Hawaii Hilton Resort. Contact Julia Hurst at(859) 244-8111 or [email protected]

July 30-Aug. 3 CSG/Southern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting—Mobile,AL.Nai Vienthongsuk at (404) 633-1866 or [email protected]

July 31-Aug. 3 CSG/Midwestern Legislative Conference 60th Annual Meeting—Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada—Delta Regina Hotel. Contact MikeMcCabe at (630) 810-0210 or [email protected]

August 2005

Aug. 14-21 National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Meeting—Seattle,WA.Visit www.ncsl.org

Aug. 28-Sept. CSG/National Emergency Management Association AnnualConference—Anchorage, AK—Hilton Anchorage. Visit www.nemaweb.org

Aug. 28-30 CSG/Southern Governors' Association Annual Meeting—Greens-boro, GA—Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation. Contact LizPurdy at (202) 624-5897 or [email protected]

September 2005

Sept. 18-22 CSG/National Association of State Treasurers and State DebtManagement Network Annual Conference—Lake Tahoe, NV—Hyatt Regency. Contact Adnee Hamilton at (859) 244-8174 [email protected] or visit www.nast.net

Sept. 24-29 CSG Henry Toll Fellowship Program—Lexington, KY. ContactAmanda Mays at (859) 244-8236 or [email protected]

conferencecalendar

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lthough the federal government tends to get more attention,state officials are often on the front lines of cutting-edge

trends and issues. On the other hand, sometimes in the communi-ty of state government, the more things change, the more they staythe same. In print since 1958, State News (formerly StateGovernment News) has chronicled many of the changes … andcontinuities.

Here’s what we reported on:

40 Years Ago—September 1964War on Poverty Begins

In late August, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed theEconomic Opportunity Act of 1964—the centerpiece of his Waron Poverty. “The act does not merely expand old programs orimprove what is already being done. It charts a new course,”Johnson said in March 1964, when he submitted it to Congress.“It strikes at the causes, not just the consequences of poverty.”

Congress authorized $947.5 million for fiscal year 1965under the act, slightly lower than the administration’s originalrequest of $962.5 million. Among its provisions, the act createdthe Job Corps and Work-Training Programs, Work-Study pro-grams to help needy students pay for higher education, and localcommunity action programs.

25 Years Ago—September 1979Fighting the High Cost of Living

State legislatures tried to alleviate the effects of the 13 percentinflation rate through various tax relief measures. “Despite rumorsof a pending recession, states have acted in 1979 to return surplusrevenues to taxpayers, even though states could find themselvesshort in 1980,” wrote State Government News Editor Elaine Knapp.

At least 35 states provided property, income or sales tax reliefduring the 1979 legislative sessions. Twenty-five states cut prop-erty taxes, while 19 reduced income taxes.

Officials also moved to limit future state spending, including byindexing taxes to the Consumer Price Index. In 1978 Arizona,California and Colorado first adopted the concept of indexing, oradjusting tax brackets, deductions, exemptions and credits toreflect inflation. Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin implemented theidea in 1979, but an indexing bill was vetoed in Montana.

10 Years Ago—September 1994

Indifference in the Global VillageExecutive Editor Dag Ryan lamented the fact that, in an era of

technological innovation and globalization, the United Statesmedia and international community paid little attention to thegenocide taking place in Rwanda.

“For months this spring Tutsi rebels and Hutu forces slaugh-tered each other without so much as a mortar explosion being cap-tured by international television crews,” he wrote. “As the numberof casualties climbed past 1 million, with bodies floating like log-jams down the Kagera River, the media in the United Statesremained focused on sensationalist stories about murder andsports heroes.”

Ryan stressed that governments, including state govern-ments, need “to be givers of information as well as collectors. Itis incumbent on governments that these brave new tools of theinformation age be used to alleviate pain and suffering as wellas augment the profits of private corporations. And it is incum-bent on governments all across this global village to do every-thing in their power to ensure that nothing like the Rwandandebacle ever happens again.”

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