UPCOMING CWAG EVENTS
On April 21, 2015, CWAG will convene a panel of experts to discuss the policy and legal implications of the recent USDOJ memo regarding the enforcement of federal marijuana laws in Indian Country. State, tribal and federal officials will address topics such as recommendations the federal government might make to tribes prior to implementing a medical or recreational marijuana program. The panel will also discuss how to address the potential conflicts between tribes and states with differing marijuana policies. This interactive one hour webinar will be available for CLE credit through CWAG's partner, WestLegalEd. More details will be announced soon regarding how to register, the agenda and panelists.
On May 6, 2015, CWAG will be hosting a one day seminar on U.S. policies concerning the export of domestically produced energy to foreign markets. The seminar will be held in Washington, DC. An agenda for this seminar will be available by mid-March. Please download this registration form and email to: [email protected]
The Conference of Western Attorneys General and CWAG Chair, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden invite you to attend the CWAG Annual Meeting, July 19-22, 2015, in Wailea, Hawaii at The Grand Wailea Resort. Full meeting and registration details available here. Any questions can be directed to CWAG Meeting Planner Janine Knudsen at [email protected] or 916.704.1057
NEWS ABOUT FORMER CWAG ATTORNEYS GENERAL
Former Hawaii Attorney General David Louie, who served in that post from 2011 to late 2014 under former Governor Neil Abercrombie's administration, has joined the Honolulu law firm Kobayashi Sugita & Goda as its newest partner. In his new role at Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, Louie will focus on commercial and construction litigation. "I've known the people at this firm for a long time," said Mr. Louie. "My old firm is a good firm and very successful, but I thought the Kobayashi firm might be a good platform for me to sort of use my experience as attorney general and to concentrate on commercial litigation, while continuing to do construction litigation."
Former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto was named second in command of the Nevada System of Higher Education. "Catherine Cortez Masto brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight that will enhance our efforts to advance higher education in Nevada," said Chancellor Dan Klaich in a statement. "She will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team." "NSHE provides me with a thrilling opportunity to continue to work on behalf of Nevadans and advance the Board of Regents' vision for educational improvement in order to ensure a brighter future for our state," Ms. Cortez Masto said.
Former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers is running for mayor of Colorado Springs, the city he grew up in. "The fact is, we have a local political environment that has not been conducive to community and economic development. We've allowed our public infrastructure - our roads, bridges and storm drainage systems - to deteriorate," Mr. Suthers said to a couple hundred supporters who gathered at Ivywild School for his kickoff. "I hope you all came because you agree on one thing, that it's time to get Colorado Springs moving again."
CYBER SECURITY AND PRIVACY
CWAG Attorney General Sean Reyes of Utah announced a comprehensive resource for citizens of all ages to combat identity theft. ID Theft Central found on the web at idtheft.utah.gov is a free portal to resources and registries. The site offers a free Child Identity Protection registry. Parents can enroll their children to receive years of identity theft protection. In addition, identity theft can be reported online through the Identity Theft Reporting Information System. ID Theft Central also leads citizens to Track My Case, Victim Assistance and Resources, and Identity Theft Crime Mapping. Over 100 Utah law enforcement agencies participate in the Utah ID Theft Central program. ID Theft Central provides free web-based services for Utah citizens to Report, Repair and Protect against identity theft.
CWAG Attorney General Bob Ferguson of Washington is supporting legislation strengthening the state's data breach notification law. "Nearly every day, we hear of another troubling compromise of sensitive personal information," General Ferguson said. "Repairing the damage caused by identity theft costs consumers billions of dollars every year. Protecting consumers is one of my top priorities, and the sooner they know their data has been compromised, the more they can do to minimize that damage." Every year, data breaches imperil the personal and financial information of millions of consumers across the nation. Sophisticated hackers attack businesses, non-profits, and public agencies of all sizes, accessing vast troves of consumer information with each breach. In 2012 alone, the most recent year that federal Bureau of Justice Statistics data are available, 16.6 million Americans - some 7 percent of those age 16 or older - were victims of identity theft. According to the Online Trust Alliance, in 2013 there were 2,164 data breaches in which over 830 million records were exposed, including credit card numbers, email addresses, login credentials, Social Security numbers and other personal information.
CWAG Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum of Oregon testified before the Senate Education Committee in support of SB 187, or the Oregon Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (OSIPA). The legislation would prevent third-party vendors who contract with a school from selling student data, using the data for advertisements, or from creating a profile of a student for a non-educational purpose. The bill would still allow schools and educational technology providers to continue to use a student's information for school-related purposes. "At its core, OSIPA is very simple. This bill does not limit the legitimate use of students' data by schools or teachers. It should be the policy of Oregon that the information you gather from students should be used for their educational benefit and for nothing else," testified General Rosenblum.
FIGHTING CRIME
CWAG Attorney General Kamala D. Harris of California announced her sponsorship of two bills that will help provide enhanced support to law enforcement agencies in their investigations of transnational criminal organizations. Transnational criminal organizations have made California the single biggest point of entry for methamphetamine into the United States, with 70% entering through the San Diego Port of Entry. These organizations transfer billions of dollars out of the U.S. through California. As much as $40 billion in illicit funds were laundered in the state in 2012, according to Attorney General Harris' 2014 report, Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime. "Transnational criminal organizations rely on a steady flow of billions of dollars in laundered money to support their operations," General Harris said. "The legislation I am sponsoring will equip local and state law enforcement with more tools to target their illicit profits and dismantle these dangerous organizations."
CWAG Attorney General Tim Fox of Montana announced that the Montana Highway Patrol's (MHP) new Facebook outreach tool designed to use public assistance to help law enforcement officers locate wanted fugitives resulted in its first apprehension. Andrew Jorge Douglas Heiser was arrested by the MHP with assistance from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office near Billings after a citizen posted a Facebook tip as to Heiser's whereabouts after reading about him in the Patrol's "Warrant Wednesday" post. "Montanans care deeply about their communities and the well-being of their neighbors," General Fox said. "Warrant Wednesdays offers a convenient and timely way for the public to team up with law enforcement to help locate dangerous criminals and keep their neighborhoods safe." Each Wednesday on its official Facebook page, the Patrol posts the name and photo of a person with an outstanding arrest warrant who may pose a risk to public safety and/or whose warrant has been outstanding for an extended period of time. Members of the public who have information regarding the person in question are encouraged to contact the Patrol directly by calling 1-855-MHP-3777, by emailing [email protected], or by private Facebook message only, and are asked not to approach the person in question.
CWAG Attorney General Sean Reyes of Utah announced his support for a legislative solution he has long championed to address white collar crimes and affinity fraud in particular. The proposed White Collar Crime Registry has been introduced to modify the Utah Code of Criminal Procedure to include a registry for persons who commit specified white collar crimes. According to General Reyes, despite so many positive economic indicators and a tremendous environment overall for business in the state, Utah is sadly known for its high level of financial vulnerability to affinity fraud (exploiting relationships of trust). "Utah's unique personal interweavings and close relationships offer a rich environment for predatory behavior and financial crimes in our state. We trust those in our neighborhoods, in our churches, in our social circles and in our professions. While in many ways trust is a healthy community trait that fosters social strength and business success, it also leaves our citizens quite susceptible to those who would exploit that trust," said General Reyes.
