Stateline

Vol. 26, No. 7 • August 2017

MidwestTHE MIDWESTERN OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS INSIDE MLC Committees Meet 2-4 • Criminal Justice & Public Safety — States can Pursuing healthy birth outcomes help remove job barriers for once-incarcerated • Health & Human Services — Opioid crisis demands multifaceted policy response At MLC meeting, legislators learn how states can help • Midwest-Canada Relations — Tricky negotiations ahead over NAFTA babies’ and mothers’ lives from before birth through infancy • Economic Development — Legislators mull ways to better support new, existing businesses by Jon Davis ([email protected]) • Education — Committee examines ideas to “personalize' students” learning experience n pursuit of healthy birth outcomes, noth- Midwest's stillbirth rates, 2013 • Agriculture & Natural Resources — New ing grabs attention like a personal story. technology poised to revolutionize farm sector # of Stillbirth rate I So when Lezlie Mestdagh, outreach State stillbirths (U.S. rank) Review of MLC Sessions 6-7 coordinator for the Count the Kicks cam- paign — an educational effort founded by Illinois 936 0.596% (30) • State tax revenue collections not keeping five Iowa mothers who suffered stillbirths 491 0.591% (29) pace with growth in economy and are determined to prevent that pain • With help of national expert, lawmakers for other mothers — showed Midwestern Iowa 171 0.437% (3) explore tech-led advances in government legislators a “” video Kansas 176 0.453% (5) • Demographic trends demand policy clip featuring an Iowa couple whose infant Michigan 575 .0507% (17) response — sooner rather than later daughter was saved by Count the Kicks’ • Legislators get early preview of phone app, they applauded. MLC Chair Iowa Sen. Janet Peterson, at 350 0.506% (16) 2018 state and federal elections the podium, thanks Dr. Barbara Levy, left, That video illustrated the heart of 135 0.571% (22) Mestdagh’s message to the region’s lawmak- and Lezlie Mestdagh, center, during the Profile 8 MLC's July 11 plenary session on healthy North Dakota 56 0.528% (24) ers in July at the MLC Annual Meeting: Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite, incoming chair of birth outcomes. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) Invest pennies in prevention to save dol- Ohio 888 0.639% (39) the Midwestern Legislative Conference lars down the road, both in direct costs South Dakota 64 0.523% (23) FirstPerson 9 (stillbirths require greater resources than articles written on this topic can be found Wisconsin 343 0.515% (19) Illinois Rep. Sonya Harper on a law to keep live births) and indirect costs such as at csgmidwest.org). lead out of schools' drinking water funerals, ongoing counseling, lost income Mestdagh’s talk on Count the Kicks was Source: Healthy Birth Day and reduced or delayed employment for preceded by a presentation from Dr. Barbara CSG News & Events 10-11 parents, and more expensive medical care Levy, vice president of health policy at the of the mother within 42 days of the end Close to 500 people take part in July meeting during subsequent pregnancies. American Congress of Obstetricians and of a pregnancy, regardless of cause — is of Midwestern Legislative Conference The United States Centers for Disease Gynecologists. She implored legislators a serious and growing health crisis in the Capitol Clips 12 Control and Prevention estimates there to not overlook the other side of healthy United States, despite the belief that it are 24,000 stillbirths annually in the U.S. birth outcomes — the mother’s health and doesn’t happen here, Levy said. • New Wisconsin laws target opioid crisis — more than 10 times the number of well-being. Citing figures reported in the September • Ohio opens new paths via community colleges babies who die from sudden infant death Maternal mortality — defined by the 2016 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology, • Michigan sets new rules on body cameras syndrome, she said. World Health Organization as the death Levy said the U.S. maternal mortality rate • Illinois lawmakers raise state's income tax We’ve done a good job reducing SIDS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 rates; we need to do likewise for stillbirths, Mestdagh said. Stateline Midwest is published 11 times a year “If you invest in stillbirth prevention … Thank you to MLC meeting participants and contributors by the Midwestern Office of you’re gonna save a lot of money,” she said. The Council of State Governments. “It is not that expensive to save babies.” The Midwestern Legislative Conference has met every year since 1945, and its continued success relies on the commitment among the region’s legislators to help plan the event and Count the Kicks’ free app guides expect- participate in it. ant mothers though the process of, literally, counting her fetus’ kicks during the third CSG Midwest, which provides staff support for the MLC, thanks the legislators, meeting speakers and trimester, tapping a foot icon on the app for contributors who took part in the Annual Meeting each of 10 kicks. After a few days, a “normal” this July in Des Moines, Iowa. Planning for this year’s pattern emerges. The pattern diverging from event was led by Iowa Sen. Janet Petersen, chair of CSG Midwestern Office Staff “normal” could indicate a problem and is an the MLC, along with fellow lawmakers and staff in Michael H. McCabe, Director indication to call a medical provider. (Moms the Iowa Legislature. The four-day event gives the region's lawmakers the chance to learn from and share Tim Anderson, Publications Manager can also use the app to set counting-time Cindy Calo Andrews, Assistant Director innovative ideas in public policy. Jonathan Davis, Assistant Editor/Policy Analyst reminders.) Ilene K. Grossman, Assistant Director Iowa Sen. Janet Petersen, current chair This edition of Stateline Midwest highlights various Lisa R. Janairo, Senior Policy Analyst of the MLC, is one of the five mothers who sessions held during the MLC Annual Meeting, as well as actions taken by the region’s legislators. More information is available at csgmidwest.org. Laura Kliewer, Senior Policy Analyst co-founded Count the Kicks in 2009. She has Gail Meyer, Office Manager Next year’s MLC Annual Meeting will be held July 15-18 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Laura A. Tomaka, Senior Program Manager made “Healthy Birth Outcomes” her MLC Kathy Treland, Administrative Coordinator and Meeting Planner Chair’s Initiative for 2017. (A list of other Katelyn Tye, Policy Analyst CSG MIDWEST ISSUE BRIEFS

