augustsn—05 7/20/05 11:22 AM Page 1 · 2018-01-26 · Ten thousand Californian taxpayers enjoyed a painless expe-rience while filing their returns this year, thanks to the state’s

augustsn—05 7/20/05 11:22 AM Page 1

senior editorJack Penchoffassociate editorShannon Olukalnsassociate editorSacha Pruittgraphic design coordinatorSusie Bushreprint permissions(800) [email protected] and advertising sales(800) [email protected](859) [email protected]

headquartersDaniel M. Sprague, Executive Director2760 Research Park Drive P.O. Box 11910Lexington, KY 40578-1910(859) 244–8000

washingtonJim Brown, General Counsel and DirectorHall of the States444 N. Capitol St. N.W., Suite 401Washington, DC 20001(202) 624–5460

easternAlan V. Sokolow, Director40 Broad Street, Suite 2050New York, NY 10004-2315(212) 482–2320

midwesternMichael H. McCabe, Director641 E. Butterfield Road, Suite 401Lombard, IL 60148(630) 810–0210

southernColleen Cousineau, DirectorP.O. Box 98129Atlanta, GA 30359(404) 633–1866

westernKent Briggs, Director1107 9th Street, Suite 650Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 553–4423

10technology

Biometrics:Tomorrow’sTechnology Today

The biometrics industry believes states will jump on board as costs drop.

by Jenny Price

On the cover:Stolen ‘Golden Years’

Cover design by Susie Bush.

state

14health

As Americans Age,States RespondTwo simple facts are shaping America’s future: People are living longer and having fewer children.

by Trudi Matthews

18justice

Stolen ‘Golden Years’States address the silent epidemic

of elderly financial victimization.

by Carrie Abner

2 state news august 2005

augustsn—05 1/3/70 12:54 PM Page 2

4 Inside StoryFraud Threatens Nest Eggs.by Jack Penchoff

5 ToolboxCalifornia’s ReadyReturn tax program, tourismcrime prevention guide from COPS and ACT’s newWeb site for policy-makers.

7 State SourcesA roundup of recent reports and resources forstate officials.

13 State Snapshots2004 state tax rankings.

Departments

29 CSG SpotlightHighlights of activities and events by CSG, its affiliates and other associations.

38 Conference CalendarMeetings and conference activities of CSG, its affili-ates and other associations.

39 TimelineA look back at stories from the past, with updates onwhat’s happened since.

e news22compacts

Compacts Are ContractsStates have used interstate compacts for morethan 300 years to help settle disputes and facechallenges together.

by Jack Penchoff

24trends

Trends in America:Charting the Course Ahead

CSG publication provides a greater understanding ofthe trends affecting state government.

by CSG Policy Staff

the council of state governments www.csg.org 3


The Councilof State Governments

Preparing states for tomorrow, today . . .

Executive CommitteePresidentGov. Ruth Ann Minner, Del.

ChairAssemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Nev.

President-ElectGov. Jim Douglas,Vt.

Chair-ElectSenate President Earl Ray Tomblin,W.Va.

Vice PresidentTo be determined.

Vice ChairRep. Roger Roy, Del.

2005 executive committeeSen. Carolyn Allen,Ariz. • Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, N.Y. • JerryBassett, Legislative Reference Service,Ala. • Treasurer Tim Berry, Ind.• Robert Bippert, Dept. of General Administration,Wash. • Sen.Patricia Birkholz, Mich. • Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Ill. • Rep. Dan Bosley,Mass. • Sen. Shane Broadway,Ark. • Del.Anthony Brown, Md. •Sen. Kate Brown, Ore. • Valerie Brown, Dept. of Food andAgriculture, Calif. • Attorney General Jon Bruning, Neb. • DavidByers, Supreme Court,Ariz. • Lt. Gov. John Carney, Jr., Del. • Rep.Joe Carothers, Jr.,Ala. • Sen. Barbara Cegavske, Nev. • Sen. JohnChichester,Va. • Judge Sue Bell Cobb,Ala. • Russell Copeman,Member, Quebec National Assembly • Sen. Kevin Coughlin, Ohio •Rep. Bob Damron, Ky. • Sec. of State Donetta Davidson, Colo. •Sen. Bart Davis, Idaho • Sen. Denise Ducheny, Calif. • Sen. HughFarley, N.Y. • Rep. Craig Fitzhugh,Tenn. • Katherine Frisina,Legislative Aide, Ohio • Rep. Bob Godfrey, Conn. • Bill Goodman,Senate Chief of Staff,Ark. • Sen.Toni Harp, Conn. • Sen. DouglasHenry,Tenn. • Sen. Linda Higgins, Minn. • Sen. John Hottinger, Minn.Gov. Mike Huckabee,Ark. • Rep. Deborah Hudson, Del. • Rep. JeanHunhoff, S.D. • Judge Robert Hunter, N.C. • Del. John Hurson, Md.• Rep.Thomas Jackson,Ala. • Rep. Libby Jacobs, Iowa • Rep.Douglas Jones, Idaho • Lilia Judson, Supreme Court, Ind. • Gov.Dirk Kempthorne, Idaho • Michael King, Legislative Office forResearch Liaison, Pa. • Kurt Knickrehm, Dept. of Human Services,Ark. • Chief Justice Joseph Lambert, Ky. • Rep. Pete Laney,Texas •Dave Liebersbach, Div. of Homeland Security & EmergencyManagement,Alaska • Sen.T.D. Little,Ala. • Rep.Ward Loyd, Kan. •Sen. Michael Machado, Calif. • Sen. Carl Marcellino, N.Y. • Sen. JohnMarchi, N.Y. • Sen. Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico • Rep. KimMcMillan,Tenn. • Rep. Joseph Miro, Del. • Andrew Molloy, Jr.,National Institute of Corrections, D.C. • Rep. Jeff Morris,Wash. •Gov. Frank Murkowski,Alaska • Rep. Mike Murphy, Ind. • Sen. DaveNething, N.D. • Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, Colo. • Gov. George Pataki,N.Y. • Treasurer John Perdue,W.Va. • Gov. Sonny Perdue, Ga. •Rep. Danice Picraux, N.M. • Sen. Pam Redfield, Neb. • Mary Regel,Dept. of Commerce,Wis. • Gov. Jodi Rell, Conn. • Sen. Pam Resor,Mass. • Jack Ries, InterTechnologies Group, Minn. • Sen. StanRosenberg, Mass. • Rep. Chris Ross, Pa. • Sen. Steve Saland, N.Y. •Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, N.Y. • Rep. Mary Skinner,Wash.• Rep.Tom Sloan, Kan. • Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, N.D.• Rep. Donna Stone, Del. • Sen. Ron Teck, Colo. • Sen. RobertThompson, Pa. • Sen. Donne Trotter, Ill. • Rep. Steve Urquhart,Utah • Sen. Leticia Van de Putte,Texas • Pam Varni, LegislativeAffairs Agency,Alaska • Sec. of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, N.M. •Treasurer Jody Wagner,Va. • Sen. Jeff Wentworth,Texas • SamWilkins, Office of Human Resources, S.D. • Sandra Winston,Workforce Investment Board,Ark.

STATE NEWS, 1549-3628,August 2005,Vol. 48, No. 7—Published monthly with combined issues in June/July andNov./Dec. by The Council of State Governments, 2760 ResearchPark Drive, Lexington, KY 40511-8410. Opinions expressed in thismagazine do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Council ofState Governments nor the views of the editorial staff. Readers’comments are welcome. Subscription rates— In the U.S., $55 per year. Single issues are available at $6 per copy.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to State News, SalesDepartment, P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910.

Advertising—Black and white, two-color and full-color adver-tising available. For complete circulation and advertising informa-tion, contact the advertising department at (800) 800-1910.Mailing lists are available for rent upon approval of a sample mailing.

Copyright 2005 by The Council of State Governments.Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Ky., and at additional mailing offices.

insidestory

In Florida, the Senior Sleuths are part of the state’sresponse to the growing problem of fraud against theelderly. This type of response is critical, because foran increasing number of seniors, their “goldenyears” are being stolen through financial abuse suchas credit card fraud, real estate scams and identitytheft. This month Carrie Abner, a public safety andcriminal justice policy analyst with CSG, reports onthe growing number of elderly who are financiallyvictimized through the Internet, unscrupulous salespeople and even their own relatives.

The elderly are vulnerable, writes Abner, and theirlosses are not small. For example, in Maine between2001 and 2004, it is estimated that elderly victims losta total of $22 million, at an average loss of $39,000.

In a nation with an aging population, the problem will only grow. In her article,Abner reports on some innovative responses states are using in their battle, includ-ing the Senior Sleuths who volunteer to help law enforcement agencies in Floridadetect fraud in their communities.

Moreover, while states try to protect their elderly from fraud, state officials facethe daunting task of providing long-term care for more of their older citizens.

Trudi Matthews, associate director for healthpolicy at CSG, reports that state Medicaid budgetsare being squeezed by the combination of an agingpopulation and smaller families. The Medicaid pro-gram currently pays for half the long-term careservices in the United States.

On average, health care expenditures for a 65-year-old are four times those for a 40-year-old,according to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, Matthews reports. Because older peo-ple will live longer, experts predict that overall U.S.health care expenditures will increase 25 percentby 2030.

One area that looks promising for statesand their efforts to rein in costs is biometrics. Fingerprint, hand, iris, retina,face and voice or signature recognition is already on the market. Some statesare using these technologies to combat fraud. Writer Jenny Price reports thatwhile the technologies exist, states are slow to adopt their use because of theirhigh cost and concerns about safeguarding stored data.

For a comprehensive look at 10 major trends that are shaping America and theirimplications for states, the CSG policy staff collaborated on the 40-page publica-tion, Trends in America, which was released at CSG’s spring meeting. The fullreport is available on CSG’s Web site at www.csg.org. This month, State News pro-vides a summary of the report. In December, the CSG policy staff will release asecond publication that outlines how states are addressing these trends.

—Jack Penchoff is associate director for communications at The Council of StateGovernments and senior editor of State News.

Jack Penchoff


Fraud Threatens Nest Eggs

Carrie Abner



toolbox

Ten thousand Californian taxpayers enjoyed a painless expe-rience while filing their returns this year, thanks to the state’spilot program, ReadyReturn. The program was so wellreceived, in fact, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is expandingthe program for next tax season.

During the pilot program, 50,000 Californians received com-pleted tax returns from the government. These lucky taxpayerssimply had to review the return, sign it and send it back. And,of course, they had to either write a check or wait for a refund.About 10,000 people have participated since the program’sintroduction in February.

ReadyReturn is designed to make filing taxes easy for thosewhose status is uncomplicated; during the pilot, the criteria forthis express-lane taxpaying program included being single, hav-ing no dependents, having had only one employer, taking thestandard deduction and having all income from wages.

Taxpayers do have a choice with the program: They can usethe ready-made return or file their returns themselves, with orwithout professional help. “The ReadyReturn provides a valu-able option for taxpayers who can either choose to use it or filetheir returns themselves or with the help of tax professionals orcommercial software products,” said John Chiang, Board ofEqualization chair and FTB member.

Next tax season, invitations to participate in ReadyReturnwill be placed in 540 2EZ tax booklets, and 30,000 Californiansare expected to participate. While the FTB predicts that the

program will cost $187,000 the first year, fewer inaccuratereturns and less mail will save the state an estimated $400,000over the next three years.

As the summer vacation season winds down, the U.S.Department of Justice’s Community Oriented PolicingServices’ (COPS) new guide can help law enforcement officialsand tourism professionals prevent and respond to crimes com-mitted against tourists.

The guide, Crimes Against Tourists, indicates that tourism isthe second-largest service industry in the United States. Thetourism industry directly or indirectly supports 204 millionjobs, produces more than $100 billion in revenues and draws57.2 million visitors to the nation each year. But while tourismboosts both local economies and the national economy, it canalso be perilous for the tourists themselves.

Tourists can be easy targets because they often carry largesums of money and valuables and are likely to be morerelaxed—and sometimes careless—while vacationing. Also,tourists are less likely to report crimes or testify against suspectsbecause they want to avoid problems and a possible return trip.

