ETHICAL DILEMMAS: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE LAW IS SILENT? PAGE 24 April 2016 OVERDOSED ON Opioids Teen Pregnancy • Student Data • Retirement Savings I’m developing innovative technology that recycles nuclear fuel to generate electricity. With nuclear energy, we can have both reliable electricity and clean air. Leslie Dewan, Technology Innovator, Forbes 30 Under 30 Can We Reduce CO2 Without NUCLEAR ENERGY? The world has set ambitious clean air goals and American innovators, like Leslie Dewan, Bill Gates and Jose Reyes, are developing advanced nuclear energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Nuclear energy produces 63% of America’s carbon-free electricity and they know it has a distinct role to play to meet future energy and clean air goals. LEARN MORE nei.org/whynuclear Nuclear. Clean Air Energy. #WhyNuclear CLIENT: NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) PUB: State Legislatures Magazine RUN DATE: March SIZE: 7.5” x 9.875” Full Page VER.: Leslie - FP Ad 4CP: APRIL 2016 VOL. 42 NO. 4 | CONTENTS A National Conference of State Legislatures Publication www.ncsl.org/magazine Executive Director William T. Pound Director of Communications NCSL’s national magazine of policy and politics Karen Hansen Editor Julie Lays FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Assistant Editor Kevin Frazzini Contributing Editor Overdosed on Opioids Page 9 IN MEMORIAM PAGE 4 Jane Carroll Andrade BY JANE HOBACK Nevada Senator Debbie Smith, former NCSL president Advertising Sales Manager A deadly opioid epidemic sweeping the country has LeAnn Hoff (303) 364-7700 lawmakers working hard to find solutions. SHORT TAKES PAGE 5 [email protected] Connections, support, expertise and ideas from NCSL Contributors Max Behlke Brenda Erickson Doug Farquhar TRENDS PAGE 6 Karmen Hanson Heather Morton Rethinking the use of solitary confinement for juveniles, Molly Ramsdell Wendy Underhill moving forward with remote sales tax legislation, looking Amber Widgery for the state that best represents the U.S. and keeping up Art Director Bruce Holdeman to date with REAL ID NCSL President Senator Curt Bramble President Pro Tempore, NEWSMAKERS PAGE 14 Utah A look at who’s making news under the domes NCSL Staff Chair Karl Aro Department of Legislative Services, Maryland STATELINE PAGE 16 Denver Office Books Before Babies Page 18 What’s happening around 7700 East First Place Denver, Colorado 80230 BY KATE BLACKMAN the nation—from phony (303) 364-7700 Mississippi and Arkansas are leading the country in a new movie memorabilia in Washington, D.C., Office 444 N. Capitol St. N.W., effort to prevent unplanned pregnancies among young California to raw milk in Suite 515 Washington, D.C. 20001 adults. Maryland (202) 624-5400 State Legislatures (ISSN ON RECORD PAGE 22 0147-0641) is published Schools’ Data Dilemma Page 25 10 times a year by the BY SUNNY DEYE Q&A with author and presidential historian Jon Meacham National Conference of State Legislatures. © It’s a balancing act when it comes to who should be “Great political leaders—Thomas Jefferson, FDR, 2016, All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or allowed to use, manage and dispose of the vast amount Eisenhower, Reagan—were always in tune with the in part without permission is prohibited. Requests for of student data piling up in cyberspace. cultural currents of the time.” permission to reprint may be emailed to Julie Lays at: [email protected]. SL ONLINE YES, NO, MAYBE SO PAGE 24 Opinions expressed in this magazine do not You’ll find additional information and links to resources Ethics in the world of state government necessarily reflect NCSL policy. State Legislatures on most of the topics touched on inside these is indexed in the PAIS Bulletin and Expanded pages in the online magazine. From just the facts— STATESTATS PAGE 29 Academic Index. It is also available in microform “Opioid Addiction, 2016 Facts & Figures”—to all the Avoiding a retirement bust for boomers and electronically through University Microfilms Inc. principles—“10 Foundational Principles for Using and and beyond (UMI) at (800) 521-0600. Safeguarding Students’ Personal Information”—you’ll Annual subscription rates: U.S.