OLR Report 2013-R-0332 summarizes of how state and local governments discourage the use of plastic carryout bags.
Governments, mostly county and municipal, discourage the use of plastic carryout bags through bans, fees, mandatory recycling requirements, and education programs. Many that do are located in coastal states, and the provisions of their implementing ordinances vary considerably.
The ordinances generally apply to certain types of bags or businesses. Some provide for specific alternatives and others impose criminal or civil penalties for noncompliance. Some ordinances also aim to reduce or eliminate the use of paper carryout bags. Many exempt plastic bags used for certain purposes, such as those used to carry fruit, vegetables, nuts, candies, or other loose items (i.e., produce or product bags). They often explicitly allow the use of reusable bags, which are generally handled-bags designed for multiple reuse and made out of cloth or some other durable or machine washable fabric. Plastic reusable bags must often be at least 2.25 mils (.00225 inches) thick. If an ordinance allows for the use of recyclable paper bags, the bags must often be 100% recyclable, made of at least 40% post-consumer recycled content, and labeled as “reusable” or “recyclable.”
No state has banned the use of plastic carryout bags on a statewide basis, but many counties and municipalities have imposed local bans. North Carolina's legislature adopted a ban that applies only to its Outer Banks region. By July 2015, all four of Hawaii's counties will ban these bags, with varying exemptions, thus creating a de facto statewide ban. Barrington, Rhode Island's ban sunsets in 2015 unless the Town Council renews it. Westport is the only Connecticut municipality that bans plastic bags for retail checkout of purchased goods. Brookline, Massachusetts bans non-compostable and non-marine degradable plastic bags, but provides temporary waivers for food service establishments that can show an economic hardship or that they have no alternative to the checkout bags.
Like plastic bag bans, no states impose a fee or tax on plastic carryout bags, but several local jurisdictions do. For example, Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington, D.C. impose a five-cent per bag charge, while Boulder, Colorado imposes a 10-cent fee. The fees also apply to paper bags. Most of the revenue generated by these fees is used for environmental projects.
Some municipalities, particularly in California, couple plastic bag bans with fees on paper bags. Sunnyvale, California, for example, bans plastic carryout bags and imposes a 10-cent per bag fee, increasing to 25-cents in 2014, on recyclable paper carryout bags. It staggered the date by which stores were required to comply with its requirements, giving smaller stores more time to do so.
Madison, Wisconsin bans the disposal of non-contaminated recyclable plastic bags, including most grocery and retail bags, which must be separated from other solid waste and recycled.
Although the above methods may include an informational or educational component, some localities rely primarily on education programs to reduce plastic bag use. For example, Tuscan, Arizona requires retailers to (1) train employees on how to reduce their use, (2) educate customers on the environmental benefits of recycling or reducing the use of these bags, and (3) implement a public education program. It also requires them to collect and recycle plastic bags and report data on plastic bag use. In 2011, Wilton, Connecticut conducted a six-month educational program to decrease disposable bag use that, among other things, distributed free reusable bags to consumers.
The methods described above represent a sample of those used across the nation. More information about these and other approaches is available at several websites, such as plasticbaglaws.org and banthebag.com, which track plastic bag laws.
For more information, read the full report.
October 16, 2013
New York Thruway Promotes “Text Stops”
New York State is giving cell phone users a safe alternative to texting while driving, alerting motorists on the New York Thruway to the presence of nearby rest stops and parking areas in which they can text to their heart’s delight.
As reported on WNYC.org, the state is erecting nearly 300 signs on the highway pointing out “Text Stops” on the road ahead.
The state is also putting up additional signs informing drivers of new, tougher anti-texting penalties – five points on a New York state driver’s license and a $150 fine.
Connecticut, which recently increased its penalties for texting while driving and other cell phone violations ($150, $300, and $500 for first, second, and subsequent violators respectively), has created a distracted driving task force to study the best ways to reduce distracted driving in the state.
As reported on WNYC.org, the state is erecting nearly 300 signs on the highway pointing out “Text Stops” on the road ahead.
The state is also putting up additional signs informing drivers of new, tougher anti-texting penalties – five points on a New York state driver’s license and a $150 fine.
Connecticut, which recently increased its penalties for texting while driving and other cell phone violations ($150, $300, and $500 for first, second, and subsequent violators respectively), has created a distracted driving task force to study the best ways to reduce distracted driving in the state.
October 15, 2013
They’ll Always Have Paris
The beginning of freshman year in college is always a time of change, with students moving into dorms, meeting new people, starting classes, and trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
And for freshmen at Centenary College, a trip to Paris could soon become part of the mix.
According to a recent article in Inside Higher Ed, the college is planning to take all of its freshmen to Paris in Fall 2014 for an eight to 10 day trip led by college faculty members. It does not yet know what classes will be offered or where students would stay, but plans to cover the costs with tuition revenue.
While study abroad programs have long been part of the college experience, the article indicates that Centenary is believed to be the first college to take an entire class on a trip abroad. The college, located in Shreveport, LA, has 661 students, and expects to take about 150 on the trip.
And for freshmen at Centenary College, a trip to Paris could soon become part of the mix.
According to a recent article in Inside Higher Ed, the college is planning to take all of its freshmen to Paris in Fall 2014 for an eight to 10 day trip led by college faculty members. It does not yet know what classes will be offered or where students would stay, but plans to cover the costs with tuition revenue.
While study abroad programs have long been part of the college experience, the article indicates that Centenary is believed to be the first college to take an entire class on a trip abroad. The college, located in Shreveport, LA, has 661 students, and expects to take about 150 on the trip.
Look Ma! Without Football, I Have Time for My Homework!
Are high school sports a huge, costly distraction from the real job high schools face: educating young people? That’s the question posed by "The Case Against High-School Sports" in the October issue of the Atlantic.
High schools sports can teach leadership and teamwork and create tremendous school spirit. But they also divert money and attention from the classroom, where students are taught the skills needed to get good-paying jobs.