While theft is the most common crime against tourists, theyare also vulnerable to physical and sexual assault, credit cardfraud and scams. If publicized, these types of incidents canimpede tourism by damaging a location’s reputation.

COPS Releases Guide to Protect Tourists from Crime

California Program Less Taxing for Citizens

Continued on page 6


ACT—an independent, non-profit organization dedicated tohelping individuals attain their education and career goalsthrough assessment programs—has launched a new Web site toassist policy-makers in developing research-based educationand work force development policy. The site includes links toACT research and policy reports on:

� K-12 education issues;

� high school reform;

� national and state ACT scores;

� college readiness;

� postsecondary education issues;

� federal and state learning standards;

� work force readiness issues;

� hiring and training programs;

� job-skills assessments;

� employability certificates; and

� additional education and work force policy topics.

Find the site at www.act.org/path/policy.


toolbox

ACT Launches Education and Work Force ResourceSite for Policy-Makers

Recommendations for law enforcement from the guide include:

� working with the tourism industry to identify and addresscrime-related concerns;

� training police and private security staff to recognize andaddress tourist-related safety concerns;

� facilitating victims’ testimony in criminal cases;

� imposing taxes to support special security measures;

� encouraging hotels to adopt practices to reduce guest vic-timization;

� offering rewards for information leading to the arrest andconviction of those who commit serious crimes againsttourists;

� educating tourists to reduce their risk of victimization;

� increasing uniform patrols in tourist areas;

� deploying citizen patrols to supplement police patrols;

� conducting surveillance at high-risk locations; and

� changing the physical environment to reduce opportunitiesfor tourist crimes.

To view the full report, visit www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=1306.

Tourists are less likely to report

crimes or testify against

suspects because they want to

avoid problems and a possiblereturn trip.

Continued from page 5


statesources


Sharing the cost of Medicaid and the State Children’s HealthInsurance Program (SCHIP) has stopped some people from get-ting health coverage and contributed to others losing coverage,a new report by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and theUninsured says. And many who lose their coverage don’t getprivate insurance to replace the public programs.

As states put their SCHIP programs into place and asMedicaid has expanded in some states to cover a relativelyhigher income group, beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket contributionsto their own health care have increased. The impact this has onpoor and low-income families has been the focus of recentresearch, and the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and theUninsured has gathered more than a dozen relevant studiesfrom seven states to find out how coverage has changed as aresult of more beneficiary financial responsibilities.

Among the report’s key findings are that the poorest are mostaffected by increased premiums, and drops in enrollment aregreater for those with the lowest incomes. In many states, morethan half of those who withdrew from public health programsbecame uninsured and many experienced unmet medical needswhen required to share more in the costs of medical expenses.

The report indicates that the savings states may accruethrough changing beneficiaries’ requirements are more accu-

rately attributed to reduced coverage and usage than fromincreased revenue from co-pays and premiums. To view the fullreport, visit www.kff.org/medicaid/7322.cfm.

Higher Cost of Public Health Care Is Too Much for Many

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) recentlyreleased Investing Wisely in Adult Learning is Key to StateProsperity, which concludes that individuals who finish highschool are more likely to be employed, earn more money and behealthy.

The report shows that 17 percent of adults age 25 to 44 inSREB’s 17 member states—Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,Florida, Georgia , Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,Virginia and West Virginia—have no high school diploma. Thatmeans that in SREB states, more than 5 million adults do nothave a high school diploma. Of those 5 million, more than 1.4million did not complete the ninth grade.

According to the report, adults without a high school diplomaearn only about half what those with an associate’s degree earn,and just 39 percent of what those with a bachelor’s degree earn.Unemployment among adults without a high school diploma is

SREB Report Proves Education Pays

Continued on page 8



statesources

8 percent—four times higher than the 2 percent unemploymentrate for individuals with a bachelor’s degree.

SREB cites the United Health Foundation’s rankings of the50 states, and notes that regarding health, 13 SREB statesplaced in the bottom 13 positions in the nation. The same 13states also rank in the bottom one-third of the nation on educa-tion attainment, linking poor education to poor health.

In SREB states, only one in 100 young adults (ages 25through 44) who have dropped out before graduating highschool goes on to earn their GED. Investing Wisely in AdultLearning provides information on reaching more of these adultsand uses Kentucky’s successes linking funding to enrollmentand performance as a model. Since the Kentucky AdultEducation Act of 2000, adult education enrollment has doubled

in the state, and increased 27 percent in 2003, a record high ofnearly 110,000 Kentuckians.

To view the complete report online, visit www.sreb.org/main/Goals/Publications/05E04_Adult_Learning.pdf.

In the past, people with insurance were thought to spendabout 40 percent more on their health care than those withoutcoverage. The report Health Insurance, Treatment and Out-comes: Using Auto Accidents as Health Shocks concludes thatthe difference in spending between the insured and uninsured isactually much smaller, closer to 20 percent. In this publicationby the National Bureau of Economic Research, the author ana-lyzed the effect of insurance status on health care spending bylooking at the amount victims of severe auto accidents spent oninpatient treatment. The uninsured received 20 percent fewerdays of care than the insured, and facility charges for the unin-sured were about 22 percent lower for those without insurance.

The additional spending by insured auto accident victims alsoreduced their mortality. The report cited a 1.5 percent increasein the likelihood that a victim would die if uninsured. And thatstatistic changed depending on the type of hospital: The differ-ence in mortality rates between the insured and uninsured werelarger at teaching hospitals, where they have more resourcesand costly care.

The full report is available at www.nber.org/papers/w11099.

No Insurance Leads to Decreased Care,Increased Mortality

In SREB states, only one in 100

young adults (ages 25 through

44) who have dropped out

before graduating high school

goes on to earn their GED.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently releaseda report that claims methamphetamine is the number one drugproblem for counties across the country. NACo surveyed lawenforcement officials in 500 counties in 45 states to determine theimpact of meth on county services, and the results were released inthe report, The Meth Epidemic in America.

Of the 500 law enforcement agencies surveyed, 87 percentreport increases in meth related arrests in the last three years. Fifty-eight percent say that meth is their most prevalent drug problem.Regionally, 76 percent of counties in the Southwest, 75 percent inthe Northwest, 67 percent in the Upper Midwest, 57 percent in theLower Midwest and 26 percent in the Southeast rate meth as their

Survey Says Meth is Number One Drug Problem

Continued from page 7



statesources

number one drug problem. The one region where meth doesn’tappear to be a serious threat is in the Northeast, the nation’s mosturban area. Only 4 percent of counties there rate meth as their pri-mary drug problem.

While using meth is a crime, many other crimes are increasingdue to the abundant use of the drug. Seventy percent of officialsresponding to the survey claim that robberies and burglaries haveincreased because of meth use, and increases in domestic vio-lence, simple assaults and identity thefts are also linked to abuseof methamphetamine.

Unfortunately, children are also becoming victims of the methepidemic. NACo also surveyed child welfare officials in 303 coun-ties in all 13 states where child welfare activities are performed atthe county level. The survey found that meth is a major cause ofchild abuse and neglect, and 40 percent of all child welfare officialssurveyed reported an increase in out-of-home placements due tometh in the last year. Children of addicted parents may be grosslyneglected or abused, and are exposed to dangerous side effects ofmeth production if they live in close proximity to a lab.

To view the full report online, visit www.naco.org.

According to a public opinion survey by the Kaiser FamilyFoundation, nearly three-quarters of Americans say Medicaid isa “very important” government program, and the majoritywould not cut Medicaid to balance state budgets. Forty-fourpercent of those polled believe the federal government shouldmaintain federal spending on Medicaid, and 36 percent believefederal spending should be increased. Only 12 percent believefederal Medicaid funding should be reduced.

Fifty-six percent of the survey respondents have either beenenrolled in Medicaid or have a friend or family member whohas received Medicaid benefits, which may explain the favor-able attitude toward the program.

“We expected Medicaid to be relatively unpopular with thepublic, much like welfare was. But we found that Medicaidranks closer to public programs like Medicare and SocialSecurity in the public’s mind,” said Mollyann Brodie, vice pres-ident and director of public opinion and media research for theKaiser Family Foundation.

The survey showed that 74 percent of respondents considerMedicaid “very important,” which places its approval ratingbehind Social Security (88%) and Medicare (83%), equal tofederal aid to public schools (74%), and ahead of loans for col-lege students (65%), defense and military spending (65%) andforeign aid (20%).

To view the survey results online, visit www.kff.org/medi-caid/pomr062905pkg.cfm.

Medicaid ‘Very Important’ to Americans

Trial attorneys and large settlements have been blamed for thehigh cost of medical malpractice insurance, a trend that has drivensome doctors out of the business. But insurance companies them-selves may be the cause of these high premiums, says FallingClaims and Rising Premiums in the Medial Malpractice InsuranceIndustry, a new report commissioned by the Center for Justice andDemocracy.

The report, which looked at the performance of the 15 largestmedical malpractice insurers from 2000 to 2004, says the premi-ums insurers have collected over the last five years have more thandoubled, yet the amount paid out in claims has basically stayed thesame. Premiums of the companies studied increased 21 times more

than their claims payouts. The insurance industry has questioned the validity of the

study, however, stating that it often takes eight to 10 years for aclaim to appear, and that insurance companies must formreserves for those future claims and include those in theirincurred losses. The report asserts that some insurers raised theirpremiums despite a decrease in both their claim payments andtheir projected future claims payments.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said of thereport, “The numbers underscore the need for much tougher, moreaggressive oversight to prevent and punish profiteering.”

Read the full report at www.centerjd.org/ANGOFFReport.pdf.

Are Doctors Being Gouged by Medical Malpractice Insurance?


Biometrics:Tomorrow’sTechnology Today

The biometrics industry believes states will jump on board as costs drop

By Jenny Price

With a simple scan of a fingerprint or eyes, the government can match an individual’sidentity against a database of thousands to find out if he is who he says he is.

The technology isn’t limited to the imaginary realm of TV shows and spy movies; italready exists in the real world. Companies are manufacturing and selling biometric

devices that can identify people through scans of fingerprints, hands, irises, retinas andfaces or by analyzing a voice or signature.



Some corporations in the United States rely on fin-gerprint scanners or similar technology for employeesto access certain offices or to log onto computers. InJapan, major banks use biometric identification onautomated teller machines—by scanning either fingersor the palm of a hand—to identify account holders. Anda University of Wisconsin professor is in the earlystages of researching electrocardiogram (ECG) recog-nition—capturing the heart’s unique electrical activi-ty—as a possible alternative to the biometric technolo-gies already in the marketplace.

There are benefits to using such technologies for fig-uring out who someone is ordetermining if they are who theyclaim to be. Unlike a password orPIN, a person’s biometric charac-teristics can’t be forgotten, lost orstolen, experts contend.

“It’s more reliable than a SocialSecurity number or any other datathat’s out there,” said JimJasinski, executive vice presidentfor California-based CogentSystems, which supplies finger-print imaging systems to govern-ment and commercial customers.

Still, state governments havetaken smaller and slower stepstoward adopting biometrics because of concerns aboutcost, logistics and security.

Fingerprints to Stop FraudSome states have explored using fingerprint identifi-

cation to confirm the identity of parolees or sex offend-ers during their required check-in visits. Arizona, Cali-fornia, Connecticut, New York and Texas have estab-lished statewide systems to scan the fingerprints ofapplicants for public assistance.

Supporters say the technology catches people whotry to “double dip” by creating false identities.

Richard Nawrot, who runs New York’s 10-year-oldautomated fingerprint system for the state’s Office ofTemporary and Disability Assistance, says there havebeen about 1,700 fraud cases over the last decade, butthe system’s real value is in deterrence.

“We’ve saved a lot of money by preventing the fraudto begin with,” he said.

But opponents argue such systems are not cost-effec-tive and could even discourage those in need from com-ing forward for help because of the stigma attached togiving a fingerprint.

In Texas, where the state has used fingerprint scan-ning on food stamp applicants since 1999, former stateRep. Glen Maxey unsuccessfully attempted to end theprogram during his 10-year tenure in the House ofRepresentatives.

