Announcements, information and updates from CWAG Members and Associates
February 21, 2019
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Articles on topics relevant to the work of Attorneys General around the nation.
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Note: Subscription may be required for access
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DATA PRIVACY
The Washington Post
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CWAG invites you to attend our 2019 Spring Dinner on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Lafayette, Louisiana, in conjunction with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit.
Attorneys General and private sector supporters will join together for a highly personal and engaging dinner with approximately 15-20 Attorneys General
at The DoubleTree Hotel.
The CWAG 2019 Spring Dinner begins with a reception for all attendees from 6:00pm – 7:00pm in Salon A immediately followed by dinner from 7:00pm – 9:00pm in the Ballroom at The DoubleTree Hotel.
If you need more information or if you have any questions, please contact meeting manager Ale Stephens at
astephens@cwagweb.org
or 303.304.9206.
We hope to see you in Lafayette!
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Gibson Dunn Team Sues Justice Department Over Reversal on Online Gambling
National
Law Journal
February 16, 2019
The U.S. Justice Department’s abandoning of a 2011 opinion that had permitted certain forms of internet gambling drew a legal challenge from an online lottery company, which said the government’s abrupt reversal was “deeply flawed” and the product of a lobbying campaign by a prominent Las Vegas casino magnate.
The company, NeoPollard Interactive LLC, represented by the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission, represented by the state attorney general’s office, filed a related challenge against the Justice Department. NeoPollard serves as the technology and service provider of the New Hampshire state iLottery system.
The lawsuits put a spotlight on a recent—and rare—decision by the Justice Department’s legal counsel office to reverse an earlier memo that said the federal Wire Act only made online sports betting unlawful, not online lotteries.
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AG Balderas, NMFOG Announce New Legislation Aimed at Promoting Transparency in Government
February 13, 2019
Attorney General Hector Balderas and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government announced new legislation aimed at increasing transparency in government, and reducing access barriers to New Mexico’s citizens and members of the press in their pursuit of public information. HB 26 would limit the amount that public agencies can charge the public following a request for public records. HB 29 would require that organizations
who exist solely to provide funds or property to government agencies be subject to the Inspection of Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act.
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Colorado Legal Pot Industry Sales Grew 3 Percent in 2018, Top $6 Billion Since Recreational Use Began
CNBC
February 12, 2019
Colorado's regulated pot industry sales have topped $6 billion since legal recreational marijuana sales began in 2014 and taxes generated by the industry grew by nearly 8 percent last year, the state reported.
The Colorado Department of Revenue said regulated marijuana sales in calendar 2018 were nearly $1.55 billion, up about 3 percent from just over $1.5 billion in 2017. The state has seen its marijuana industry sales more than double since 2014 when the first year of adult-use pot generated $683.5 million.
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Attorney General Becerra Urges Insurance Providers to Improve Access to Care for Individuals to help Combat the Opioid Epidemic
AG Becerra also releases infographic and fact sheet to display how the opioid crisis is impacting California
February 14, 2019
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra urged health insurance providers to remove prior authorization requirements for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of individuals with an opioid abuse disorder. In a letter addressed to 17 health insurance executives, Attorney General Becerra explained that authorization requirements for MAT burdens individuals suffering from opioid misuse and addiction by creating barriers to treatment. MAT medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone reduce drug use and overdoses. As of June 2016, the authorization requirements affected 40 percent of patients with private health insurance who attempt to access MAT improve health conditions.
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AG Paxton Recovers Record $236 Million for Texas in Medicaid Fraud Settlement
February 19, 2019
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Xerox Corporation and several of its former subsidiaries – including Conduent, Inc. – agreed to a $235.9 million settlement with the State of Texas to resolve a lawsuit brought under the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act (TMFPA) and other grounds regarding the processing of prior authorization requests by dentists to deliver orthodontic services to Medicaid patients.
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Using Technology to Improve Social Justice
Building on CWAG's Cyber Security efforts, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas’s Chair's Initiative will focus on bringing together leaders from the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors to utilize technology to strengthen our economy and improve public safety outcomes. Expanded collaboration among leading privacy and security researchers, academics, industry representatives, consumer advocates, law enforcement and government entities will address national and international cyber security concerns.
This very important educational initiative is one which explores and expands the multifaceted elements of implementing cyber security programs and protocols. Further, through this effort, impacts on society and often, on those who are most vulnerable, are brought to light as it intersects with public policy, data security and law enforcement actions. Finally, we will examine the gig economy and the impact of disruptive technology as it relates to justice.
Initiative themes will include:
- Protecting Children, Families and Consumers:
- Enhanced enforcement of child online privacy protection laws
- Utilization of technology to assist law enforcement in combatting criminal activities such as fraud and money laundering with the use of biometric facial recognition protocols
- Utilization of technology to address issues specific to economic disparity like tax refunds and expedited Medicare/Medicaid payments
Protecting Personal Data Privacy:
- Strengthening and collaboration of data breach notification laws
- Implementation of safeguards against scams and the emerging electronic consumer marketplace
Protecting Against Human Trafficking:
- Creation of a multi-district communications solution that uses secured and encrypted communications for investigators
- Utilization of a technological tools which enhance and strengthen our ability to conduct investigations and communicate with agents in multiple jurisdictions without fear of having those channels compromised
Through this initiative, state attorneys generals will jointly address cyber security as one of the greatest threats to our nation. An advisory board of stakeholders - to include corporate, nonprofit and technology leaders - will be assembled to provide support and input relating to our economy and the various public safety components of the initiative. General Balderas’s will also use the experienced gained by his office through their current bi-national, multi-state cyber security pilot project supporting the efforts of law enforcement across our international lines.
CWAG Presidential Initiative Summit dates to be announced soon!
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Updated
American Indian Law Deskbook
Is Now Available
The
American Indian Law Deskbook
is a concise, direct, and easy-to-understand handbook on Indian law. The chapter authors of this book are experienced state lawyers who have been involved in Indian law for many years.
American Indian Law Deskbook
addresses the areas of Indian law most relevant to the practitioner.
Topics include:
- Definitions of Indians and Indian tribes
- Indian lands
- Criminal, civil regulatory, and civil adjudicatory jurisdiction
- Civil rights
- Indian water rights
- Fish and wildlife
- Environmental regulation
- Taxation
- Gaming
- Indian Child Welfare Act and tribal-state cooperative agreements
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