—$49; foreign—$55; find it all at SL Online. NEW! Deep Dive into the world of THE FINAL WORD PAGE 31 teachers—$25 (promo code SLMTEA). Single transportation funding, with everything you need to know Meet Chuck Williams, Chief Deputy copy: $6.50. Periodically, NCSL rents mailing labels all in one place. One dive, lots to catch, in SL Online’s Sergeant-at-Arms, South Carolina Senate to other organizations. If you prefer your name not new Deep Dive section. “I love the fact that I get to be an be included please send a written request. Go to ncsl.org/magazine. ambassador for not only the South Postmaster: Send Carolina Senate, but for our state.” address changes to: State Legislatures magazine, 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230 STATE LEGISLATURES 3 APRIL 2016 In Memoriam Senator Debbie Smith Former NCSL President evada Senator Debbie Smith was a champion of education, a believer in the good of government, an extraordinary public servant, a devoted wife, Nmother and grandmother, a cherished colleague and friend. She has been called a “giant of the Nevada Legislature,” and indeed this woman of indomitable spirit and courage whose challenges in life, whether they’re on the floor of the legislature, battle with brain cancer ended Feb. 21, at age 60, won the or in a hospital room far from home. …You have supported me admiration and respect of her constituents, colleagues on both through a difficult period in my life, showing me encouragement sides of the aisle, and lawmakers in states across the nation. and concern. And I will hold you in my heart because of it.” Smith was diagnosed with operable brain cancer a year ago, Debbie Smith was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2000, just months into her presidency of NCSL. And although cancer where she served as chair of the powerful Ways and Means slowed her down through two surgeries, radiation and rounds Committee and as speaker pro tem. In 2012 she won her Senate of chemotherapy, she continued to guide NCSL, even from her seat and became assistant majority leader and chair of the Senate hospital bed. She laid the foundation for training programs for Finance Committee. Her love of education was the impetus for legislators and staff to ensure they perform at their very best, for her public career. At age 22, she was elected to a rural Nevada efforts to reach every lawmaker in every state and engage them in school board and went on to be president of the Nevada PTA, a NCSL, and for our strong advocacy work on behalf of the states in member of the National PTA Board and chair of the state Council Washington, D.C. to Establish Academic Standards. Her disease couldn’t stop her from working tirelessly for her U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Senator Smith constituents. In April of last year, she returned triumphantly, with was “the epitome of an ideal neighbor, friend and public servant. humor and style—wearing a purple wig and willingly showing … Despite her difficult year, her positive outlook on life was off her scars—to the Senate chamber to pass a historic increase admirable to all. She was my friend and I will miss her.” in education funding and legislation to protect children from Governor Brian Sandoval ordered flags to fly at half-staff for bullying and abuse. a week. He said her “record of accomplishments and presence In her final official duty as NCSL president, Senator Smith in the Nevada Legislature will remain unmatched in the years addressed the Legislative Summit attendees in Seattle last August. ahead. … I will personally miss her greatly and Nevada will miss “From accepting the presidency of this wonderful organization her leadership.” to fighting a devastating disease, my year has unfolded in ways NCSL Executive Director William Pound said, “Debbie Smith I could never anticipate. It has proven what we all know in our was an extraordinary person, a strong leader of NCSL and a good hearts—that every day is precious, that the love of our family, friend. Her legacy to NCSL and the nation’s legislatures will be friends and colleagues gives us strength to face the toughest remembered and valued always.” APRIL 2016 4 STATE LEGISLATURES SHORT TAKES ON NCSL NEWS EXPERTISE SUPPORT “There’s no one-size- State Visits fits-all solution.” NCSL President and Utah Senator Curt Bramble (on Rich Williams on the right) traveled to Michigan to discuss pressing state efforts, such state issues and NCSL resources with Wolverine State as requiring officers lawmakers. He paused for a photo with Senate Assistant to wear body cameras, to improve Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas (left) and Governor accountability in policing, in the Rick Snyder, who was on hand to discuss his funding Chicago Tribune. proposal to address the Flint water crisis. “I would say there’s some uncertainty Lawmakers in Utah’s first- there.” ever legislative women’s Amanda Essex on the caucus, along with interns, difficulty of regulating pose in front of a painting of drones when new uses of them are the state’s first Legislature, developing all the time, in Morning composed entirely of men. Consult. NCSL’s liaison to Utah, Stacy Householder, shared with the “A lot of it is going group the many professional to depend on development opportunities what happens in NCSL offers women. Tennessee.” Dustin Weeden on states’ momentum to offer free community college after the results from Tennessee’s CONNECTIONS pioneering program come in, in The Centennial State Reception Washington Times. NCSL hosted a reception for its home-state legislature, the Colorado General Assembly.