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Kansas Bill On ID Theft Stalls
by Liza Porteus
A Kansas bill that aims to combat identity theft stalled last week as legislators prepared to leave the capital until May 1.
The measure, S.B. 559, would mandate that applicants for driver's licenses, instruction permits or other forms of identification cards, submit proof of age or identity beginning July 1, 2003. Applicants also would have to submit Social Security numbers to the state's motor vehicle department, but the numbers would not be placed on driver's licenses or other permits unless approved by the applicants. People applying for commercial drivers' licenses and instruction permits would have to include their Social Security numbers, signatures, color photographs, certifications and consent releases on their information.
On March 12, the state Senate passed the measure 25-15 despite numerous concerns over security, privacy and other issues. The House Judiciary Committee then approved the bill, and lawmakers amended it on the House floor. But on April 10, a motion to pass the bill failed in the House, and a motion to reconsider the bill a day later was defeated 56-63.
The legislation has been placed on the House general orders' calendar and may be considered when legislators return in May.
AeA Takes Stock-Option Fight To States
The electronics group AeA on Thursday will hold meetings in Portsmouth, N.H., and Canton, Mass., so companies can learn about congressional bills to change the rules on stock options and alter securities law.
AeA is spearheading the Coalition to Preserve and Protect Stock Options, which includes the Business Roundtable, Arizona Software and Internet Association, Information Technology Association of America, Semiconductor Industry Association, Software Finance and Tax Executives Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and TechNet.
The meetings in New England will include primers on the current debate over securities litigation and stock-option accounting, and examine how the climate after the collapse of the Enron energy firm is driving congressional efforts. AeA officials will explain why they believe companies and their employees would be hurt by proposals to change the way stock options are reported and expensed. There also will be a discussion of what companies can do to influence the outcome of the legislative proposals.
N.J., N.Y. Boost Airport Security
New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey and New York Gov. George Pataki last week announced that they will seek passage of legislation in their respective states to expand background checks for airport employees. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also announced additional airport security measures it plans to implement.
Joined by John Magaw, head of the new federal Transportation Security Agency (TSA), McGreevey and Pataki said the legislation would require all current and prospective employees who have access to secure areas of airports to undergo fingerprinting and background checks.
If New Jersey and New York enact legislation, the port authority will implement the new standards within 90 days. It also will implement additional measures at its airports, including: advancing surveillance of airport perimeters in order to improve detection of unauthorized intrusions; and installing at terminal doors and security gates centralized access-control systems that will use biometric technology to scan fingerprints, eyes and faces.
Several airlines will begin to enroll passengers in biometrics-based identification programs to speed the identification process and enhance customer service for "trusted travelers" while cutting down on identity fraud and the illicit use of travel documents. If approved by TSA, the "Fast Flow" program is expected to be widely implemented by airlines.
The port authority will assist participating airlines, evaluate the results and explore the possibility of implementing the technology more broadly at airports in the two states.
Virginia Prosecutor's Agenda Enacted
Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore's 2002 legislative agenda was signed into law last week. Several House and Senate lawmakers spearheaded Kilgore's various bills, and Gov. Mark Warner signed them into law.
One anti-terrorism bill expands the attorney general's ability to request the interception of communications and increases penalties for threats of terrorism or hoaxes. Another requires all boards, commissions, councils and other public bodies subject to the Freedom of Information Act to post the initial drafts of their minutes on the Internet within 10 days and the final minutes within three days. And a third measure requires officials to take DNA samples from every person arrested for a violent felony and enter the information into the state's DNA databank.
"This will be an important law enforcement tool for Virginia and further solidify us as the national leader in the field of technology," Kilgore said in a statement.
NCSL Unveils New Education Site
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) last week unveiled a new interactive database that provides education finance data for the 50 states. The site allows visitors to conduct queries on how states fund elementary and secondary education and can view information about specific programs, such as special education funding. State programs also may be compared.
NCSL on Tuesday released a report showing that states face a potential $27 billion shortfall in the current fiscal year, and at least 40 have enacted or are considering budget cuts. Six states reported budget gaps in excess of 10 percent, with 17 states reporting gaps of more than 5 percent. Thirty-three states reported that spending exceeded budget levels during the course of the current fiscal year. NCSL says 17 states either have or may cut elementary and secondary education funding as a result.
Higher education also is being considered for cuts in 29 states, 25 are pondering reductions in corrections expenditures, and 22 are examining reductions in Medicaid costs. More than half the states are likely to tap "rainy day" funds, and 10 states may lay off state employees. States also are considering delaying capital projects, expanding gaming revenues and raising taxes to balance their budgets.
CIAO To Hold N.J. Meeting
The second in a series of conferences addressing critical infrastructure lessons that have been learned and successful practices that have emerged from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday in Princeton, N.J.
The conferences are part of the effort by the Commerce Department's Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office to reach out to states and localities and determine the best way to protect the nation's computer systems.
The New Jersey conference will focus on improving cooperation among private industry and local, state and federal governments, and it will address the challenge of ensuring the protection of essential services in the event of a terrorist attack or significant security breach.
New Mexico Roots For Lockheed, Sandia Deal
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's board of directors last week approved a position urging Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to extend a Lockheed Martin contract to manage Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. The state's congressional delegation, Gov. Gary Johnson and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez applauded Lockheed Martin's track record in its management of Sandia.
Under Lockheed Martin's stewardship, the board noted that Sandia has provided more than $10 million to the Albuquerque community through its participation in education programs, and has further extended its commitment to the community with the establishment of and $13 million for the Technology Ventures Corporation in order to create new businesses and jobs in the state.
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