“The studies were showing that we were spendingseveral millions of dollars a year on doing it and find-

ing only a pittance of actual fraud,” he said. “The termI used over and over during the debate [was]: ‘Is thejuice worth the squeeze?’”

California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber echoedMaxey’s arguments in criticizing her state’s $11 milliona year fingerprint imaging system for public assistanceapplicants that began in 2000.

“I think any state that has not wasted money on oneof these systems yet should stop themselves before theydo,” she said. “I’m sure it’s considered a positive thingby the corporations that make this technology, but it’snot really our need to keep them afloat.”

But Andrew Roth, a spokesmanfor the California Department ofSocial Services says spending $8million to operate the system is agood investment when comparedwith the $387 million a month theagency distributes in benefits.

“We view that as a kind ofinsurance,” Roth said.

The Texas Health and HumanServices Commission also is con-vinced the system is worth the$2.5 million a year it costs tooperate, and spokeswoman Jenni-fer Harris says the agency esti-mates the state saves between $6

million and $11 million a year by deterring fraud, num-bers critics dispute. Texas is also looking into usingbiometric technology to detect fraudulent Medicaidbilling and possibly embedding personal data onto auniversal benefits card—sometimes called a “smartcard”—for multiple public assistance programs.

Cost Plays Role in Becoming BiometricMoney has kept some states from wading into bio-

metrics altogether. Illinois, Maryland, Michigan andNorth Carolina all rejected statewide use of the technol-ogy after determining it was not cost-effective.

But players in the biometric industry contend stateswill jump on board as costs continue to drop.

“It’s got to be cost-effective,” said Bud Yanak, vicepresident of marketing for New Jersey-based BIO-keyInternational, which supplies biometric finger identifi-cation technology to private industry and government.“Eight years ago, biometrics weren’t as cheap andavailable as they are today.”

Yanak noted that several computer companies nowship laptops equipped with fingerprint readers, some-thing that wasn’t available a few years ago.

Iridian Technologies, also based in New Jersey, hasbeen making iris recognition technology for about 10years. A few years ago, the cameras for photographingthe eyes cost upwards of $20,000, said Frank Fitzsim-mons, the company’s president and CEO.

Now, a desktop camera for iris recognition can costas little as $200, he said.

“It’s more reliablethan a Social Security

number or any other data that’s

out there.”

—Jim Jasinski, executive vice presidentfor California-based Cogent Systems



For the last year and a half, Connecticut has used iris recog-nition to verify which inspectors are conducting emission test-ing at private garages after having a problem with fraud,Fitzsimmons said.

State motor vehicle departments are also showing some inter-est in biometrics to eliminate issuance of false and multipleidentifications, he said. Iridian recently received a request forinformation from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles.

Security, New Technologies on the HorizonThe use of biometric technologies has been fueled, in large

part, by the push for new security measures in the wake of theSept. 11 terrorist attacks, particularly for travel documents usedfor border entry and exit, said David Mintie, editor for theonline newsletter “Biometric Watch.”

The federal government is working on plans to develop bio-metric passports, which would include digital photographs andfingerprints, and Mintie predicts biometrics will become amulti-billion dollar industry.

But Mintie, who directed the Biometric Identification Projectfor the Connecticut Department of Social Services from 1995 to2003, said the question of how the information collected will beprotected is looming over the push for new technologies.

There are legitimate, ongoing concerns about having biomet-ric data stored in any kind of database and whether individualprivacy can be compromised, he said.

“How carefully is that data going to be safeguarded? This isgoing to be a big, big issue,” Mintie said. “It doesn’t matterwhether you’re in government or the private sector.”

—Jenny Price is a former Associated Press statehousereporter. She is now a freelance writer based in Madison, Wis.

Biometric Resources

Biometric Watch—online newsletter and resourceabout new products, new applications, case studies andsuccesses and challenges in the biometrics industry, aswell as a glossary of biometric terms.www.biometricwatch.com/Glossary/glossary.htm

The Biometric Foundation—industry group pro-viding research and education.www.biometricfoundation.org

The Center for Identification TechnologyResearch of West Virginia University—centerchartered by the National Science Foundation; in 1998,WVU became first university to offer undergraduatedegree in forensic and biometric identification.www.citer.wvu.edu

The International Biometric Industry Association—trade group whose members accountfor over 80 percent of biometric manufacturing revenuesworldwide.www.ibia.org

Players in the biometric industry

contend states will jump on board

as costs continue to drop.



statesnapshots

Total tax Total tax per capita Rank State Amount Rank State Amount

United States 593,488,853 United States 2,024.85

1 California 85,721,483 1 Hawaii 3,047.61

2 New York 45,833,652 2 Wyoming 2,968.00

3 Florida 30,767,561 3 Connecticut 2,937.01

4 Texas 30,751,860 4 Minnesota 2,888.63

5 Illinois 25,490,593 5 Delaware 2,862.03

6 Pennsylvania 25,346,869 6 Vermont 2,844.96

7 Michigan 24,061,065 7 Massachusetts 2,602.26

8 Ohio 22,475,528 8 New Jersey 2,411.94

9 New Jersey 20,981,428 9 California 2,388.18

10 Massachusetts 16,698,723 10 New York 2,383.82

11 North Carolina 16,576,316 11 Michigan 2,379.22

12 Minnesota 14,734,921 12 Wisconsin 2,274.66

13 Georgia 14,570,573 13 Washington 2,239.74

14 Virginia 14,233,065 14 Rhode Island 2,228.36

15 Washington 13,895,346 15 Maryland 2,215.69

16 Wisconsin 12,531,098 16 Maine 2,199.51

17 Maryland 12,314,799 17 New Mexico 2,102.88

18 Indiana 11,957,470 18 Nebraska 2,083.46

19 Connecticut 10,291,289 19 West Virginia 2,065.57

20 Arizona 9,606,318 20 Pennsylvania 2,043.11

21 Tennessee 9,536,031 21 Kentucky 2,041.34

22 Missouri 9,119,664 22 Nevada 2,029.50

23 Kentucky 8,463,400 23 Arkansas 2,027.13

24 Louisiana 8,025,507 24 Illinois 2,004.92

25 Colorado 7,051,457 25 Alaska 1,966.66

26 Alabama 7,018,242 26 Ohio 1,961.39

27 South Carolina 6,803,568 27 North Carolina 1,940.79

28 Oklahoma 6,426,713 28 North Dakota 1,938.31

29 Oregon 6,103,071 29 Kansas 1,931.17

30 Arkansas 5,580,678 30 Indiana 1,916.88

31 Kansas 5,283,676 31 Virginia 1,907.92

32 Iowa 5,133,126 32 Idaho 1,900.78

33 Mississippi 5,124,730 33 Oklahoma 1,823.70

34 Nevada 4,738,877 34 Louisiana 1,777.13

35 Utah 4,189,172 35 Florida 1,768.56

36 New Mexico 4,001,780 36 Mississippi 1,765.32

37 Hawaii 3,849,135 37 Montana 1,753.71

38 West Virginia 3,749,013 38 Utah 1,753.53

39 Nebraska 3,639,811 39 Iowa 1,737.69

40 Maine 2,896,759 40 Oregon 1,697.66

41 Idaho 2,647,790 41 Arizona 1,672.41

42 Rhode Island 2,408,861 42 Georgia 1,650.31

43 Delaware 2,375,482 43 South Carolina 1,620.67

44 New Hampshire 2,005,389 44 Tennessee 1,616.00

45 Vermont 1,766,719 45 Missouri 1,584.65

46 Montana 1,625,692 46 Alabama 1,549.28

47 Wyoming 1,504,777 47 New Hampshire 1,542.61

48 Alaska 1,288,164 48 Colorado 1,532.59

49 North Dakota 1,228,890 49 South Dakota 1,378.37

50 South Dakota 1,062,722 50 Texas 1,367.36

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Governments Division

States Ranked by Total Taxes and Per Capita Amount: 2004 (Amounts are in thousands. Per capita amounts are in dollars)


wo simple facts are shaping

America’s future: People are living

longer and having fewer children.

The outcome of these two trends

is that the percentage of older people in the

United States is growing.

TAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of

people older than 65 will more than double between 2000and 2050, and the population over age 85 will quadruple.

Fueling America’s population transformation are the76 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.In 2011, the first wave of boomers turns 65.

With the retirement of the baby boomers just six yearsaway, demographers and policy-makers alike worryabout the effect an aging society will have on social pro-grams and government budgets.

That’s because most social programs, public and pri-vate health insurance systems and retirement funds relyon younger workers to support older persons. There arecurrently nearly five people of working age for eacholder person. In the near future, this ratio will drop tofewer than three workers for each older person. Theremay simply not be enough younger workers or produc-tivity gains in the economy to adequately address futurefinancial needs.

At the federal level this dynamic is fueling the discussionaround Social Security reform. State leaders must also beprepared to deal with the imminent demographic wave ofolder Americans.


As Americans Age,States RespondBy Trudi Matthews


“Overall, however, the biggest challenges of an aging societyare in communities—not in the federal budget,” said Dr. RobertFriedland, a national aging expert at Georgetown University.

How Will the Aging Population Affect States?Americans’ expectations of what it means to get older are

changing. The baby boomers are healthier, more financiallysecure and more educated than previous generations. Whilethere is great interest in aging well, the aging of the populationwill provide many challenges to states and communities.

Health Care Costs Escalating“It is obvious that one of the major influences will be on

Medicaid. It can’t be overstated how much aging will affect thisprogram,” said Robyn Stone, executive director of the Institutefor the Future of Aging Services.

As the population ages, health care costs will become an evenbigger area of concern. On average, health care expendituresfor a 65-year-old are four times those for a 40-year-old, accord-ing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Becausemore older people will live longer, experts predict that overallU.S. health care expenditures will increase 25 percent by 2030.

“The most significant issue for states is long-term care, espe-cially for the low-income elderly who are Medicaid eligible,”said Dr. Larry Polivka, director of the Florida Policy ExchangeCenter on Aging.

The Medicaid program is currently the largest payer for long-term care services, accounting for almost half of all long-term carespending. Few Americans have long-term care insurance or suffi-cient resources to provide for their needs should they become dis-abled. Thus, the government ends up picking up the tab.

“The aging of the population and changing patterns of familylife will affect nearly every American family in the comingyears,” said Lynn Feinberg of the Family Caregiving Alliance.“The availability of a family caregiver is often the deciding fac-tor in whether or not an individual can remain in the home.”

Smaller families and changing family structures combined withthe aging population means that the pool of family caregivers isshrinking. Because families provide most of the support for agingindividuals, the nation may have a caregiving crisis on its hands.

States and localities are often the human service payers and

providers of last resort. Some analysts wonder if state and localsocial service networks can handle the needs of a rapidly agingpopulation.

Work Force Shortages AheadWork force shortages are another anticipated outcome of the

aging population. Baby boomers comprise as much as 60 per-cent of today’s prime-age work force, and their retirement willleave many vacancies.

According to the U.S. CensusBureau, the number of peopleolder than 65 will more thandouble between 2000 and2050, and the populationover age 85 will quadruple.

Baby boomers comprise

as much as 60 percent of

today’s prime-age work

force, and their retirement

will leave many vacancies.


“Absolutely, the growth in demand for certain goods andservices will outpace the growth in workers,” stated Friedland.

Some economic sectors will be hit harder than others. DonJakeway, CEO of the Michigan Economic DevelopmentCorporation, notes that the need for many manufacturing posi-tions may be eliminated by industry advancements as technolo-gy, robotics and new techniques increase productivity andrequire fewer people.

However, the labor-intensive service sectors may face a dif-ferent scenario. Health care, teaching and other service indus-tries are expected to experience acute shortages as the need foradditional workers increases just as many workers are eligibleto retire.

State governments are particularly vulnerable to future workforce shortages. Thirty percent of the states’ work force will beeligible for retirement by 2006, according to a 2002 study byCSG and the National Association of State PersonnelExecutives.