The article's author writes: "Sports are embedded in American schools in a way they are not almost anywhere else in the world. Yet this difference hardly ever comes up in domestic debates about America’s international mediocrity in education."
When a budget crisis forced one Texas school district to cut sports last year, some unexpected benefits appeared. The percentage of students passing classes jumped from 50% to 80%. While this couldn’t be attributed exclusively to the end of sports, it was a factor.
“It did make you focus,” said one former football player. “There was just all of this extra time. You never got behind in your work.”
High schools sports can teach leadership and teamwork and create tremendous school spirit. But they also divert money and attention from the classroom, where students are taught the skills needed to get good-paying jobs.
The article's author writes: "Sports are embedded in American schools in a way they are not almost anywhere else in the world. Yet this difference hardly ever comes up in domestic debates about America’s international mediocrity in education."
When a budget crisis forced one Texas school district to cut sports last year, some unexpected benefits appeared. The percentage of students passing classes jumped from 50% to 80%. While this couldn’t be attributed exclusively to the end of sports, it was a factor.
“It did make you focus,” said one former football player. “There was just all of this extra time. You never got behind in your work.”
October 14, 2013
Post-Traumatic Disorder Negatively Affects the Earnings of Military Reservists
Data on more than 315,000 reservists returning from deployments between 2003 and 2006, combined with longitudinal labor market earnings data, indicate that reservists who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms earn up to 6% less than they would have earned if they had not had such symptoms in the first four years following deployment, according to a recent RAND Corporation study.
Another key finding of the study is that reservists symptomatic of PTSD earn substantially less than average in both their military and civilian employment prior to deployment. According to the report more research is needed on how PTSD and the factors that make individuals susceptible to it affect military careers.
Another key finding of the study is that reservists symptomatic of PTSD earn substantially less than average in both their military and civilian employment prior to deployment. According to the report more research is needed on how PTSD and the factors that make individuals susceptible to it affect military careers.
Hot Report: Incentives to Convert to Natural Gas
OLR Report 2013-R-0369 describes existing and proposed incentives for people to convert to natural gas from other fuels.
While there currently are no incentives specifically for converting to natural gas from other fuels, there are incentives for buying energy efficient heating equipment. Such equipment is eligible for federal income tax credits and rebates. The tax credits apply to equipment bought in 2013. There are also low-interest loan programs that can be used for such equipment. In addition, Energy Star® rated residential gas furnaces and boilers are exempt from the state sales tax.
Legislation passed this session (PA 13-247 and PA 13-298) requires the establishment of programs to help customers finance replacement heating equipment. These programs could be used to finance gas heating equipment that replaces oil equipment; they also could be used by customers who do not switch fuels.
PA 13-298 also changes how gas system expansions are financed, which potentially will make it less expensive for some customers to switch from oil to gas. It also requires the gas companies to develop a gas system expansion plan. Under this plan, the companies have proposed several incentives for new gas customers.
For more information, read the full report.
While there currently are no incentives specifically for converting to natural gas from other fuels, there are incentives for buying energy efficient heating equipment. Such equipment is eligible for federal income tax credits and rebates. The tax credits apply to equipment bought in 2013. There are also low-interest loan programs that can be used for such equipment. In addition, Energy Star® rated residential gas furnaces and boilers are exempt from the state sales tax.
Legislation passed this session (PA 13-247 and PA 13-298) requires the establishment of programs to help customers finance replacement heating equipment. These programs could be used to finance gas heating equipment that replaces oil equipment; they also could be used by customers who do not switch fuels.
PA 13-298 also changes how gas system expansions are financed, which potentially will make it less expensive for some customers to switch from oil to gas. It also requires the gas companies to develop a gas system expansion plan. Under this plan, the companies have proposed several incentives for new gas customers.
For more information, read the full report.
23.9 Million Americans Use Illicit Drugs
According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 23.9 million Americans age 12 or older were current illicit drug users. This means that they used an illicit drug during the month before the survey interview. This represents 9.2% of all Americans in this age group, a similar rate to those found by the survey from 2009 to 2011 but higher than the rates from 2002 to 2008.
The survey found that:
The survey, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also includes data on alcohol and tobacco use, youth prevention measures, and treatment.
The survey found that:
- 9.5% of youth aged 12 to 17 were current illicit drug users (rates varied from 9.3% to 11.6% since 2002) and
- 21.3% of young adults age 18 to 25 were current illicit drug users (an increase from 19.7% in 2008 which the survey attributes primarily to increased marijuana use).
The survey, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also includes data on alcohol and tobacco use, youth prevention measures, and treatment.
October 11, 2013
Federal Labor Department Says Supreme Court Ruling Means FMLA Applies to Same-Sex Spouses in CT
The U.S. Department of Labor recently made it official that in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Defense Against Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will now apply to same-sex marriage partners in states that allow same sex marriage. Before this, federal FMLA job protection benefits were not provided to same-sex married couples if, for example, one spouse wanted to take an unpaid leave to care for his or her ill spouse. Daniel Schwartz writes about this at the Connecticut Employment Law Blog.
In Connecticut, which has its own FMLA, same sex couples have been recognized in law since a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling in 2008, followed by legislation in 2009, and therefore have been eligible for benefits under the state law. Before the new federal ruling, the state and federal laws conflicted regarding same-sex couples. The ruling and the new guidance provided by the federal Labor Department should help clear up any confusion employers may have over which laws apply.
In Connecticut, which has its own FMLA, same sex couples have been recognized in law since a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling in 2008, followed by legislation in 2009, and therefore have been eligible for benefits under the state law. Before the new federal ruling, the state and federal laws conflicted regarding same-sex couples. The ruling and the new guidance provided by the federal Labor Department should help clear up any confusion employers may have over which laws apply.
The Potential for a Modern Tragedy of the Commons
Arguably, allowing for-profit businesses to use public parks free-of- charge to hold yoga classes or exercise boot camps hasn’t created a modern-day “tragedy of the commons,” something that happened in the past to when farmers were allowed to let their animals graze on town greens and unintentionally deplete them. But municipal parks and recreation officials across the country are wondering whether it’s fair to exempt these businesses from paying user fees. After all, these officials charge people for using tennis courts and other athletic facilities; families for using picnic shelters; and organizations for using the park to hold road races, benefit walks, and other events.