In July, the six policy committees of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) held meetings and sessions during the MLC Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. This month’s Issue Briefs (pages 2, 3 and 4) explore some of the issues discussed by the committees.

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

CSG Justice Center experts # of state laws restricting employmen t suggest ways states can remove of people with criminal records work barriers for ex-offenders or individuals returning from jail or prison, 342

meaningful employment is crucial to successful 308 Freentry into the community. But getting a job can 295 294 be challenging for applicants with a criminal record. 350 During a session of the Midwestern Legislative 358 547 Conference Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee, 1,251 Ohio Rep. Nathan Manning and Nebraska Sen. Laura 556 experts from The Council of State Governments’ Justice 450 Ebke help lead a session in July of the MLC’s Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee. Manning co- Center discussed actions that policymakers can take to 402 chairs the committee along with Illinois Sen. Mattie improve employment outcomes. Hunter; Ebke is the vice chair. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) Stephanie Akhter, director of the center’s reentry Source: National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction and employment program, suggested that one role for states is to integrate reentry and employment state policies that can either help or hinder employ- Consequences of Conviction (an online tool created by strategies. Right now, she told lawmakers, efforts to ment outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals. the Justice Center), more than 20,000 state and federal train individuals for work and to help them transition In the Midwest, Illinois and Minnesota have enacted laws restrict employment for people with records. to the community often occur on parallel tracks. A “ban the box” policies that prohibit all employers from In Illinois, lawmakers have taken steps to pilot project in Wisconsin (which is receiving support requesting a job applicant’s criminal record until remove some of the employment barriers caused from the Justice Center) provides one example of how the individual has been selected for an interview or by occupational licensing restrictions. Under last states can provide for greater integration of these after a conditional offer of employment is made. Ohio, year’s HB 5973, for example, the state must now services: It tailors community-based reentry and Nebraska and Wisconsin have similar “fair chance” consider “mitigating factors” surrounding a criminal vocational programs based on each individual’s risk hiring policies that apply only to public employers. conviction before denying an application for certain of reoffending and his or her level of job readiness. Other state laws, however, may keep people occupations. A bill passed this year (SB 1688, awaiting Later in the session, Chidi Umez, who manages with criminal records from entering the workforce. the governor’s signature as of mid-July) expands those the Justice Center’s work on criminal records, detailed According to the National Inventory of Collateral provisions to more licensed occupations.