State Pension and Retirement Systems Under StressAs federal policy-makers debate the future of Social Security,

state pension and retirement funds face similar funding dilem-mas. The combination of poor economic returns in the recentpast and growing liabilities from increasing numbers of retireeshas translated into funding problems for nearly every state’spublic retirement system.

This is occurring at a time when state revenues are not risingsharply and the costs of other state priorities—health care in par-ticular—are increasing. Since state courts have declared that gov-

ernment must pay all pension benefits regardless of the state’s fis-cal situation, states are investigating ways to manage the currentfunding situation and avoid similar situations in the future.

“In many cases, these public retirement systems are under-funded at a time when the first wave of the nation’s babyboomers are rapidly approaching retirement,” stated SujitCanagaRetna, a fiscal expert in CSG’s Southern LegislativeConference office, in testimony before a Joint Hearing of theMississippi Senate and House Finance, Appropriations andWays and Means Committees.

The Need for Elder-Ready CommunitiesAs the nation ages, policy-makers need to consider changes

in community life and design that support healthy, active andsafe aging.

“States and communities would be well advised to adapt theirphysical infrastructures and services to the needs of olderAmericans,” said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas.

5–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99≥100

5–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99≥100

12 8 4 0 4 8 12 12 8 4 0 4 8 12 15 9 3 0 3 9 15

Millions Millions Millions

Males Females

2000Males Females

2025Males Females

2050


Demographic Changes:An Aging Population

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The generations trailing the baby boomers are smaller, resulting in increased competition for those workers. Given the health care needs of an elderly population, this shift is only going to exacerbate current health care work force shortages.


CSG’s partnership to promote public health

healthy states


In par tner sh ip wi th the Cen ter s for Disease Con t ro l and Preven t ion , The Counc i l o f State Governmen t s announces i t s new Hea l thy States in i t i a t ive

to educate s tate of f i c ia l s on publ ic hea l th i s sues . Areas inc lude cancer, d iabetes , immun i za t ion , school hea l th and env i ronmen ta l hea l th .

Look for these new resou rces and ser v ices :

CSG’s partnership to promote public health

For more information, check out the Healthy States Web site at www.healthystates.csg.org.

� Quarterly newsletter, issue briefs and other publications� e-Weekly� Inquiry service� Issues analysis� Comprehensive Web site

Elder-ready communities are pedestrian-friendly, have publictransportation options and are relatively compact so that peopledo not have to travel far to get to the grocery store, pharmacy orhealth care providers. Because mobility is a major considerationas people age, elder-friendly communities focus on alleviatingthe problems associated with elderly drivers.

As age increases, sensory and motor capabilities decline, per-ception and attention impairments become more common and,as a result, driving becomes more difficult. According to theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers overthe age of 65 are more likely than all other drivers to beinvolved in and killed in traffic accidents on a per-mile-drivenand per-licensed-driver basis.

Elder-ready communities also have elder-friendly housingsuch as smaller, one-story dwellings. Older people often do notwant to live in large houses that require a lot of upkeep. In addi-tion, as more people retire and live on fixed incomes, housingaffordability will become a major issue.

“What do you do with people who can no longer stay in theirown homes and who need to move elsewhere? States need to becreative in how they deal with this issue,” stated Stone. “There isdemand for a different range of housing for the elderly.”

States are already promoting the concept of elder-ready com-

munities. In 2000, Florida launched its Elder Ready Communi-ties Program to help local leaders assess their community’selder readiness and develop a plan to promote an elder-friendlyenvironment. By actively encouraging local communities to besensitive to the needs of seniors, states can play a major role inaddressing the effects of the aging population.

The aging baby boomers will redefine what it means to retire.Many will continue working well into their seventies and eighties,perhaps retiring from one career to try something new. Others willbe actively engaged in their communities through volunteer workor political activism. Boomers will likely force policy-makers toreconsider the way retirement systems, health care, housing and awhole range of services are structured and funded.

For some states, retirees may become the new economicdevelopment model.

“There is the positive potential for states to attract newretirees and generate new revenues,” stated Stone. “You haveto ask what is the role of state government to intervene throughthoughtful, purposeful development to assist elders?”

—Trudi Matthews is associate director for health policy at TheCouncil of State Governments.



n a March 2005 address announcing a new initiative tocombat financial exploitation against the elderly inIllinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said, “Our seniors haveworked hard, raised their families and they deserve apeaceful and safe retirement.” The governor created aspecial statewide unit of investigators to provide a vari-ety of services to seniors, including investigation offinancial abuse cases, advocacy and education. Theneed for such state-led initiatives is growing.

In Missouri, a 91-year-old woman lives in a nursing home.Although mentally competent, she was taken to the facility fora visit and left there. While in the nursing home, she learnedthat one of her farms and a number of her household items had

been sold. Someone she trusted had obtained power of attor-ney when she was extremely ill and hospitalized. She had nomemory of signing the document and had no intention of sell-ing any of her property.

In Oregon, an elderly woman was living alone. At the age of90, she was deaf, partially blind and in a wheelchair. She hireda full-time caregiver, who bilked her out of $56,000 betweenMarch and September 1999, draining her accounts complete-ly. Sadly, the woman’s family and public officials onlybecame aware of the abuse following her death.

While these true-life cases, reported to state and local offi-cials, may seem extreme, they unfortunately represent a grow-ing crisis in the United States. Too many Americans find their

States addressthe silent epidemic of elderly financialvictimization

Stolen ‘Golden Years’

I

As many as 5 million elderly Americans are victims of financial exploitation each year,

although estimates suggest that victims report the crime in only one of 25 cases.

States are beginning to recognize this growing trend and are working to stop the abuse.

By Carrie Abner


“golden years”—a time to relax and enjoy family and friends—stolen from them as a result of financial exploitation and abuse.

A Growing CrisisThe National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) defines elder

financial exploitation as “the illegal or improper use of an elder’sfunds, property or assets.” According to Paul Greenwood, the leadprosecutor on senior abuse cases in San Diego County, California,financial abuse takes many forms, including credit card fraud, realestate scams, identify theft and burglary.

And reports of elder financial exploitation, experts say, are onthe rise.

Reported cases of elder financial exploitation have more thantripled in Oregon since 1993. Representatives of the Elder SafeProgram in Washington County, Oregon, recently noted thatsenior citizens in that county lost almost $2 million to financialexploitation and crime in 2004. And county officials estimatethat actual losses may be even greater due to gross underreport-ing of such crimes. According to Joyce DeMonnin, coordinatorfor the program, “While the number is shockingly high, weknow it is still a fraction of the amount of money seniors lost inWashington County last year.” She adds that true losses toWashington County seniors could total $10 million.

“Elder financial abuse is a crime of opportunity and it’s on therise,” said Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe to participantsat a May 2004 conference on elder abuse. “Seventy percent ofthe nation’s net worth is owned by those aged 50 or older. Thismakes seniors a rich target. Forty percent of all reported elderabuse cases involve financial exploitation.”

According to Rowe, Maine’s Bureau of Elder and AdultServices referred substantiated cases totaling more than $22 mil-lion to the Attorney General’s Office between July 2001 and May2004. The average victim reported losing $39,000, Rowe said.

While reports of elder financial abuse are increasingly common,experts are unaware of the true scope of the crisis nationwide.

Like other forms of elder abuse, few cases of financialexploitation are reported to officials. A study conducted byNCEA in 1998 found that for every reported case of elder abuse,another five cases went unreported. And elders are less likely toreport incidents of financial exploitation than any other catego-ry of abuse, according to a paper by The Archstone Foundation.NCEA recently cited estimates indicating that only 1 in 25 casesof elder financial abuse is reported to officials, suggesting thatas many as 5 million seniors may be victims of financialexploitation each year.

And as the U.S. population ages, the incidence of elder finan-cial abuse is likely to rise. In 2000, there were an estimated 35million individuals age 65 or older in the United States, com-prising nearly 13 percent of the total population. The FederalInteragency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics reports that thesize of the older population is expected to double by 2030,growing to 70 million. This will create an even larger popula-tion of seniors vulnerable to financial exploitation.

According to a report issued in 2002 by the NationalResearch Council, “The occurrence and severity of elder mis-treatment are likely to increase markedly over the comingdecades, as the population ages, caregiving responsibilities and

“The occurrence and severity of elder

mistreatment are likely to increase

markedly over the coming decades, as the

population ages, caregiving responsibilities

and relationships change, and increasing

numbers of older persons require

long-term care.”

—The National Research Council

“Elder financial abuse

is a crime of opportunity and

it’s on the rise.”

—Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe



relationships change, and increasingnumbers of older persons require long-term care.”

The Cost of AbuseWhile little is known about the exact

costs associated with elder abuse,experts note they are likely significant.“When elder abuse victims lose theirhomes or financial resources throughexploitation and end up in a nursinghome on Medicaid or in government-subsidized housing, the taxpayers pickup those costs,” noted Lori Stiegel ofthe American Bar Association’sCommission on Law and Aging at a2003 hearing of the U.S. JudiciaryCommittee. “When elder abuse victimsneed services from adult protectionprograms, long-term care ombudsmanprograms, state regulatory agencies,law enforcement agencies, prosecutors,public guardians or the resources of a court system to help pro-tect them from further abuse, the taxpayers bear those costs.” The cost to the elderly victims is equally troubling.

“Losing the fruits of a lifetime’s labor through financialexploitation can be devastating,” said a recent paper on elderfinancial crimes by NCEA and the Goldman Institute on Aging.“It may compromise victims’ independence and security, destroylegacies and lead to depression, hopelessness or even suicide.Although financial crimes are committed against members of allage groups, the impact is particularly great on the elderly.”

For seniors, victimization can mean the loss of lifelong sav-ings and pension benefits. As a result, elder victims may findthemselves suddenly dependent on public assistance programsor going without food, medication or other necessities.

At a 1999 hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee,Susan Herman of the National Center for Victims of Crimenoted that financial exploitation of the elderly can have serious,lifelong impacts for victims. “Generally, senior citizens do nothave the time or opportunity for financial recovery—theirprime earning years are behind them. At a time when one triesto conserve assets, a blow to financial security is often a perma-nent and life-threatening setback,” she stated.

Challenges for State OfficialsAs state and local officials try to address the incredibly com-

plex problem of elder financial abuse, they face a number ofchallenges.

Experts point out that seniors are uniquely vulnerable tofinancial exploitation. Many live independently and are isolat-

ed from the rest of the community.Elders tend to be home during theday, more trusting of strangers, lesslikely to report exploitation andincreasingly dependent on othersfor daily tasks, such as homerepairs. American seniors also holda disproportionate percentage of thecountry’s wealth and often havequick access to significant amountsof cash. Together, these factors ren-der seniors at high risk of becomingvictims of financial exploitationand fraud.

Yet, little is known about theextent of financial crimes against theelderly. While some research hasbeen conducted on elderly victimiza-tion by telemarketing frauds, onlylimited information exists on otherareas of elder financial abuse,including fraud and theft by family

members and domestic caregivers. Further complicating the matter is the fact that few cases of

elder financial abuse are reported to officials. According toexperts, seniors may be reluctant to report such crimes againstthem out of shame or embarrassment. For other aging adults,financial matters remain a taboo subject—not one that is dis-cussed openly. Some may fear being seen as incompetent, orworse, being deprived of their independence should they reporthaving been defrauded. Elders who are victimized by familymembers, meanwhile, may be hesitant to report crimes againstthem, reluctant to get loved ones in trouble.

Experts also point out difficulties in regulating in-home careproviders, one of the fastest-growing job segments in the coun-try. Individual caregivers are rarely subjected to backgroundchecks, which poses a major risk to the well-being of elders.Greenwood reports, “The majority of cases I prosecute now areconvicted felons … taking care of the elderly.”

Another challenge for state leaders is the complexity of elderfinancial abuse and the need for interagency coordination atstate and local levels. Like other forms of elder abuse, effectivestate responses to financial exploitation require collaborationby a range of state and local agencies, including law enforce-ment, adult protective services, victim service agencies and private partners. Without adequate mechanisms in place forinteragency coordination, for example, incidents of elder fraudreported to APS may never be passed on to law enforcementofficials, preventing prosecution of cases and restitution toelder victims. Yet, coordination remains a major challenge forstates due to limited agency mandates, finite resources, compet-ing priorities and work force shortages.