In Denver, officials are considering a tiered fee system. For-profit instructors would pay a flat use-fee that would vary depending on the time of day and a park’s popularity. For example, an instructor conducting a 90-minute class would pay $32.50 for using a popular park at peak time (5 to 8 am), regardless of the number of participants. Proponents say this practice would help manage the number of groups using the park, pay for increased maintenance costs, and fill local coffers, while putting these businesses on the same footing as others who pay to use a park’s facilities.
Some critics say the fees would unfairly burden the poor, drive park users to other towns that don’t impose such fees, and increase traffic.
Others say municipalities shouldn’t allow for-profit classes to be held in public spaces maintained with tax dollars. Doing so, they argue, would constitute “the socialization of overhead costs.”
Atlantic Cities has a discussion of the issue.
In Denver, officials are considering a tiered fee system. For-profit instructors would pay a flat use-fee that would vary depending on the time of day and a park’s popularity. For example, an instructor conducting a 90-minute class would pay $32.50 for using a popular park at peak time (5 to 8 am), regardless of the number of participants. Proponents say this practice would help manage the number of groups using the park, pay for increased maintenance costs, and fill local coffers, while putting these businesses on the same footing as others who pay to use a park’s facilities.
Some critics say the fees would unfairly burden the poor, drive park users to other towns that don’t impose such fees, and increase traffic.
Others say municipalities shouldn’t allow for-profit classes to be held in public spaces maintained with tax dollars. Doing so, they argue, would constitute “the socialization of overhead costs.”
Atlantic Cities has a discussion of the issue.
October 10, 2013
Rebalancing the Property Tax Burden through User Fees
The property tax is the one-trick revenue pony for Connecticut’s cities and towns. The burden of the real property tax is borne by all the people who own property subject to the tax, including homeowners, landlords, retailers, and manufacturers. The burden varies for these property owners depending on their income and a municipality’s mix of taxable and tax- exempt property. But here’s the rub for cities and larger towns, which are usually home to many tax-exempt organizations such as churches, hospitals, universities, charities, social service agencies, government offices, and other statutorily exempt organizations. As the demand for and cost of municipal services escalate, mayors and selectmen face some hard choices, including cutting services or increasing taxes.
For example, the latter—increasing taxes—means squeezing more revenue out of the existing tax base, which, in some cities, may be shrinking. One way to avoid tax increases is to charge fees to people and organizations that use a specific municipal service and use the fee revenue to cover the administrative expense of delivering that service. This is what Easton, Pennsylvania does; it charges construction code building fees, plumbing inspection fees, zoning hearing fees, and push-cart vendors’ license fees.
Does this sound good? Why shouldn’t people and businesses pay fees for services only they use? Many already do. After all, user fees are based on “the benefits principle,” the idea that the person who benefits pays. But this “principle runs head on into the ability to pay principle,” Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy director Matthew Gardner stated. Not all residents and businesses have the same ability to pay.
This is one of the things you have to watch for, Governing’s Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene explained, “…there are legal principles dictating that user fees be used for the services provided, not just dumped into the general fund.” Quoting the National Conference of State Legislatures, the authors stated, “If user charges exceed the cost of providing services, or if separate accounting is not used, governments are vulnerable to court rulings that such charges are taxes.” Another policy paradox.
Hot Report: Definition of the Term "Minor" Under Connecticut Law
OLR Report 2013-R-0382 describes how Connecticut law defines the term “minor.”
Connecticut statutes expressly define the term “minor” at least eight different times. Depending on the purpose for which the definition is being used, a “minor” can mean a person under age 16, 17, 18, or 21. The definition with the widest applicability throughout the statutes classifies a minor as any person under age 18 (CGS § 1-1d).
That statute also establishes that the “age of majority” in Connecticut is 18, and it considers anyone who reaches this age an adult. Here again, though, the law varies with respect to when someone is considered to be old enough to have a certain responsibility or privilege. For example, an individual (1) must be over age 18 to become a police officer or obtain a gun permit but can be (2) under 18 to obtain a driver's license.
For more information, read the full report.
Connecticut statutes expressly define the term “minor” at least eight different times. Depending on the purpose for which the definition is being used, a “minor” can mean a person under age 16, 17, 18, or 21. The definition with the widest applicability throughout the statutes classifies a minor as any person under age 18 (CGS § 1-1d).
That statute also establishes that the “age of majority” in Connecticut is 18, and it considers anyone who reaches this age an adult. Here again, though, the law varies with respect to when someone is considered to be old enough to have a certain responsibility or privilege. For example, an individual (1) must be over age 18 to become a police officer or obtain a gun permit but can be (2) under 18 to obtain a driver's license.
For more information, read the full report.
Supreme Court Considers Challenge to Aggregate Contribution Limits
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case that challenges aggregate contribution limits in federal election cycles.
In addition to limiting the amount an individual may donate to each candidate, political party, or political action committee (PAC), federal law also caps the aggregate amount of such donations that an individual can make in a given election cycle. In 2013-2014, that amount is $123,200—$48,600 to candidates and $74,600 to political parties and certain PACs. If the Court strikes down the aggregate limit, contributors would still be bound by contribution limits for each separate candidate, party, or PAC, but would be free to contribute as much money in the aggregate as they wished.
The plaintiffs argue that the aggregate limits violate the First Amendment.
The case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, will likely be decided in 2014.
In addition to limiting the amount an individual may donate to each candidate, political party, or political action committee (PAC), federal law also caps the aggregate amount of such donations that an individual can make in a given election cycle. In 2013-2014, that amount is $123,200—$48,600 to candidates and $74,600 to political parties and certain PACs. If the Court strikes down the aggregate limit, contributors would still be bound by contribution limits for each separate candidate, party, or PAC, but would be free to contribute as much money in the aggregate as they wished.
The plaintiffs argue that the aggregate limits violate the First Amendment.
The case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, will likely be decided in 2014.
October 9, 2013
Safety Experts Identify Top Car-Seat Mistakes and Remedies
As reported in the Washington Post, AAA child safety experts recently identified the 12 most common car-seat mistakes parents make and corrective actions for each. The list includes:
1. Moving a child out of a booster seat too soon. Children may sustain abdominal or chest injuries if they use an adult seat belt prematurely.
Remedy: Do not transition a child out of a booster seat until he or she is between age 8 and 12 and tall enough to sit with his or her back against the seat, knees bent at the seat edge, and feet touching the floor.
2. Not properly tightening car seats during installation. A child is vulnerable to greater crash forces if the seat belt or anchor connection is too loose.
Remedy: Tighten the seat so that it does not move more than one inch in any direction when tested at the belt path.
3. Using loose harness straps. Loose harnesses will not properly restrain a child in a crash.
Remedy: Make sure the harness straps are not twisted and lay flat. When fastened, it should not be possible to pinch any extra harness material at the child’s shoulder.
4. Placing the retainer or chest clip too low. If the retainer clip, which is designed to keep the child in the seat in a crash or sudden stop, is too low, the child may come out of the harness or suffer abdominal injuries.
Remedy: Fasten the retainer clip at the child’s armpit level.
5. Turning a child face-forward too soon. A child who rides facing forward before age two is vulnerable to head, neck, and spinal cord injuries.
Remedy: A child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the upper weight and height limits the car seat manufacturer recommends.
6. Allowing children under age 13 to ride in the front seat. Most children under age 13 are too small to sit in the front seat and may be seriously injured by the car’s airbags in a crash.
Remedy: Children 12 and under should sit properly restrained in the back seat.
Click here to read the remaining car-seat mistakes and remedies on AAA’s list.
1. Moving a child out of a booster seat too soon. Children may sustain abdominal or chest injuries if they use an adult seat belt prematurely.
Remedy: Do not transition a child out of a booster seat until he or she is between age 8 and 12 and tall enough to sit with his or her back against the seat, knees bent at the seat edge, and feet touching the floor.
2. Not properly tightening car seats during installation. A child is vulnerable to greater crash forces if the seat belt or anchor connection is too loose.
Remedy: Tighten the seat so that it does not move more than one inch in any direction when tested at the belt path.
3. Using loose harness straps. Loose harnesses will not properly restrain a child in a crash.
Remedy: Make sure the harness straps are not twisted and lay flat. When fastened, it should not be possible to pinch any extra harness material at the child’s shoulder.
4. Placing the retainer or chest clip too low. If the retainer clip, which is designed to keep the child in the seat in a crash or sudden stop, is too low, the child may come out of the harness or suffer abdominal injuries.
Remedy: Fasten the retainer clip at the child’s armpit level.
5. Turning a child face-forward too soon. A child who rides facing forward before age two is vulnerable to head, neck, and spinal cord injuries.
Remedy: A child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the upper weight and height limits the car seat manufacturer recommends.
6. Allowing children under age 13 to ride in the front seat. Most children under age 13 are too small to sit in the front seat and may be seriously injured by the car’s airbags in a crash.
Remedy: Children 12 and under should sit properly restrained in the back seat.
Click here to read the remaining car-seat mistakes and remedies on AAA’s list.
Emerald Ash Borer Continues to Spread in Connecticut
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) recently announced that tests confirm the presence of emerald ash borers (EAB), an invasive insect, in four Connecticut counties: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven. Previously, the state and federal governments imposed quarantines regulating the movement of firewood and ash products from within New Haven County to other areas. CAES states the scope of the quarantines will expand due to the detection of EAB in other counties.
Regulations also restrict the movement of firewood from out-of-state into Connecticut. These regulations attempt to prevent EAB and other invasive insects from entering Connecticut through the movement of firewood.
The EAB is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the United States. It has been found in 20 states from Kansas and Michigan to New Hampshire and south to North Carolina. Ash makes up between 4% and 15% of Connecticut’s forests.
The Hartford Courant reports that local arborists are studying the EAB to learn how to (1) spot it, (2) save trees, and (3) prevent its spread.
Regulations also restrict the movement of firewood from out-of-state into Connecticut. These regulations attempt to prevent EAB and other invasive insects from entering Connecticut through the movement of firewood.
The EAB is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the United States. It has been found in 20 states from Kansas and Michigan to New Hampshire and south to North Carolina. Ash makes up between 4% and 15% of Connecticut’s forests.
The Hartford Courant reports that local arborists are studying the EAB to learn how to (1) spot it, (2) save trees, and (3) prevent its spread.
October 8, 2013
Uneven Recovery Following Housing Bust
According to a recent Bloomberg article, the economic recovery is reaching more white households than African American households. The article cites a Pew study that found white households’ median wealth is 20 times that of African Americans, a gap twice the pre-recession size.
The disparity is tied in large part to the housing bust. According to Pew, African American households’ financial portfolios are much more dependent on their housing wealth than other assets (e.g., a 401(k) or stocks). So, when the housing bubble burst, it disproportionally affected African Americans. Bloomberg reports that the homeownership rate for African Americans fell from 50% during the housing bubble to 43% in the second quarter of 2013, its lowest rate since 1995. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the homeownership rate for whites stopped falling two years ago, settling around 73%, only 3 percentage points below the 2004 peak.
Analysts say “reverse redlining,” the predatory lending practice of steering minority borrowers toward high-cost mortgages, is partially to blame. When the housing bubble burst, banks foreclosed on these subprime mortgages. One in 10 African American borrowers lost their home, double the foreclosure rate for whites.
Analysts say that African Americans’ homeownership rate may be slow to return to its pre-recession number for a number of reasons including stricter underwriting standards; high unemployment among African Americans; and a lack of affordable housing due to purchases by flippers, private equity firms, and other cash buyers.