Brief written by Katelyn Tye, staff liaison to the Midwestern Legislative Conference Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee. She can be reached at [email protected]. Health & Human Services

Experts urge holistic approach Drug overdose deaths in 2015 to stem widespread opioid crisis # of deaths (U.S. % change State trategies to deal with the rise of opioid rank in parentheses) from 2013 abuse and drug overdoses were a focus of Illinois 1,835 (8) +16.2% state legislators and policy experts who took S Indiana 1,245 (17) +17.0% part in this year’s MLC Health & Human Services Committee meeting. Iowa 309 (39) +12.4% The MLC Health & Human Services Committee is led “We can’t prosecute our way out of the problem; Kansas 329 (37) -0.6% by Illinois Rep. Robyn Gabel and Kansas Rep. Susan there needs to be cooperation between law enforce- Concannon (co-chairs) and Nebraska Sen. Sue Michigan 1,980 (7) +27.5% ment and public health,” Kevin Techau, a former U.S. Crawford (vice chair). It met on July 9 and 10 in Iowa attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, said to during the MLC Annual Meeting. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) Minnesota 581 (31) +11.1% lawmakers at the July meeting. Nebraska 126 (45) +7.7% Now in private practice, Techau said this holistic state-run databases that monitor prescription drug use North Dakota 61 (50) +205.0% approach to fighting the crisis must involve federal, by individuals. (These prescription drug programs are state and local governments. On the law enforcement in place in every Midwestern state, but not every state Ohio 3,310 (2) +41.0% side, for example, he noted the success of partner- mandates that prescribers use them.) Another policy South Dakota 65 (49) +18.2% ships between the Cedar Rapids Police Department strategy is to expand naloxone access to non-medical and the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area personnel who have been trained to recognize an Wisconsin 878 (21) +2.6% and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. overdose and administer the live-saving medication. Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Together, they used local crime statistics to show Casteel suggested, too, that lawmakers look for where illegal drugs such as heroin were coming in ways to bolster addiction treatment capacity while from opioid overdoses; nearly half of those cases to Cedar Rapids; that, in turn, led to more successful also better educating prescribers and pharmacists. involved a prescription opioid. The rate of opiate over- prosecutions by the U.S. attorney’s office. Part of the long-term solution to the problem, she dose deaths started skyrocketing at the beginning of On the public health side, Dr. Carri Casteel said, is changing the culture around prescribing this decade, fueled mainly by a sharp rise in deaths provided some evidence-based legislative remedies. medicine, starting in medical schools. from heroin (starting in 2010) and synthetic opiates One is to mandate that prescribers register with and use In 2015, 33,000 people died in the United States such as fentanyl or tramadol (starting in 2013).

Brief written by Jon Davis, staff liaison to the Midwestern Legislative Conference Health & Human Services Committee. He can be reached at [email protected].

2 STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 Midwest-Canada Relations

NAFTA renegotiation will be Midwestern states’ trade in goods lengthy and complex, trade with Canada (2016) specialists tell lawmakers .S.–Canada relations, and especially a key agree- $4.6 billion $11.5 ment that binds both countries together, was billion $10.7 the subject of a session sponsored in July by the $817 million billion U $71.8 Midwestern Legislative Conference’s Midwest-Canada billion Relations Committee at the MLC Annual Meeting. Manitoba Minister Kelvin Goertzen and Indiana Sen. $5.9 billion $1.9 billion $30.6 $41.2 With the help of three experts on trade and Ed Charbonneau, co-chairs of the MLC Midwest- $18.8 billion U.S.-Canada relations, the region’s state and pro- Canada Relations Committee, oversee a session on billion billion vincial lawmakers explored the future of the North the future of trade in North America. The committee’s $3.4 billion American Free Trade Agreement, a trade pact in vice chairs are Michigan Sen. Jim Stamas and Ontario Speaker Dave Levac. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) place for more than 20 years that has eliminated Net trade importer with Canada tariffs and increased the volume of trade among cross-border trade, said Christopher Sands, director Canada, Mexico and the United States. of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins Net trade exporter with Canada