“When elder abuse vic-tims lose their homesor financial resourcesthrough exploitation

and end up in a nursinghome on Medicaid or ingovernment-subsidizedhousing, the taxpayerspick up those costs.”

—Lori StiegelABA’s Commission on Law and Aging


Experts caution that the lack of coordination can be disas-trous for elder victims. According to A. Ricker Hamilton, pro-tective program administrator for Maine and past president ofthe National Adult Protection Services Association, the lack ofinteragency coordination means that “victims remain hidden.Elder abuse continues to be undetected and underreported. Weneed to develop a systemic response to elder abuse before webecome victims.”

States Respond Despite these and other challenges, states are becoming

increasingly aware of elder financial abuse and are taking stepsto address the problem through legislative and programmaticinitiatives.

For instance, in a 2003 survey by the National Association ofAdult Protective Services Administrators, 29 out of the 35responding states noted that they had a mandatory reportingstatute that included financial exploitation. According to arecent study by the University of Iowa, state mandatory report-

ing laws are linked to significantly higher investigation rates ofelder abuse cases among states.

In Maine, the Improvident Transfers of Title law allows seniorswho have transferred property as a result of undue influence to getcourt orders for its return. The law applies to both financial andreal property that has been transferred to someone with a confi-dential or fiduciary relationship to the victim, including familymembers, accountants, brokers, financial advisors, health careproviders, attorneys, caregivers and friends.

According to Arizona law, individuals in a position of trustwho use deception or intimidation to gain permanent control ofa senior’s assets are considered guilty of theft. Individualsguilty of violating their duties to elders are further subject todamages in civil actions equal to three times the amount ofmonetary damages to the elder and forfeit their claims to anelder’s estate.

“We must do everything we can to guard the elderly from fraud andabuse and afford them the respectand security they deserve.”

—Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Some states are including banks in their efforts tocombat elder financial abuse, recognizing the potentialfor frontline bank employees to detect suspected casesof financial exploitation of seniors on a daily basis.

The Oregon Elder Financial Exploitation Program isa partnership between the Oregon Department ofJustice, local agencies serving the elderly, the OregonBankers Association and AARP.With funding from theU.S. Department of Justice’s Office for the Victims ofCrime, the program has developed training materialsto educate bank personnel on recognizing the warn-ing signs of elder financial exploitation and the appro-priate mechanisms for reporting suspected cases.Oregon law grants immunity to banks and their staffswhen reporting suspicions of elder financial abuse.

Meanwhile, the California Bankers Association issponsoring AB 1664, the Elder Abuse Reporting Bill.Introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gordon, the billauthorizes the staff of financial institutions to reportincidents of suspected financial abuse of an elder ordependent adult. The bill also authorizes APS officialsto request and receive financial information of a bankclient when investigating the financial abuse of an elder.The bill passed the House of Representatives and iscurrently under consideration in the Senate.

State Initiatives:Getting Banks Involved

Continued on page 35



nterstate compacts have played a role in state govern-ment since 1783 when the British signed the Treaty ofParis, officially recognizing the United States as asovereign nation.

Many of those early compacts were extensions ofagreements the Colonies made under British rule. Andmost were designed to settle boundary disputes.

More than 200 years later, compacts still play animportant role as a tool of cooperation between states. That iswhy Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, CSG president, viewsthe National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC), estab-lished by CSG in 2004, as part of her vision to promote mul-tistate cooperation and problem solving.

“There are a lot of state compacts that citizens don’t knowabout,” she said. “In fact, some governors and legislatorsdon’t know about them.”

Minner believes compacts are the principal mechanism forhelping states address issues on the regional and national level.

“There is a growing need for our states to act together toaddress policy issues that may transcend our boundaries, orthat are threatened by federal pre-emption,” she said.

200 Interstate Compacts

Some 200 compacts have been enacted nationwide to helpstates address multistate issues such as pollution, waterrights, emergency management and child welfare.

Compacts, essentially contracts between states, can becomprised of as few as two states, such as the Delaware Riverand Bay Authority Compact between New Jersey andDelaware, or as many as 50 states, such as the InterstateCompact on Juveniles.

Some compacts are steeped in the history of the UnitedStates. In 1785, for example, Maryland and Virginia ham-mered out an agreement about waterway rights on thePotomac River. The compact was negotiated at GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon estate at what historians call theMount Vernon Conference. The Maryland-Virginia Compactestablished regulatory authority between two states. This wasthe first compact that wasn’t about a boundary dispute.

One of the most famous compacts was signed in 1921 andestablished the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.The compact ended nearly two centuries of bickering between

By Jack Penchoff

States have used interstate compacts for more than 200 years tohelp settle disputes and face challenges together

I

The Port Authority of New York and NewJersey overseas New York harbor, airportsand bridges between the two states.Photo courtesy of The Port Authority ofNY and NJ.

Compacts AreContracts



the two states over navigation rights in their shared harbor. Thedispute was so heated in the 19th century that police from the twostates once exchanged gunfire in the middle of the Hudson River.

Compacts EvolveThe purposes of compacts have evolved since 1783 as the the

governing of states has grown more complex. Between 1783and 1920, only 36 compacts were enacted, and most of thosesettled boundary disputes. Over the past 85 years, however,states have enacted more than 160 compacts.

Not only are new compacts being established, but also oldones are being updated. For example, Gov. Minner supportscurrent efforts to revise the Interstate Compact on the Place-ment of Children.

Drafted in the late 1950s and first enacted in 1960, the com-pact “addresses the special needs of children in interstate situa-tions, specifically when placed across state lines for adoptive orfoster care,” according to Minner.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands areparty to the compact, which is expected to be revised this year.

The National Center for Interstate Compacts is working withthe American Public Human Services Association, whichadministers the compact, to strengthen it with provisions suchas sharing data among states.

Such revisions should help states provide for more efficientadoptions and foster care placements.

“Say in a family with three children, both parents are killedand the closest living relative lives in another state,” Minnersaid. “With this compact, it will be easier for states to worktogether in placing those children with out-of-state relatives.”

A new compact currently winding its way through state capi-tols is the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. As of mid-July, 27

states had enacted this new compact andseven others were considering it. The newcompact is an updated version of a 50-year-old national agreement that allows adjudi-cated youth to transfer their supervisionbetween states.

“This new compact contains much neededenforcement mechanisms and ensures accou-ntability among the states,” Minner said.“Approximately 50,000 youth are subject tothis agreement.”

Looking AheadThe NCIC is also looking ahead at how new

compacts may help states in other areas.Working with the National Association of

State Treasurers and the National Association of UnclaimedProperty Administrators, CSG affiliates, NCIC is looking atpotential plans that would return more than $12 billion worth ofU.S. Savings Bonds that remain unclaimed in the U.S. Treasury.

Another problem confronting states, said Minner, is society’smobility. Between 1995 and 2000, for example, 11 millionAmericans moved across state lines, creating a problem withstate election registration databases.

“ There is a growing need for our states to act togetherto address policy issues that may transcend ourboundaries, or that arethreatened by federal pre-emption.”

—Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner

The dispute was so heated in the 19th

century that police from the two states

once exchanged gunfire in the middle of

the Hudson River.

Continued on page 36

Photo courtesy of The PortAuthority of NY and NJ.

augustsn—05 7/20/05 10:16 AM Page 23


CSG publication provides a greater understanding of the trends affecting state government

We live in a time of incredible transition. In the midst of these profound

changes,The Council of State Governments is emerging as a lighthouse for states, alerting

our members to obstacles and opportunities alike, and helping them navigate through this

era of rapidly changing conditions. CSG seeks to help state decision-makers steer their

states and constituents on the best course—not just avoiding the rocks and staying afloat—

but moving toward a destination and a higher level of excellence.

Trends in AmericaCharting the Course Ahead

CSG Policy Staff Report


Trends in America: Charting the Course Ahead is a criticalcomponent of CSG’s ongoing trends mission. A result of exten-sive research and consultation with experts from across thecountry, Trends in America identifies 10 major change driversthat are shaping our society, the emerging trends of today andthe implications of these trends for state governments … nowand in the future. Our goal is to be a beacon for state leadersilluminating the dangers and opportunities these powerfulchange forces present.

These change drivers cut across traditional policy areas andare already affecting states. Although these change drivers willhave long-term consequences, CSG’s focus is on what they willmean for state officials over the next five years.

This month, State News magazine presents a brief overviewof Trends in America: Charting the Course Ahead. We encour-age you to read the full report for a more comprehensive under-standing of the trends affecting state government today andtomorrow. The full report is available online at www.csg.org.

Silver Society:Aging of AmericaAs people live longer and have fewer children, the percentage

of older people in America is increasing. As the 76 million babyboomers across the country near retirement age, there will beserious implications for state governments.

For instance, many state tax structures may not be wellequipped to handle the aging population. Many states exemptall or part of private and public pension income from taxation.As more baby boomers retire, states may see dramatic declinesin income tax revenues.

Work force shortages are also on the horizon. Baby boomerscomprise as much as 60 percent of today’s prime-age workforce, and their retirements will leave many vacancies. A full 30percent of the states’ work force will be eligible for retirementby 2006. Moreover, states are going to feel the impact of theaging work force sooner than the private sector. So this is animportant opportunity for states to lead the way in work forceplanning.

Immigrant Nation:Changing Face of America

Another critical issue affecting states is immigration. Thenumber of immigrants continues to increase in record numbers,and immigrants are dispersing to nontraditional immigrantstates. People from Latin America and Asia make up the largestpart of an all-time high of 34.2 million immigrants.

Diversity is an important value that strengthens states and localcommunities, but it also presents challenges and costs for states.Public safety officials, for instance, must deal with an increasing-ly diverse population. Immigrants may not have a clear under-standing of state, local and federal laws, and this could lead tounnecessary encounters with state criminal justice systems. A lackof language and cultural training among law enforcement and cor-rectional officers may further complicate matters.

Undocumented immigrants and their effects on states areharder to quantify. However, there are 250,000 illegal aliens inprisons, on probation or parole. States pay part of the costs ofincarcerating and supervising deportees and undocumentedimmigrants who commit state and local level crimes, at an aver-age cost of $30,000 per prisoner per year. In fact, Arizona’sgovernor asked the federal government to pay the state almost$118 million for keeping thousands of undocumented immi-grants behind bars.

Further, health care systems must prepare for and respond toracial and ethnic differences. Members of different ethnicitiesare particularly vulnerable to certain health concerns, includingcancer. According to a 2004 Census Bureau report, the foreign-born population is more than twice as likely as natives to beuninsured.

The percentage of state government workers eligible for retirement in 2006

The percentage of immigrantsin the U.S. population

30

12


Growth Dynamics: Regional Hot SpotsThe population growth patterns of America are also changing.

The South and West are leading the nation in populationgrowth. Population growth continues in suburbia and is spread-ing to exurbia. Urban sprawl is placing increased demands onenvironmental resources—affecting water resources, wetlandsand habitat. Demographic shifts are also affecting farming prac-tices. More than a million acres of farmland is developed forresidential, industrial and commercial use each year.

These changing demographics are altering the political land-scape. As the population shifts, regions of growth will gainpolitical power as other regions lose political clout—at both thenational level and within states. As the United States becomesan increasingly suburban nation, the political power of ruralareas will decline.

States in regions of growth will also experience more demandfor highways and public transportation. Population growth andurban sprawl have led to increased traffic problems and com-muting times. In fact, we are already seeing an increased inter-est in public commuter rail lines in the South.

Economic Transformation:Knowledge is King

The emergence of the New Economy also has significant impli-cations for states. Over the past few decades, the United States hasshifted away from a manufacturing-based economy to an econo-my based on technology and services. Technology and innovationhave become the driving forces of the economy. Creative sectorworkers, such as engineers, computer programmers, financialplanners and those involved in the arts and entertainment, accountfor nearly half of all wage and salary income.