The disparity is tied in large part to the housing bust. According to Pew, African American households’ financial portfolios are much more dependent on their housing wealth than other assets (e.g., a 401(k) or stocks). So, when the housing bubble burst, it disproportionally affected African Americans. Bloomberg reports that the homeownership rate for African Americans fell from 50% during the housing bubble to 43% in the second quarter of 2013, its lowest rate since 1995. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the homeownership rate for whites stopped falling two years ago, settling around 73%, only 3 percentage points below the 2004 peak.
Analysts say “reverse redlining,” the predatory lending practice of steering minority borrowers toward high-cost mortgages, is partially to blame. When the housing bubble burst, banks foreclosed on these subprime mortgages. One in 10 African American borrowers lost their home, double the foreclosure rate for whites.
Analysts say that African Americans’ homeownership rate may be slow to return to its pre-recession number for a number of reasons including stricter underwriting standards; high unemployment among African Americans; and a lack of affordable housing due to purchases by flippers, private equity firms, and other cash buyers.
Hot Report: Other States' FOI Exemptions Protecting Personal Privacy
OLR Report 2013-R-0384 examines whether other states' freedom of information (FOI) laws exempt certain records from disclosure under a provision (1) generally protecting a person's privacy or (2) limiting disclosure of law enforcement investigatory records when disclosure would violate a person's privacy. It specifically looks at laws that might apply to crime scene photos, 911 tapes or transcripts, and autopsy reports.
The report found 11 states with general exemptions in their FOI laws limiting disclosure of records in order to protect personal privacy, with the majority of these states protecting against unwarranted invasions of privacy. FOI laws in an additional four states protect privacy but it is unclear whether these states' laws cover the records you asked about. Not included in this report are provisions that limit disclosure of personal information in personnel or medical files, as these provisions would not apply to the records under the circumstances described above. In addition, research focused on each state's FOI laws and it is possible that a provision could be found elsewhere in a state's statutes.
Most states' FOI laws limit disclosure of law enforcement investigative records. Some states prohibit disclosure of these records at any time while others only do so during an investigation. Some also limit disclosure to certain circumstances, such as protecting someone from physical harm, protecting investigative techniques, or protecting personal privacy. The report found eight states that consider personal privacy interests when determining whether to disclose law enforcement investigative records.
For more information, read the full report.
The report found 11 states with general exemptions in their FOI laws limiting disclosure of records in order to protect personal privacy, with the majority of these states protecting against unwarranted invasions of privacy. FOI laws in an additional four states protect privacy but it is unclear whether these states' laws cover the records you asked about. Not included in this report are provisions that limit disclosure of personal information in personnel or medical files, as these provisions would not apply to the records under the circumstances described above. In addition, research focused on each state's FOI laws and it is possible that a provision could be found elsewhere in a state's statutes.
Most states' FOI laws limit disclosure of law enforcement investigative records. Some states prohibit disclosure of these records at any time while others only do so during an investigation. Some also limit disclosure to certain circumstances, such as protecting someone from physical harm, protecting investigative techniques, or protecting personal privacy. The report found eight states that consider personal privacy interests when determining whether to disclose law enforcement investigative records.
For more information, read the full report.
Federal Government Shutdown Puts WIC Program in Jeopardy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, provides federal grants to states “for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.”
According to the Washington Post, the USDA says it should be able to provide WIC benefits through October, but if the shutdown continues beyond the end of the month, continued funding is uncertain.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) administers Connecticut’s WIC program. According to DPH, 58,000 clients currently receive WIC benefits. The department recently posted the following message on its website:
According to the Washington Post, the USDA says it should be able to provide WIC benefits through October, but if the shutdown continues beyond the end of the month, continued funding is uncertain.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) administers Connecticut’s WIC program. According to DPH, 58,000 clients currently receive WIC benefits. The department recently posted the following message on its website:
As of midnight October 1, the federal government has shutdown. However, the Connecticut WIC Program is able to continue to provide services to participants for the time being by using current available funds. The state WIC Program will continue to monitor and assess the situation and provide updates as needed.
October 7, 2013
One-Fourth of Deaths from Cardiovascular Disease are Avoidable, but Rate is Declining
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly ¼ of deaths from heart disease, stroke, or hypertensive disease are avoidable. Avoidable deaths include those involving conditions that are preventable or treatable. The report defines avoidable deaths as those in persons under age 75 with an underlying cause of ischemic or rheumatic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or hypertensive disease.
Using 2001-2010 mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System, the report estimates that there were 200,070 avoidable deaths from such cardiovascular diseases in 2010 across the country. The highest rates of such avoidable deaths were among people who were (1) ages 65-74, (2) male, (3) non-Hispanic black, or (4) in the South. Black males showed the highest rate of avoidable deaths during the period being studied.
The overall rate of such avoidable deaths declined by 29% from 2001 to 2010; the rate decreased in each state during that period. Connecticut is among the states with the lowest rate of such avoidable deaths; the state had an average annual decline in such deaths of 5.7%.
Some of the CDC’s recommendations to further decrease such deaths include (1) promoting the “ABCS” of heart health (aspirin when appropriate, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation); (2) community prevention strategies (such as tobacco control and reducing sodium); and (3) team-based collaborative care.
Using 2001-2010 mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System, the report estimates that there were 200,070 avoidable deaths from such cardiovascular diseases in 2010 across the country. The highest rates of such avoidable deaths were among people who were (1) ages 65-74, (2) male, (3) non-Hispanic black, or (4) in the South. Black males showed the highest rate of avoidable deaths during the period being studied.
The overall rate of such avoidable deaths declined by 29% from 2001 to 2010; the rate decreased in each state during that period. Connecticut is among the states with the lowest rate of such avoidable deaths; the state had an average annual decline in such deaths of 5.7%.
Some of the CDC’s recommendations to further decrease such deaths include (1) promoting the “ABCS” of heart health (aspirin when appropriate, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation); (2) community prevention strategies (such as tobacco control and reducing sodium); and (3) team-based collaborative care.
