Afghanistan: U.S. Rule of Law and Justice Sector Assistance

Following up on and related to an earlier post as to the Afghanistan Legal Education Project, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has issued a 48-page report:

Afghanistan: U.S. Rule of Law and Justice Sector Assistance (Nov. 9, 2010)

The purpose and scope of the report are stated as “to provide background and analysis for Congress on U.S. rule of law (ROL) and justice sector assistance programs in Afghanistan … by defining ROL and the justice sector, describing the scope of the ROL problem in Afghanistan, including the role of corruption, and surveying the range of Afghan justice sector institutions.”

Hat tip to Docuticker.com.

State Governments at Risk: A Call to Secure Citizen Data and Inspire Public Trust

Audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk, and financial advisory services firm Deloitte and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) have issued a report based on a 2010 survey (which included questions pertaining to areas such as information security governance, investments, use of security technologies, quality of operations, privacy, and identity and access management) titled

State Governments at Risk: A Call to Secure Citizen Data and Inspire Public Trust

urging that cyber security be made a top priority.

Hat tip to Docuticker.com.

Cost of Government Day — 2010 Report

The Center for Fiscal Accountability, a special project of the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, has calculated and posted its annual Cost of Government Day, which is stated to be:

  • …the day on which the average American has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of the spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • In 2010, Cost of Government Day falls on August 19.  Working people must toil 231 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government – 8 days later than last year and a full 34 days longer than 2008.
  • In other words, in 2010 the cost of government consumes 63.41 percent of national income.

Hat tip to Docuticker.com.

Cross-posted on Law Library Blog.

U.S. State Immigration-Related Laws/Resolutions (First 6 Months of 2010)

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) recently posted

2010 Immigration-Related Laws and Resolutions in the States (January-June 2010)

explaining:

With no federal immigration reform in the foreseeable future, state legislatures continue to step up to the plate to address the complex and challenging issue of immigration. In the first six months of 2010, every state in regular session considered laws related to immigrants or immigration. State legislators introduced 1,374 bills and resolutions in 46 states relating to immigrants and refugees. The number of bill introductions is comparable to the first half of 2009, when 50 states considered more than 1,400 bills and resolutions pertaining to immigrants. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas are not in regular session in 2010.
As of June 30, 2010, 44 state legislatures passed 191 laws and adopted 128 resolutions. Five bills were vetoed, for a total of 314 enacted laws and resolutions, a 21 percent increase over 2009. An additional 10 bills were pending governor’s approval. For the same period in 2009, 44 states had enacted 144 laws and adopted 115 resolutions; 23 were pending governor’s approval and three bills were vetoed. Delaware and North Carolina have introduced bills but have yet to enact legislation.
Getting the most attention this year has been Arizona’s immigration enforcement laws (SB.1070 and HB.2162). Key provisions include: law enforcement must attempt to determine the immigration status of a person involved in a lawful stop, detention or arrest when the officer reasonably suspects the person is an illegal immigrant; state residents may sue state and local agencies for noncompliance; and failure to carry an alien registration document is now a state violation. More information on these Arizona laws can be found under the omnibus category, and online.
As of June 30, bills similar to Arizona’s had been introduced in five state legislatures:  South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Michigan.  Minnesota and South Carolina legislative sessions have ended.
State laws related to immigration have increased dramatically in recent years:
  • In 2005, 300 bills were introduced; 38 laws were enacted and 6 vetoed.
  • In 2006, 570 bills were introduced, 84 laws were enacted and 12 resolutions adopted.
  • In 2007, 1,562 bills were introduced, 240 laws were enacted and 50 resolutions adopted.
  • In 2008, 1,305 bills were introduced, 206 laws were enacted and 64 resolutions adopted.
  • In 2009, more than 1,500 bills were introduced, 222 laws were enacted and 131 resolutions adopted.

The posting helpfully includes summaries as follows:

Enacted laws and resolutions as of July 20 2010 by state

Enacted laws and resolutions asof July 20 2010 by subject

Hat tip to Docuticker.com.

Significant State Sentencing & Corrections Legislation in 2009

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has posted a convenient and informative table report showing significant state sentencing and corrections legislation enacted January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009:

Significant State Sentencing and Corrections Legislation in 2009

“Policy information is based on NCSL’s Criminal Justice Program enactment research, powered by Statenet” (a legislative and regulatory information service).

See also Session Law and Bill Citations for Significant State Sentencing and Corrections Legislation in 2009 for specific session law and bill citations.

Hat tip to Docuticker.com.