Many state tax codes, however, were built around the oldeconomy, which limits their current revenue streams. Forinstance, most states do not broadly tax services like those ren-dered by doctors, lawyers and accountants. In addition, statescurrently aren’t able to collect sales taxes on products sold onthe Internet. Economists estimate that states are losing morethan $16 billion in annual tax revenue to remote and Internetsales. As a result, they are unable to tap into the revenues fromthese growing sectors of the economy.

Moreover, for states to remain competitive in this new eco-nomic atmosphere, lifelong learning opportunities are critical.The new economy depends on a work force with a solid back-ground in science and technology, and workers must haveopportunities to continue learning throughout their careers.

Globalization Era: New Forces at WorkWe are in the midst of the age of globalization. Globalization is

a process of integration among businesses, governments and peo-ple of different nations—driven by trade and investment—andaccelerated by information technology. Rapid changes in the glob-al economy are propelling states into the international arena.

1 millionThe number of farmland acres

developed each year for residential, industrial and

commercial use

Get Involved with Trends!The expertise and insight of key decision-makers has been

invaluable to CSG in addressing the 10 change drivers that willinfluence state government. We invite our members from allthree branches of state government as well as our associatesto share their state’s experiences in addressing emerging statetrends and issues, including suggested state legislation and reg-ulations, innovative programs and projects.

Please visit out Web site at www.csg.org, email us [email protected] or contact Annette DuPont-Ewing, nationalpolicy director, at (859) 244–8225 with suggestions, questionsor information regarding state innovations and policy optionsthat should be part of the December publication of Trends inAmerica.


Globalization requires constant monitoring and evaluation bystates to remain competitive in an increasingly global market.

International competition and trade agreements are presentingmajor challenges for states. International trade agreements decid-ed at the federal level may limit states’ abilities to exercise regula-tory and legislative powers—in terms of both compliance costsand regulatory burdens. Recent negotiations of the CentralAmerican Free Trade Agreement clearly point out that states havea lot at stake and need to be active partners and advisors to the fed-eral government in decisions to join international trade agree-ments. For instance, the cane-growing industry argues that372,000 jobs in 19 states depend on sugar production, and thatCAFTA could put these jobs at risk. States clearly need to have aseat at the table on these agreements.

At the same time, however, states are actively seeking interna-tional trade, cultural and educational opportunities. According to areport by George Washington University, in 2002 states spentapproximately $190 million on international programs (excludinginvestment incentives), up from $20 million in 1982.

Information Revolution: Sorting it OutBecause of increased access to all types of information, individ-

uals are becoming more demanding of both businesses and gov-ernment. In the midst of this, however, there is a growing need tointegrate and make sense of the fragmented information at our fin-gertips—to turn available information into value-added knowl-edge, for both the government and the private sector.

The increased access to and efficiency of information is chang-ing communications between state officials and the public. Manystate officials have personal Web pages and campaign sites. Theirconstituents daily send e-mail to their state officials. Those offi-cials might even have a Web log, or “blog,” to discuss issues withthe public. These new technologies offer candidates and electedofficials the opportunity to communicate their messages instantly,and may level the playing field between candidates who havelarge campaign budgets and those who don’t.

Critics argue that information technology is allowing interestgroups to affect policy-making. In Colorado, some legislatorsmoved to ban personal digital assistants on the legislature floorbecause lobbyists were sending messages to legislators on thefloor trying to influence their votes.

Information technology is also setting the stage for the network-ing of governmental services, allowing government agencies tofocus on managing partnerships with contracted agencies andcompanies, rather than providing the services themselves.Information technology also allows government and partnerorganizations to coordinate efforts, collaborate on projects andestablish systems of accountability.

Privacy vs. Security:A Balancing ActWhile new technologies present amazing opportunities for gov-

ernments and businesses to offer new products and services, theyalso have the potential to erode personal privacy dramatically.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks nearly four years ago, Americanshave struggled with the amount of personal privacy they are will-ing to give up for safety, especially as new technologies haveallowed for increased levels of surveillance and tracking. Citizensare asking their leaders to help find the balance.

States are fighting new types of crimes created by technology,including identity theft and cyber crimes. More than 9.3 millionAmericans had their identities stolen in 2004, costing more than$52 billion in fraudulent activities, according to the PrivacyRights Clearinghouse. And state leaders aren’t immune to suchcrimes. Just this year, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner of Delawarebecame the victim of identity theft. While states are constantlysearching for new ways to combat these crimes, state agenciesmay not have the training or equipment necessary to prosecutehigh-tech crimes, and jurisdictional barriers can complicateinvestigations of crimes in cyberspace.

The use of new technologies by the private sector also raisesquestions about the government’s role in ensuring personal pri-vacy. Data mining and information sharing allow companies tomarket specific services and products to fit individual needs,but they also give private companies access to vast amounts of


16 billion The estimated annual tax revenue loss to states to Internetand remote sales

The number of officesstates have in foreign countries240



personal information about individuals and families. State lead-ers will likely play a key role in determining how these tech-nologies are used.

Resource Management:Sustaining Our Future

Resource management is also a growing concern in ourworld. States spend $15 billion annually on environmental pro-tection, 70 percent of which comes from state revenues. Oneexample is the growing amount of e-waste that states are deal-ing with from electronic products, computers and cell phones.In addition, population growth in the United States andimproved standards of living in other parts of the world arestraining natural resources. Moreover, population growth andeconomic development choices can affect environmental quali-ty and lead to gradual climate change.

Water scarcity will cause tensions among states and commu-nities, particularly in areas of significant growth. Nine of thenation’s fastest growing cities are in the West. While alreadystressed by persistent droughts, these areas are experiencing arapid increase in demand for water. Similarly, the South is nowengaged in water wars, due in part of population growth.

In addition, climate change is starting to have an economicimpact on some states. For instance, melting ice caps can lead torising sea levels, contributing to coastal erosion—which can beextremely costly for states. Recently, an Alaskan tribe was relocat-ed from its submerging island to the mainland, at a cost of close to$400 million in federal, state and local funds. The tribe membersare known as the first “refugees of global warming.”

Polarized Populace: Eroding Common Ground

The nation’s political environment has become more polar-ized in recent years. At the same time, there has been a trend inrecent decades of greater income inequality between the“haves” and the “have nots.”

This increased polarization is translating into a markeddecline in civility among members of different parties. Thepolitical process has become even more adversarial. This meansthat compromise and consensus are increasingly difficult toachieve—a fact that can lead to political gridlock, burnout andfrustration among elected officials and voters.

State officials are also increasingly focusing on controversialsocial and moral issues, such as gay marriage, abortion and con-traception. Some people see the emphasis on these issues—andthe partisan wrangling that often accompanies them—as dis-tracting state officials from focusing on other basic services androles of government. Others, however, may welcome states’involvement.

Ambiguous Authority:Who’s in Charge?Like most everything else in today’s world, governing in the

21st century is more complex than ever. In the midst of thiscomplexity, the balance of power is shifting to the federal gov-ernment and away from states. Meanwhile, the relationshipbetween citizens and state governments is evolving, placingnew demands on states.

As a result, the states are asked to do more with less. Statesface significant and long-term structural budget problems thatpose serious challenges for the future. At the same time, howev-er, they also face increased costs associated with federal man-dates, preemption of state powers and stringent “conditions ofaid,” including those related to the No Child Left Behind Actand the Medicare Modernization Act. These demands on stategovernments are coming at the same time that some federalpolicies are constraining states’ abilities to raise revenues, suchas a federal moratorium prohibiting states from collecting taxeson electronic transactions completed out of state.

Meanwhile, the emphasis on efficiency has led to the rise ofconsumer-driven government. While this shift may improve thedaily delivery of government services, if individuals tend to thinkof themselves merely as “consumers of government services,”rather than as “citizens working toward a common good,” theymay adopt a “what’s-in-it-for-me” approach to government. �

9.3 millionThe number of Americans who

had their identities stolen in 2004

15 millionThe number of dollars states spend

annually on environmental protectionThe percentage of veter-an state lawmakers whosay their job pressureshave increased over thepast 20 years

90



Interstate compacts are an effective andessential mechanism for developing state-based solutions to regional and nationalproblems. Without state action in certainpolicy areas that cross state lines, federalpreemption is an ever more likely response.

CSG is pleased to offer the InterstateCompact Tool Kit: Promoting MultistateProblem Solving as a resource for stateleaders. The resources include:

� a fact sheet on interstate compacts;

� an issue brief outlining the backgroundand nature of interstate compacts;

� an issue brief detailing compact gover-nance structures;

� an issue brief on the content and con-cepts of modern interstate compacts;

� frequently asked questions on inter-state compacts; and

� a 2004 Spectrum article, “NationalCenter for Interstate Compacts: A NewInitiative.”

For more information, please contactJohn Mountjoy, director of the NationalCenter for Interstate Compacts, at [email protected].

csgspotlight

Advocates of an improved Midwestern passenger rail systemgathered in Washington, D.C., in May to discuss priorities forthe year ahead and to meet with members of the U.S. Congress.

The recent meeting of the Midwest Interstate Passenger RailCommission (MIPRC) brought together state leaders fromacross the region. The group’s current co-chairs are ElizabethSolberg, an Indiana gubernatorial appointment, and IndianaSen. Robert Jackman. Formed by compact agreement in 2000,MIPRC currently has six states as members: Indiana,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio. AllMidwestern states are eligible to join.

The compact’s goals include promoting current improve-ments and long-range plans for intercity passenger rail servicein the Midwest, coordinating interaction between state officialsas well as the public and private sectors and supporting effortsbeing conducted by state departments of transportation.

For more information, contact MIPRC director LauraKliewer at (630) 810-0210.

Rail Advocates Meet in Washington, D.C.

The Oregon Legislature will host CSG-WEST’s annual meet-ing Sept. 11–14 in Portland. The theme of the event is “PacificDreams: Commemorating the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial,1805-2005.”

“Captain William Clark” will appear in character and in cos-tume, and participants will also be treated to an interpretation ofthe search for the Northwest Passage through the eyes of nativepeoples.

In addition to stories from the Pacific Northwest, lawmakerswill find meetings and events pertinent to current events. Don’tmiss sessions on fiscal affairs, trade and transportation, Westernwater and environment, energy and public lands, agricultureand the urban-rural divide. Forums on the global economy, anti-obesity initiatives, higher education, open primaries, legislative

ethics and the challenges of running for public office willaddress some of the most critical issues faced by Western law-makers today.

CSG-WEST continues its commitment to professional devel-opment for Western legislators with training in practical negoti-ations and constituent service. After the day’s work is done, participants will enjoy a memorable event at the OregonHistorical Society Museum. And for the grand finale, everyoneis invited to put on their best 1940s attire and dance to Big Bandmusic at the Evergreen Aviation Museum. The museum is hometo the famed Spruce Goose featured in the movie “The Aviator.”

Please join us at the CSG-WEST annual meeting in Portland,Ore., Sept. 11–14. For more information, call (916) 553-4423or go to www.csgwest.org.

CSG-WEST Annual Meeting Sept. 11–14

Tool Kit Helps States Solve Common Problems



csgspotlight

A regional network of nonpartisan legislative service agencydirectors and staff is planning to meet Oct. 7 and 8 in Madison, Wis.

The group, which is staffed by the Midwestern office of TheCouncil of State Governments, meets regularly to exchangeideas and information between participating agencies.Participants examine various issues related to legislativeresearch, bill drafting, committee staffing, membership servic-es, information technology, staff management and training,professional ethics and other facets of nonpartisan legislativestaff work.

For more information, contact Mike McCabe at (630) 810-0210.

Approximately 70 representatives from law enforcement,fire, public health, the National Guard, emergency manage-ment, elected officials and others came together at theNational Homeland Security Consortium meeting, held May24-25 in Monterey, Calif.

The consortium is comprised of key organizations andentities with homeland security responsibilities, and beganmeeting in 2002 at the invitation of the National EmergencyManagement Association. It provides a forum to review,debate and share ideas on common issues affecting publicsafety, health and the nation’s security.

Among the various presentations, attendees heard fromthe U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Office forDomestic Preparedness on the FY 2006 Budget, with a par-ticular emphasis on the State Homeland Security GrantProgram and the funding mechanisms being proposed byCongress.