Donald Trump, as a presidential candidate and University. These companies have planned and made Sources: Government of Canada, Embassy of Canada, Statistics Canada, now as president, has been critical of the agreement’s decisions based on current terms of the agreement. WISER Trade, and U.S. Department of Commerce impact on U.S. jobs, and several months ago, he Sands added that if trade rules among the three

announced his intention to renegotiate NAFTA. countries must be changed, a renegotiation is much the formation of special congressional advisory com- Negotiations are scheduled to begin in August. preferred to tearing up the agreement and starting over; mittees and a requirement that the U.S. trade represen- “Proper change [to the agreement] will be according to Sands, the latter scenario would lead to tative provide more information about negotiations. complicated,” Kim Campbell, a businesswoman “trench warfare,” with each issue being “fought agency As a result of these statutory provisions, state leaders and past chair of the Canadian Society of Customs by agency, sector by sector, and lobbyist by lobbyist.” will be able to better track proposed changes to NAFTA Brokers, told lawmakers. She and the other two Another key player this time around will be the and their impact on jobs and key economic sectors. In panelists cautioned that NAFTA negotiations will U.S. Congress. In the past, it has largely left trade addition, states will have a built-in conduit — their likely take a long time, and that reaching agreement negotiations to presidents and their appointed trade congressional delegation — to express what they on a renegotiated trade deal will be difficult. representatives, but the current Trade Promotion want out of any new trade deal, said Jim Dickmeyer, a In the meantime, uncertainty about NAFTA’s future Authority legislation (reauthorized in 2015) provides fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for has a “very immediate cost” to businesses involved in a greater role for the legislative branch — for example, Scholars and a former U.S. consul general in Toronto.

Brief written by Ilene Grossman, CSG Midwest staff liaison to the Midwest Legislative Conference Midwest-Canada Relations Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

Economic Development

Creating ‘entrepreneurship Rate of new entrepreneurs in culture’ among students can spur Midwestern states* business growth, legislators told n a wide-ranging discussion that touched on ways 0.31% to build the next generation of entrepreneurs and 0.28% improve access to capital in rural areas, lawmak- 0.21% I 0.31% ers at a July meeting of the Midwestern Legislative 0.26% Bill Blazar of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Conference Economic Development Committee 0.20% speaks to the MLC Economic Development 0.25% learned of various state strategies that can help 0.23% Committee as its three-person leadership team 0.23% support job and business growth. 0.22% looks on: Michigan Sen. Ken Horn, co-chair; South Dakota Sen. Kevin Killer, vice chair; and Illinois The committee was joined by a four-person 0.30% Rep. Elgie Sims, co-chair. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) panel of experts in economic development. On entrepreneurship, lawmakers explored the * The index measures the percentage of the adult population in an area that became its to these investors in new businesses in rural areas. value of exposing young people to the idea of starting entrepreneurs in a given month. Beyond access to capital, local support and an new businesses. For example, a program at Iowa State Source: Kauman Index of Entrepreneurship understanding of the value of entrepreneurs can help

University helps create a culture of entrepreneur- new businesses thrive, said John Beranek, a community ship among participating students, and also assists entrepreneurial community, one continuing challenge coach with Dakota Resources, which works to build the student-initiated enterprises via training, consulting is finding the resources to start and sustain businesses. development capacity of rural communities in South and experiential learning. In recent years, traditional lending streams have Dakota. It’s important for these entrepreneurs not to “It’s the experiential that matters; it’s where we see “flatlined,” making it more difficult for startup busi- suffer from isolation in these communities, he said, the most success,” said Judi Eyles, associate director nesses to access the capital they need, said Tony Toups, and also to connect them to existing state resources. of ISU’s John Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. a partner with Advantage Capital. That is especially true Under the Grow Minnesota! initiative, that state’s That doesn’t mean all or even many of these of firms in rural and small communities, he added. Chamber of Commerce tries to help by taking a enterprises will get off the ground. But by exposing (Toups’ firm specializes in investing in businesses personalized approach: talking to individual busi- more students to entrepreneurship and then providing located in traditionally underserved areas of a state.) ness owners about what they need to succeed and them with the tools they need, