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Kansas ID Legislation Stirs Debate
by Liza Porteus
The Kansas legislature moved close to what some feared would turn into a national ID card debate this week as the state Senate passed a measure aimed at combating identity theft.
The Senate on Tuesday passed S.B. 559, a bill mandating that a person applying for a driver's license, instruction permit or other form of identification card, submit proof of age or identity beginning July 1, 2003. Applicants also would have to submit a Social Security number to the state's motor vehicle department, which would not be placed on a driver's license or other permit unless approved by the applicant. People applying for commercial drivers' licenses and instruction permits must include their Social Security numbers, signature, color photograph, certifications and a consent release on driver's information, among other information.
The version passed by the Senate allows the use of thumbprint or other biometric identifiers as forms of identification.
"There are no security measures in place to protect Kansans to ensure that an applicant for a driver's license or a non-driver ID card is who he or she says he or she is," said bill sponsor Sen. Barbara Allen, R, who was a recent victim of identity fraud.
"S.B. 559 is not about invading Kansans' privacy, it's about preserving Kansans' privacy and protecting Kansas' security," she said on the Senate floor.
But Sen. David Haley said, "This bill goes way too far in addressing a legitimate concern" of verifying an individual's identity.
"What next? Their DNA or a hair sample?" Haley said. "This bill criminalizes the vast majority of innocent Kansans' basic privilege to drive."
The Senate vote was 25-15 on S.B. 559, which was introduced in the House Wednesday and is expected to generate $6 million in fiscal 2003 in state funds.
State Bioterrorism Plans Due Next Month
Each state has until April 15 to submit a plan on how it will use bioterrorism funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has said states must outline plans addressing 14 "critical benchmarks" in the following areas: preparedness planning and readiness assessment; surveillance and epidemiology capacity; lab capacity for biological and chemical agents; health alert network/communications and information technology; risk communication and health information dissemination; and education and training.
CDC has identified 'critical capacities' to be addressed by each state, and 'enhanced capacities' that states have the option to address. For the health-alert network and IT topic area, 'critical capacities' include: communications connectivity, emergency communications, protection of data and information systems and the secure electronic exchange of public health information. The 'enhanced capacities' are: support of emergency response management and full IT support and services.
The CDC also has posted public health IT functions and specifications on its Web site. The National Conference of State Legislatures has provided guidance to states on its Web site for drafting the plans.
States that have not received the 20 percent of their total allocated funding will do so "immediately," and the CDC will release the remaining 80 percent when plans are approved.
Minnesota High-Tech Industry Eyes Education, Tax Policies
The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) is trying to tackle education investment and industry-friendly tax policies this legislative session.
MHTA opposes budget cuts that could affect education technology programs and supports bonding requests of the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System to provide updated facilities for teaching and research. The group supports high standards for K-12 and the increased use of technology in the classroom, including continued funding for the Computers for Schools Program.
MHTA also supports various e-government initiatives and state investments in new high-tech businesses, such as the Minnesota Project Innovation and Minnesota Technology. MHTA also supports the responsible recycling of electronic products.
Lower capital-gains taxes and investment in research and development is supported by MHTA, but the group is opposing sales tax on business-to-business services and other tax policies that could decrease Minnesota's competitiveness in the global economy, the group said.
MHTA released a legislative update last week, which noted that higher education technology initiatives are faring well in the bonding request process. Computers for Schools has received all state funding allocated in last year's budget. In addition, a homeland-security package that includes completion of a metropolitan communications network is moving through the legislature. MHTA plans to closely monitor possible tax legislation that could adversely affect the tech industry, such as sales tax on Internet services, it said.
Georgia Tech Exports Rise
The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism (GDITT) Commissioner R.K. Sehgal said in a statement that although overall exports for the state decreased by 2 percent last year, Georgia moved up from 16th to 15th in the nation for exports. Georgia exports totaled $14.6 billion last year with Canada as Georgia's largest trading partner, followed by Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Georgia companies exported $1.86 billion computer and electronics products worldwide, an overall increase of more than $250 million over the previous year, Sehgal said. Georgia companies exported $456 million in computers and electronics to Canada in 2001, a 70 percent or $187 million jump over the previous year.
Illinois Gets Governors' Cup Award
Illinois has taken first place in Site Selection magazine's 2001 Governor's Cup competition for the top state in America for business development.
States were ranked based on 10 criteria for 2001, including the total new and expanded facilities established that year, total new jobs created at those facilities, and number of top 100 metro areas and small towns included in annual surveys.
Chicago was ranked as the top metro area, while Peru, Danville and Effingham were listed among the top 20 small towns. Kentucky received second place, and New York ranked third.
Michigan officials said an "11th hour" decision by the magazine to change its rating system caused Michigan to tie for fourth place with Virginia, but maintains it actually reported 1,419 new and expanded businesses, ranking it No. 1.
"The true judge of the best place to grow is the business community," Doug Rothwell, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said in a statement. "They have once again voted overwhelmingly for Michigan."
Arkansas Cyber College Gets $2 Million Boost
The Donaghey CyberCollege at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently was awarded $2 million in state funds to train workers for the information age.
"The CyberCollege is one of the best things we have going for us in Arkansas as we prepare our people for the types of jobs that will be available in the new century," Gov. Mike Huckabee said in his weekly e-mail address.
Established in 1999, the CyberCollege's curriculum aims to increase the earning power of graduates and build on the state's knowledge-based industries. CyberCollege Dean Mary Good was undersecretary of Commerce for technology during former President Clinton's first term. The college recently added a virtual reality center, which is designed to enable researchers and industry partners to solve problems using simulation technologies.
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