A senior staff member from the office of U.S. Sen. SusanCollins, who chairs the Senate Committee on HomelandSecurity and Governmental Affairs, briefed the group aboutthe Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2005.

Other sessions focused on the implementation challengesof the National Preparedness Goal, which was issued by theWhite House in March; the Homeland Security InformationNetwork, a pilot program in which six test states collaborateand exchange information on suspicious activity and poten-tial terrorist threats; the Cities Readiness Initiative, whichproposes providing vaccines and/or antibiotics to a large pop-ulation group in the event of an anthrax attack; the GeorgiaBusiness Force Homeland Security Operations Group, a pri-vate sector program designed to prepare for and respond toterrorist attacks; and a brainstorming session on current effec-tive practices and the future of homeland security.

More information, minutes from the meeting and presen-tation materials are available on the NEMA Web site atwww.nemaweb.org/?1377.

Homeland Security Consortium Meets

LSA Directors to Meet

The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA)considered five policy matters during its annual meeting July26-30. NLGA members are the officials first in line of guber-natorial succession in each state and territory. Members votedon the following national policy resolutions:

� supporting comprehensive anti-obesity policies regardingnutrition and physical activity;

� supporting coastal restoration and no net loss wetlands;and

� a statement of commitment to the challenges and opportu-nities of an aging population.

John Walters, director of the White House Office on DrugControl Policy, addressed members on how the federal governmentwill work with states on drug control and rehabilitation efforts.

For more information visit www.ngla.us.

Lieutenant Governors Act on Policy

On Oct. 27–29, a policy summit will be held in St. Paul,Minn., to kick off the new Education to Workforce PolicyInitiative: Seamless Development of the Midwestern Region’sWorkforce. The three-year project—the result of a cooperativeeffort between the Midwestern Legislative Conference, theMidwestern Governors Association and the Midwestern HigherEducation Compact—will help Midwestern states identify andaddress issues related to the development of education and work

force systems. The Lumina Foundation for Education has pro-vided a major grant to underwrite the initiative.

At the fall summit, legislators, governors, executive agencyofficials, education leaders and members of the private sectorwill meet to develop a set of policy recommendations and bestpractices.

More information on the initiative is available at www.csg-midwest.org.

Education and Work Force Policy Initiative


Step back in time to the great exploration that opened up the Pacific Northwest. Revisit the dreams of native peoples who first experienced this vast landscape. Listen to immigrants who came from distant places.

Celebrate Pacific Dreams as we commemorate the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. “Captain William Clark” will join us in character and in costume. We’ll also be treated to an interpretation of the exploration through the eyes of native peoples.

Western legislators, families and friends will have plenty of time to discuss current events. Sessions will focus on Western water, energy, fiscal policy, transportation, agriculture, the urban-rural divide, anti-obesity initiatives and more. Take part in workshops on negotiations and on constituent service. Join the “Open Primaries” debate and participate in an ethics forum.

At the end of the day, our Oregon legislative hosts will welcome you to the magnificent Pacific Northwest as seen through the eyes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition at the Oregon Historical Museum. For the grand finale, dance the night away in your best 1940s attire under the Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Aviation Museum.

CSG-WEST Celebrates Lewis & Clark Bicentennial

2005 Annual Meeting

For more information about the 2005 Western Legislative Conference CSG-WEST annual meeting, call CSG-WEST at (916) 553–4423 or click on the meeting calendar at www.csgwest.org.

Register Now!

Legislative Service Agency directors and budget officersfrom the ERC visited Washington, D.C., in April where theyhad the opportunity to learn from and interact with their coun-terparts at independent federal agencies, including theCongressional Research Service (CRS), the GovernmentAccountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional BudgetOffice (CBO). This is the first trip of this sort that CSG/ERChas organized.

"CSG/ERC provides an excellent forum for LegislativeService Agency directors to discuss issues of mutual interestand learn of resources that may assist us with our state legisla-tive work. The most recent meetings with CBO, GAO and CRSwere a helpful experience in better understanding what informa-tion is available from these federal agencies," said DavidBoulter, executive director of the Maine Legislative Counciland second vice chairman of the Northeast Legislative ServiceAgency Directors Group.

The nonpartisan federal agencies, CRS, GAO and the CBO,closely monitor Congress and federal spending and legisla-tion—areas that state lawmakers closely follow.

“I was struck that state interests and concerns are rarely con-sidered by these agencies in their research. I would like to seemore systematic information and analysis on federal programs

and laws and their impact on states so that the public wouldcome to know more about unfunded mandates,” said MikeKing, executive director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Officefor Research Liaison, and chairman of the Northeast LegislativeService Agency Directors Group.

Attendees agreed that acquiring timely data and statistics is achallenge both at the state and federal levels.

Steve Klein, chief fiscal officer of the Vermont Joint FiscalOffice, commented on similarities between the work done in hisoffice and the CBO. He added, “It’s useful to have an opportu-nity to understand the processes by which these agencies work.It helps to get behind the data that’s given to us and to under-stand what it reflects.”

Additionally, maintaining objectivity and confidentialityamong staff is an issue that both state and federal nonpartisanagencies face.

“I was struck by the fact that our federal counterparts face thesame data limitations, staffing deficiencies and inadequate timethat we face,” commented David Rosen, New Jersey’sLegislative Budget and Finance Officer.

There are plans for the group to return to Washington in thefall to meet with the Office of Management and Budget, theJoint Committee on Taxation and several other agencies.

Directors Meet with Federal Counterparts


More than 500 people attended The Council of StateGovernments’ 2005 Spring National Committee and TaskForce Meetings held in June at Lake Tahoe, California.

The release of a new report outlining the major long-termtrends shaping our society and their implications for state gov-ernments was among the highlights of the meetings.

During a breakfast program on Monday, June 6, AnnetteDupont-Ewing, CSG’s national policy director, announced therelease of Trends in America: Charting the Course Ahead,which describes major change drivers that will influence thedirection of public policy in the next five years and beyond. Afollow-up report identifying innovative options states shouldconsider in responding to those trends will be published inDecember.

Two additional CSG publications were released Mondayduring the meetings, underscoring CSG’s role as the premiermultibranch organization forecasting policy trends for thecommunity of states on a national and regional basis.

During a Health Capacity Task Force business meeting,Comprehensive Approaches to Cancer Control was released. Thistool kit is designed to provide state policy-makers the information

and resources they need to champion a morecoordinated assault on cancer in their states.

At a meeting of the Public Safety and JusticeTask Force, The Impact of Terrorism on StateLaw Enforcement was released. This publica-tion provides an overview of a 50-state surveythat explores the changing roles of state lawenforcement since Sept. 11.

Health Care Cost StrategiesDiscussed

One of the most popular sessions during themeeting was “Attacking the Roots of RisingHealth Care Costs: Solutions with StayingPower,” a health policy workshop that intro-duced strategies to control health care costs whilemaking people healthier and improving qualityof care.

Moderator Sen. Roman Preziozo of WestVirginia pointed out that a small portion of theU.S. population accounts for almost 80 percentof all health care spending and that 75 cents ofevery dollar spent on health care is spent treat-ing preventable chronic diseases such as dia-betes, heart disease and asthma. States,employers and insurance providers are creatingnew methods to control health care costs,including worksite wellness programs, chronic


Record Attendance at Spring Meetings

South Dakota Rep. Jean Hunhoff, Dr. Wayne Giles from the CDC, Linda Ninamotofrom the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kurt Knickrehm from theArkansas Department of Human Services and Trudi Matthews from CSG gather for aphoto during the health policy task force meeting.

Annette DuPont-Ewing, CSG policy director, announces the releaseof Trends in America during the spring meeting.


disease management programs, adoption of health informationtechnology and quality improvement initiatives.

Dr. Wayne Giles from the CDC said that more than 1.7 mil-lion Americans die from chronic diseases each year. Heart dis-ease, diabetes, cancer and stroke cause two-thirds of all deathsin the United States. These diseases can be prevented, but lessthan 1 percent of health care spending goes toward prevention.Educating the public about health issues has already made adifference:

� Public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers ofsmoking have decreased tobacco use in the United States.

� When walking paths were created in Missouri, peoplebegan to walk and jog more.

� The VERB campaign has increased physical activityamong children.

Dr. Roki Chauhan from Premera Blue Cross believes the keysto containing health care costs are education and collaboration.

When citizens are educated about their health, they can adjusttheir lifestyle choices and become healthier, which is importantbecause 25 percent of health care costs are linked to modifiablelifestyle choices. Moreover, when state and federal governmentscollaborate with insurance providers, health associations and pri-vate businesses, healthier communities can be established.

Paula Roy from the Delaware Health Commission noted thatDelaware’s Healthy Rewards Program, which received one ofCSG’s 2004 Innovations Awards, has already saved almost $2for every $1 spent on the program. The disease managementprogram helps state employees make positive choices abouttheir health care and motivates them to improve their overallhealth. Participants have improved their cardiovascular capaci-ty, lost weight and quit smoking.

Other sessions during the meetings addressed topics such as homeland security, electronic waste, and agriculture andrural policy.

—Jack Penchoff is associate director of communications forThe Council of State Governments and senior editor of StateNews magazine.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, CSG president, and Mike McCabe,CSG Midwest director, converse during the CSG Associate’sReception.

Daniel M. Sprague addresses, CSG executive director,CSG associates in Lake Tahoe, California.


csgspotlight


2004 Innovations Awards

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Mark Brainard, the governor’schief of staff and Treasurer Jack Markell accept the InnovationsAward from Arkansas state Sen. Shane Broadway, left, forDelaware’s Health Rewards Program.

Mary Ellen Hennessy, center, and John Napoli from the NewYork State Department of Health accept the Innovations Awardfrom Arkansas state Sen. Shane Broadway for New York’s HealthEmergency Response Data System (HERDS).

Jim Chrisinger, center, from the Iowa Department ofManagement and Babak Armajani, right, CEO for PublicStrategies Group, accept the Innovations Award from Arkansasstate Sen. Shane Broadway for Iowa’s Charter AgenciesProgram.

Lorene Dimock, fromthe Department ofEmployee Relations,accepts theInnovations Awardfrom Arkansas stateSen. Shane Broadwayfor Minnesota’sAdvantage HealthPlan.

Dr. Curtis Lowery,right, accepts theInnovations Awardfrom Arkansas stateSen. Shane Broadwayfor Arkansas’Antenatal andNeonatal Guidelines,Education andLearning System(ANGELS).

David Bowyer, right,from West VirginiaUniversity’s School ofPharmacy accepts theInnovations Awardfrom Arkansas stateSen. Shane Broadwayfor West Virginia’sAccessible IntelligentMedication Strategies(AIMS).

Ken Manicki, right,from the Office ofScience andTechnology acceptsthe InnovationsAward from Arkansasstate Sen. ShaneBroadway for NewMexico’s 9000Program.

Candace Espeseth fromthe Budget Division,Office of FinancialManagement, acceptsthe Innovations Awardfrom Arkansas state Sen.Shane Broadway forWashington’s Prioritiesof GovernmentProgram.


An Oregon law protects banks from liability when they reportsuspected cases of elder financial exploitation. While the lawdoes not represent a mandatory reporting law for bank person-nel, it provides protection for banking institutions and theiremployees when reporting suspicions of abuse.

States are also initiating programs to respond to elder finan-cial abuse.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s new program would enableinvestigators to develop liaisons with senior service providers,prosecutors, other law enforcement agencies and financial rep-resentatives to more effectively refer cases. In addition, the unitwould provide educational programs for senior citizen groupsand others throughout the state about the warning signs offinancial abuse and fraud. Investigators would also provide sup-port and guidance to elders throughout the investigation andprosecution process. Gov. Blagojevich said of the program andstopping elder financial abuse, “We must do everything we canto guard the elderly from fraud and abuse and afford them therespect and security they deserve.”