Despite Federal Government Shutdown, Sikorsky Avoids Furloughs (Update)
Last week 1,400 employees at United Technology’s Sikorsky division were facing unpaid furloughs due to the federal government shutdown. But over the weekend, the Defense Department announced civilian defense employees can come back to work.
It happened when U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel invoked a recently passed law that authorizes the Defense Department to bring back most civilian employees despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. The "Pay Our Military Act" was signed by President Obama last week, clearing the way for some 350,000 civilian defense workers nationwide to return to their jobs.
According to the Connecticut Post, Sikorsky announced late Saturday that employees should return to work Sunday night. An automated message at Sikorsky headquarters, updated at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, informed employees that Sunday's third shift was scheduled to go on as it had before the shutdown.
Sikorsky initially planned as many as 2,200 furloughs in Connecticut and Florida, but by late last week the number dropped to 1,400 in Connecticut only, according to numerous reports. Sikorsky manufacturers Black Hawk helicopters at its Stratford plant.
It happened when U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel invoked a recently passed law that authorizes the Defense Department to bring back most civilian employees despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. The "Pay Our Military Act" was signed by President Obama last week, clearing the way for some 350,000 civilian defense workers nationwide to return to their jobs.
According to the Connecticut Post, Sikorsky announced late Saturday that employees should return to work Sunday night. An automated message at Sikorsky headquarters, updated at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, informed employees that Sunday's third shift was scheduled to go on as it had before the shutdown.
Sikorsky initially planned as many as 2,200 furloughs in Connecticut and Florida, but by late last week the number dropped to 1,400 in Connecticut only, according to numerous reports. Sikorsky manufacturers Black Hawk helicopters at its Stratford plant.
Paper Shredding Guidelines
The Department of Consumer Protection’s (DCP) website suggests some guidelines for shredding and saving personal documents. For example, DCP suggests keeping canceled personal checks and pay stubs for a year and then shredding them unless they are needed for tax, warranty, or insurance reasons.
In addition to documents that should be shredded, DCP lists documents that should be kept permanently in a fireproof box or home safe, including, among other things, birth certificates, wills, and passports.
DCP also provides information about upcoming paper shredding events, where citizens can go to shred these documents.
In addition to documents that should be shredded, DCP lists documents that should be kept permanently in a fireproof box or home safe, including, among other things, birth certificates, wills, and passports.
DCP also provides information about upcoming paper shredding events, where citizens can go to shred these documents.
October 4, 2013
Health Insurance Exchanges Open for Business
The October 1, 2013 edition of the Hartford Courant describes the roll-out of the health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act. According to a federal source cited by the article, the federal system serving uninsured consumers in 36 states was functioning but the large volume of online traffic was causing problems loading pages. The Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 1 million people had visited the system's website, HealthCare.gov, in the past day, a five-fold increase. In contrast, according to the article, users in some states with state-administered exchanges, including Connecticut, California and Rhode Island were able to successfully create profiles.
Health insurance plans participating in the exchanges must provide a broad range of benefits that were not necessarily part of individual policies in the past, including mental health services, birth control, and preventive care. The act’s insurance market reforms include a ban on discrimination based on gender and health history.
Health insurance plans participating in the exchanges must provide a broad range of benefits that were not necessarily part of individual policies in the past, including mental health services, birth control, and preventive care. The act’s insurance market reforms include a ban on discrimination based on gender and health history.
Draft Task Force Report on Future of Legal Education
In September, the American Bar Association’s Task Force on the Future of Legal Education released its draft report and recommendations. Following are examples of the draft report’s principal conclusions:
- The current law school pricing and funding mechanism needs to be re-examined. For example, many of the students incurring large student loan debt are those whose incoming credentials are the weakest (and thus, they may have a lower potential return on their investment).
- The ABA’s system of accrediting law schools is too standardized, and should better facilitate innovation in schools and programs.
- While many schools have begun to offer more practical training, there needs to be even more emphasis on skills training, experiential learning, and practice-related competencies.
- To improve access to legal services among those who cannot afford lawyers, state entities that regulate the legal profession should consider (1) licensing non-lawyers to provide certain legal services and (2) authorizing non-traditional routes to bar admission.
The task force was created in 2012, and is charged with making recommendations concerning the economics and delivery of legal education. The task force is accepting comments on the draft report until October 28.
October 3, 2013
Study Finds Videogame Strengthens Seniors’ Brains
According to a recent New York Times article, video games may delay or even reverse the negative effects of aging on seniors’ brains. A new study published in Nature found seniors who played a specific multi-tasking video game experienced significant improvements in memory and multi-tasking skills.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, used a video game called NeuroRacer, which requires players to drive a car on a winding road with their left hand, while identifying road signs that they need to shoot down with their right hand. When initially testing the game on subjects in their 20s through 70s, researchers found that memory and multi-tasking skills significantlydeclined with age.
However, the authors then trained a group of seniors between ages 60 and 85 on the game for 12 hours over a one-month period. After the training, seniors earned higher scores than untrained subjects in their 20s. Seniors retained their increased performance levels after six months, even though they did not practice during that time. In addition, they performed better at memory and attention tests outside of the video game.
Researchers also measured subjects’ brain waves, finding increased levels of theta waves, which are associated with attention, in subjects in their 60s to 80s.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, used a video game called NeuroRacer, which requires players to drive a car on a winding road with their left hand, while identifying road signs that they need to shoot down with their right hand. When initially testing the game on subjects in their 20s through 70s, researchers found that memory and multi-tasking skills significantlydeclined with age.
However, the authors then trained a group of seniors between ages 60 and 85 on the game for 12 hours over a one-month period. After the training, seniors earned higher scores than untrained subjects in their 20s. Seniors retained their increased performance levels after six months, even though they did not practice during that time. In addition, they performed better at memory and attention tests outside of the video game.
Researchers also measured subjects’ brain waves, finding increased levels of theta waves, which are associated with attention, in subjects in their 60s to 80s.
Federal Government Shutdown Leads to Connecticut Private Sector Furloughs
The lack of an agreement in Washington to fund the federal government is being felt quickly in Connecticut. United Technologies says it may furlough more than 5,000 workers if the government shutdown continues into next month.
According to the Connecticut Post, the company said Wednesday that its Sikorsky division, which makes Black Hawk helicopters, would be hit first. It expects nearly 2,000 employees, including those employed at facilities in Connecticut, Florida and Alabama, will be furloughed Monday, October 7.
The Hartford-based manufacturer said it would halt some defense manufacturing because government inspectors have been furloughed. That leaves Sikorsky without the necessary federal approvals to make military products.
If the shutdown continues through next week, the furloughs would extend to its Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems division, bringing the total number of employees on hold up to 4,000. That number could exceed 5,000 if the shutdown stretches into next month.
According to the Connecticut Post, the company said Wednesday that its Sikorsky division, which makes Black Hawk helicopters, would be hit first. It expects nearly 2,000 employees, including those employed at facilities in Connecticut, Florida and Alabama, will be furloughed Monday, October 7.
The Hartford-based manufacturer said it would halt some defense manufacturing because government inspectors have been furloughed. That leaves Sikorsky without the necessary federal approvals to make military products.
If the shutdown continues through next week, the furloughs would extend to its Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems division, bringing the total number of employees on hold up to 4,000. That number could exceed 5,000 if the shutdown stretches into next month.
Violent Crime Reports Increased Slightly Last Year; Property Crime Reports Decreased
Violent crime reports increased last year in the United States by .7%. and property crime reports declined by .9%, the FBI reported last month. The estimated rate of violent crime was 386.9 offenses per 100,000 people and the property crime rate was 2,859.2 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. While the violent crime rate was virtually unchanged compared to the 2011 rate, the property crime rate fell 1.6%.
Among the estimated 1,214,462 violent crimes reported, murder was up 1.1%, as was aggravated assault, and forcible rape was up 2%. Among the estimated 8,975,438 property crimes reported, burglaries declined 3.7%, motor vehicle thefts increased .6%, and the number of larceny thefts remained unchanged.
Click here for more FBI national crime data.
Among the estimated 1,214,462 violent crimes reported, murder was up 1.1%, as was aggravated assault, and forcible rape was up 2%. Among the estimated 8,975,438 property crimes reported, burglaries declined 3.7%, motor vehicle thefts increased .6%, and the number of larceny thefts remained unchanged.
Click here for more FBI national crime data.
October 2, 2013
California’s New Renewable Sharing Program
According to Sustainablebusiness.com, the California state legislature recently passed SB No. 43, to create a new Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program. (Governor Brown signed the bill into law on September 28th.) The new law will allow people to buy shares in a renewable energy project and then get credits on their electricity bill for their share of the electricity generated by the project. The program will be open to customers of the state’s biggest utility companies. Generation under the program is capped at 600 megawatts (MW), and at least 100MW must be available to residential customers, and 100MW must be built in disadvantaged communities. The electric companies must contract with energy developers for the power and manage their participating customers’ accounts, for which they can charge an administrative fee.
Hot Report: Crimes Against Children
OLR Report 2013-R-0329 provides information on violent crimes against children under age 12.
Most of the available data grouped all crimes against individuals under age 18 together. The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) appears to be the only national database to provide detailed information on the age of child violent crime victims. The most recent NIBRS data was compiled in 2008. This report includes information about child victims under age 18 as well as those age 12 and under.
According to NIBRS data analyses, (1) approximately 1.3 million crimes known to the police in 2008 were committed against children under age 18, representing 9% of all known crime victims and (2) approximately 25% of these victims were under age 12. These numbers include children who were direct victims of crimes as well as those who were indirectly victimized by witnessing criminal acts.
The University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Crimes Against Children Research Center has examined data states submitted to NIBRS and reported on characteristics of perpetrators and victims of crimes committed against children. While some of the analyses address children under age 12, they show that most victims were over age 12.
In 2008, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) developed the Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), which measured both past year and lifetime exposure of children age 17 and younger in seven victimization categories, all of which had some direct or indirect connection to violent crime. The data and subsequent analyses revealed trends in victimization reporting and the types of victimizations that occurred at each developmental stage. These analyses reinforce the notion that (1) young children can be victims of violent crime simply by witnessing them and (2) it is difficult to get a complete and accurate assessment of the degree to which victimization occurs.
For more information, read the full report.
Most of the available data grouped all crimes against individuals under age 18 together. The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) appears to be the only national database to provide detailed information on the age of child violent crime victims. The most recent NIBRS data was compiled in 2008. This report includes information about child victims under age 18 as well as those age 12 and under.
According to NIBRS data analyses, (1) approximately 1.3 million crimes known to the police in 2008 were committed against children under age 18, representing 9% of all known crime victims and (2) approximately 25% of these victims were under age 12. These numbers include children who were direct victims of crimes as well as those who were indirectly victimized by witnessing criminal acts.
The University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Crimes Against Children Research Center has examined data states submitted to NIBRS and reported on characteristics of perpetrators and victims of crimes committed against children. While some of the analyses address children under age 12, they show that most victims were over age 12.
In 2008, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) developed the Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), which measured both past year and lifetime exposure of children age 17 and younger in seven victimization categories, all of which had some direct or indirect connection to violent crime. The data and subsequent analyses revealed trends in victimization reporting and the types of victimizations that occurred at each developmental stage. These analyses reinforce the notion that (1) young children can be victims of violent crime simply by witnessing them and (2) it is difficult to get a complete and accurate assessment of the degree to which victimization occurs.
For more information, read the full report.
SCHIP and Medicaid Participation Suggest Fewer Children Uninsured but More Outreach May be Needed
A new brief from the Urban Institute suggests that more children from lower income families are enrolling in state Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) programs. The authors looked at recent data from the American Community Survey to reach this conclusion.
They found that in the U.S. in 2011, 87.2% of those children who were eligible for either program were enrolled, a 5.5% increase over 2008. Connecticut’s combined enrollment percentage was 94.7%.
With these improvements, the researchers noted, came a concomitant decrease in the number of children eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP but uninsured. In 2011, there were 4 million of such children, a drop from 4.9 million children in 2008.
The brief also points to enrollment and uninsured rate disparities. While Connecticut had a relatively low number of still uninsured eligible children (14,000), Texas and California each had nearly 600,000 such children.
They found that in the U.S. in 2011, 87.2% of those children who were eligible for either program were enrolled, a 5.5% increase over 2008. Connecticut’s combined enrollment percentage was 94.7%.
With these improvements, the researchers noted, came a concomitant decrease in the number of children eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP but uninsured. In 2011, there were 4 million of such children, a drop from 4.9 million children in 2008.
The brief also points to enrollment and uninsured rate disparities. While Connecticut had a relatively low number of still uninsured eligible children (14,000), Texas and California each had nearly 600,000 such children.
October 1, 2013
“A Day Missed Is A Day Missed. . .”
“If you’re not there, you can’t benefit from instruction.” “All the school reform in the world won’t help students who aren’t in school.” These are recent, seemingly obvious observations from education advocates. However, as a recent Stateline report alarmingly points out, “states that investigate chronic absenteeism are often surprised at the extent of the problem.”
Chronic absenteeism is defined differently among states, but the most common definition is when a student misses at least 10% of the school year for any reason (i.e., excused or unexcused absences). Just how bad is the problem? A 2012 Johns Hopkins University School of Education study estimated that between 10% and 15% of U.S. students (5 to 7.5 million) are chronically absent. Low-income urban areas see a rate around 33%.
States are beginning to focus on this epidemic because research points to chronic absence as a precursor to low grades and dropping out. Several states are taking steps to address chronic absence, which range from enacting a school funding formula that requires every district to monitor its chronic absence rate (California), using a data system to track which students have missed more than 5% of school days (Hawaii), and allowing the public to view chronic absence rates at every public school on the state’s report card website (Maryland).
Individual school districts are also making efforts on the local level. New York City launched a campaign to get children to school through its Interagency Task Force on Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism, and School Engagement. Principals in Connecticut’s New Britain school district held back-to-school orientation breakfasts and open houses to remind parents that a child falls behind academically when absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school. In Hartford, where around 22,000 students were chronically absent last year, city schools are working with the Hartford Campaign for Grade-Level Reading on a September “Attendance Awareness” initiative. This initiative publicizes the impact of chronic absenteeism, particularly during the developmental early school years.
Chronic absenteeism is defined differently among states, but the most common definition is when a student misses at least 10% of the school year for any reason (i.e., excused or unexcused absences). Just how bad is the problem? A 2012 Johns Hopkins University School of Education study estimated that between 10% and 15% of U.S. students (5 to 7.5 million) are chronically absent. Low-income urban areas see a rate around 33%.
States are beginning to focus on this epidemic because research points to chronic absence as a precursor to low grades and dropping out. Several states are taking steps to address chronic absence, which range from enacting a school funding formula that requires every district to monitor its chronic absence rate (California), using a data system to track which students have missed more than 5% of school days (Hawaii), and allowing the public to view chronic absence rates at every public school on the state’s report card website (Maryland).
Individual school districts are also making efforts on the local level. New York City launched a campaign to get children to school through its Interagency Task Force on Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism, and School Engagement. Principals in Connecticut’s New Britain school district held back-to-school orientation breakfasts and open houses to remind parents that a child falls behind academically when absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school. In Hartford, where around 22,000 students were chronically absent last year, city schools are working with the Hartford Campaign for Grade-Level Reading on a September “Attendance Awareness” initiative. This initiative publicizes the impact of chronic absenteeism, particularly during the developmental early school years.
Technology Hurting the Middle Class?
The ability of computers to quickly perform routine tasks has “fostered a polarization of employment,” according to two economics professors writing in the New York Times online, by reducing the number of mid-level paying jobs, while leaving the highest and lowest paid occupations largely untouched.
“Demand for highly educated workers who excel in abstract tasks is robust, but the middle of the labor market, where the routine task-intensive jobs lie, is sagging,” write David Autour and David Dorn. Autour is an economics professor at MIT; Dorn teaches economics at the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies in Madrid, Spain.
Mid-level jobs are at risk, they write, because computers excel at such tasks as “organizing, storing, retrieving and manipulating information, or executing exactly defined physical movements in production processes. These tasks are most pervasive in middle-skill jobs like bookkeeping, clerical work and repetitive production and quality- assurance jobs.”
At the same time, they write, this computerization has increased demand for workers who perform “non-routine tasks that complement the automated activities.” These can be abstract tasks requiring problem-solving skills and creativity or “manual” tasks requiring “situational adaptability, visual and language recognition and in-person interaction,” such as preparing a meal or driving a truck.
This has resulted, they say, in job growth that is “concentrated in both the highest- and lowest-paid occupations, while jobs in the middle have declined.”
A critique of the article can be found here.
“Demand for highly educated workers who excel in abstract tasks is robust, but the middle of the labor market, where the routine task-intensive jobs lie, is sagging,” write David Autour and David Dorn. Autour is an economics professor at MIT; Dorn teaches economics at the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies in Madrid, Spain.
Mid-level jobs are at risk, they write, because computers excel at such tasks as “organizing, storing, retrieving and manipulating information, or executing exactly defined physical movements in production processes. These tasks are most pervasive in middle-skill jobs like bookkeeping, clerical work and repetitive production and quality- assurance jobs.”
At the same time, they write, this computerization has increased demand for workers who perform “non-routine tasks that complement the automated activities.” These can be abstract tasks requiring problem-solving skills and creativity or “manual” tasks requiring “situational adaptability, visual and language recognition and in-person interaction,” such as preparing a meal or driving a truck.
This has resulted, they say, in job growth that is “concentrated in both the highest- and lowest-paid occupations, while jobs in the middle have declined.”
A critique of the article can be found here.
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