Meanwhile, the primary force behind Florida’s battle againstelder fraud is the state’s senior citizens themselves. As part ofthe Seniors vs. Crime Project, elders serve as volunteers to edu-cate their peers on the dangers of consumer fraud and possiblewarning signs. The Senior Sleuths, as they are known, alsoassist the attorney general’s office and other law enforcementagencies to detect fraud in their communities. With the help ofmore than 2,000 Senior Sleuths performing such tasks as check-ing to ensure that prescriptions are accurately filled and con-ducting undercover sting operations to detect businesses usingfalse or deceptive practices, the attorney general’s office hasbeen successful in handling more than 2,000 complaints, pros-ecuting over 40 cases and recovering more than $3 millionsince the program’s inception.

For many states, becoming more aware of the threat of elderfinancial abuse represents the first step in developing innova-tive state responses. While limited information exists on theexact scope of the problem at the national level, individualcases like those of the abused women in Missouri and Oregonunderscore the serious threats seniors face in protecting theassets on which they depend.

As the U.S. population ages, states will continue to face thechallenges of elder financial abuse and exploitation. Whilestates have already taken important steps to address this grow-ing problem, much more remains to be done.

—Carrie Abner is a public safety and justice policy analyst atThe Council of State Governments.

Fact File� Nearly 33 percent of the complaints for telemarket-

ing frauds in 2004 were made by individuals age 60and older, up from 27 percent in 2002.

� The proportion of individuals losing $5,000 or morethrough Internet fraud is higher for victims 60 yearsand older than for any other age group.

� From 1992 to 1997, seniors were the victims of 2.7million property and violent crimes; 2.5 million burgla-ries, motor vehicle thefts and household thefts; 46,000purse snatchings and pocket-pickings; and 165,000non-lethal violent crimes including rape, robbery andaggravated and simple assault.

� Estimates indicate that only 1 in 25 cases of elder finan-cial abuse is reported.There may be as many as 5 mil-lion elders victimized by financial exploitation each year.

Sources: National Fraud Information Center, National White CollarCrime Center, U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Statistics,and the National Center on Elder Abuse.

Stolen ‘Golden Years’—Continued from page 21


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Compacts Are Contracts—Continued from page 23

CSG and its affiliates, the NationalAssociation of State Election Directorsalong with the National Association ofSecretaries of State, are examining theissue and the potential for a compactaddressing the interstate sharing ofvoter registration information. “Itwould ensure that citizens are regis-tered and vote in the appropriate juris-diction and eliminate intentional voterfraud,” said Minner.

Compact EducationMinner has been familiar with Inter-

state Compacts for more than 30 years.“My involvement with compacts beganin the mid ‘70s when I was in the leg-islature,” said Minner. During heryears in the legislature, she served on atransportation committee that workedwith a compact among motor vehicleadministrators. “Because of that, I

became interested and startedlooking at compacts.”

However, she notes that manystate officials are not aware ofcompacts and the roles they playin state governments in respond-ing to shared problems.

The initial goal of NCIC is toraise awareness among state offi-cials about interstate compacts.

“Our first task is education,”said Minner. “Compacts are con-tracts between states. We areresponsible to each other and weshould do what we can to helpeach other.”

—Jack Penchoff is associate direct-or of communications at The Coun-cil of State Governments and senioreditor of State News magazine.

Working with the National

Association of State

Treasurers and the National

Association of Unclaimed

Property Administrators,

CSG affiliates, NCIC is look-

ing at potential plans that

would return more than $12

billion worth of U.S. Savings

Bonds that remain unclaimed

in the U.S.Treasury.


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uring the 2004 state legislative sessions? How many

udges sit on each state supreme court? Which

ates have the most legislators? How much

o state officials earn each year? Which states

ave legislative term limits? Who was the first

woman to serve as a governor in the

nited States? How many school disg

-ricts are in each state? Which states will hold

gislative elections in 2005? How many

bills were passed during the 2004 state legislative

essions? How many judges sit on each state


Order your copy today!

Four easy ways to order:call 800-800-1910fax 859-244-8001

email [email protected] www.csg.org

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conferencecalendar

his calendar lists meetings as designated by CSG’sAnnual Meeting Committee. For details of a meeting,call the number listed. “CSG/” denotes affiliate organi-zations of CSG. Visit www.csg.org for updates and more

extensive listings.Other meetings have value to state officials. Purchase a meeting

listing by calling (800) 800–1910 or by e-mailing [email protected] your meetings to thousands in the state governmentmarket through an advertisement, a Web listing or a banner ad inIn the News, CSG’s weekly electronic newsletter. Get your freesubscription to In the News at www.csg.org.

September 2005

Sept. 8–9 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Managing SexOffenders’ Computer Use—Golden, CO. Contact Kris Chappellat (859) 244–8204 or [email protected].

Sept. 11–14 CSG-WEST Western Legislative Conference Annual Meeting—Portland, OR—Hilton Portland & Executive Tower. Contact CherylDuvauchelle at (916) 553–4423 or [email protected].

Sept. 11–15 CSG/Eastern Regional Conference Eastern Leadership Academy—Philadelphia, PA—Hilton Inn at the University of Pennsylvania—Contact Karen Imas at (212) 482–3220 or [email protected].

Sept. 15–16 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Supervisingthe Sexual Offender—Boston, MA. Contact Kris Chappell at (859)244-8204 or [email protected].

Sept. 12–14 CSG/Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision AnnualBusiness Meeting—Phoenix, AX—Pointe South Mountain Resort.Contact Kelli Price at (859) 244-8235 or [email protected].

Sept. 18–22 CSG/National Association of State Treasurers and State DebtManagement Network Annual Conference—Lake Tahoe, NV—Hyatt Regency. Contact Adnee Hamilton at (859) 244–8174 [email protected] or visit www.nast.net.

Sept. 20–21 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Real WorldMotivational Interviewing—White Plains, NY. Contact KrisChappell at (859) 244–8204 or [email protected].

Sept. 24–29 CSG Henry Toll Fellowship Program—Lexington, KY. ContactAmanda Mays at (859) 244–8236 or [email protected].

October 2005

Oct.19–20 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Real WorldMotivational Interviewing—Kansas City, MO. Contact Kris Chappellat (859) 244–8204 or [email protected].

Oct. 25–26 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Safety in Searchand Seizure—White Plains, NY. Contact Kris Chappell at (859)244–8204 or [email protected].

November 2005

Nov. 4–5 CSG/Southern Legislative Conference—Legislative Service AgencyDirectors Meeting—Grove Park Inn—Asheville, NC. Contact KenFern at (404) 663–1866 or [email protected].

Nov. 9–10 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Evidence BasedPractices—St. Louis, MO. Contact Kris Chappell at (859) 244–8204or [email protected].

Nov. 15–19 CSG-WEST Western Legislative Academy—Colorado Springs,CO—Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Contact Cheryl Duvauchelle at(916) 553–4423 or [email protected].

Nov. 16–18 CSG-National Association of State Treasurers—NAST IssuesConference—New York, NY—Waldorf Astoria Hotel. ContactAdnee Hamilton at (859) 244–8174 or [email protected] or visitwww.nast.net.

December 2005

Dec. 1–2 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Officer SafetyIssues in Supervising Mental Health Offenders—Topeka, KS. ContactKris Chappell at (859) 244-8204 or [email protected].

Dec. 14–15 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Safety Stra-tegies for Mental Health and Social Workers—Kansas City, MO.Contact Kris Chappell at (859) 244-8204 or [email protected].

January 2006

Jan. 11–12 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Real WorldMotivational Interviewing—St. Louis, MO. Contact Kris Chappell at(859) 244-8204 or [email protected].

Jan. 11–12 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Evidence BasedPractices—Kansas City,MO.Contact Kris Chappell at (859) 244-8204or [email protected].

March 2006

Mar. 28–29 CSG/American Probation and Parole Association—Safety Strategiesfor Mental Health and Social Workers—St. Louis, MO. Contact KrisChappell at (859) 244-8204 or [email protected].

August 2006

Aug. 27–29 Southern Governors’ Association Annual Meeting—New Orleans,LA—Ritz-Carlton. Contact Liz Purdy at (202) 624-5897 [email protected], or visit www.southerngovernors.org.

T



timeline

lthough the federal government tends to get moreattention, state officials are often on the front lines ofcutting-edge trends and issues. On the other hand,sometimes in the community of state governments,

the more things change, the more they stay the same. In printsince 1958, State News (formerly State Government News) haschronicled many of the changes … and continuities.

Here’s what we reported on and what’s happened since.

40 Years Ago—August 1965Western States Still Concerned About Water

The August 1965 issue of State Government News announcedthat the Western States Water Council was scheduled to conveneits first meeting in August in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Council,formed by the Western Governors’ Conference, was to undertakestudies, conduct reviews and make recommendations and plans onprograms for water resources development on a regional basis.

Update:The Western States Water Council still exists and strives to

accomplish effective cooperation among Western states in the con-servation, development and management of water resources. TheCouncil remains an offshoot of the Western GovernorsAssociation, and its members—including directors of waterresource agencies from member states—serve as an advisoryboard to Western governors. The Western States Water Councilsupports the 2005 National Drought Preparedness Act, whichwould recognize drought as a national disaster, improving nation-al drought preparedness and response.

25 Years Ago—August 1980States Shouldering Refugee Burden

The August 1980 State Government News article “RefugeeWoes Dumped on States” surmised: “… The federal govern-ment has left the problem of sick, homeless, jobless and trou-bled refugees up to states where they settle.” At that time,Florida was facing an enormous influx of Cuban refugees—somany that nearly 1,000 were temporarily housed in Miami’sOrange Bowl. While Florida provided food stamps to allrefugees, the state’s welfare benefits were extended only tofatherless families, and most of the Cuban refugees were singlemales or male-headed families. Federal programs to assistrefugees in finding employment or housing did not exist. LindaBerkowitz from Florida’s Department of Health andRehabilitative Services said, “The biggest problem is the feder-al government’s inadequate response to the whole situation.”

Update:

In 25 years, the ethnic backgrounds of refugees arriving in theUnited States have changed, but states still argue that federalassistance is insufficient. “Finding Refuge,” the cover story forthe 2005 June/July issue of State News explored the currentrefugee issues facing states:

While national voluntary agencies are responsible for wel-coming refugees to the states and ensuring that appropriateservices are provided to them in the first 30 days followingtheir arrival, states are responsible for ensuring thatrefugees receive long-term ongoing care and services.

In 1981, the federal government began reimbursing states forrefugee cash and medical assistance costs for 36 months followingrefugee arrival. Now, federal reimbursement for these costs is lim-ited to eight months. States continue to face challenges to helprefugees support themselves before federal reimbursement ends.

10 Years Ago—August 1995America’s Secret Problem

The August 1995 issue of State Government News probeddomestic violence, “America’s secret problem.” The ViolenceAgainst Women Act (VAWA) had been passed in August of 1994,and “changed the landscape for victims who once suffered insilence.” The VAWA significantly improved law enforcement’sresponse to violence against women and funded services for vic-tims across the country. The VAWA created new penalties for gen-der-related violence and new grant programs encouraging states toaddress domestic violence and sexual assault.

The 1994 VAWA established a variety of grants: for lawenforcement and prosecution; to encourage arrests; for ruraldomestic violence and child abuse enforcement; for batteredwomen’s shelters; and to fund the National Domestic ViolenceHotline. The Act was updated and reintroduced in 2000—the reau-thorization was mainly a continuation of the existing programs—but newly created programs strengthened legislation in: civil legalassistance; transitional housing; supervised visitation centers; bat-tered immigrant women; dating violence; and services for disabledand older women.

Update:Unless Congress acts, the VAWA will expire in September 2005.

The 2005 reauthorization would continue essential programs andenhance the civil and criminal justice response to violence,improve services and outreach to victims, fund services for victimsof sexual assault, help children and youth who witness or experi-ence domestic violence, address the needs of communities of color,aid immigrant and tribal victims and support prevention, health,housing and economic security programs designed to stop vio-lence and help victims. The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senateand the House in June.

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December 1–4, 2005


Documents

augustsn—05 7/20/05 11:22 AM Page 1 · 2018-01-26 · Ten thousand Californian taxpayers enjoyed a painless expe-rience while filing their returns this year, thanks to the state’s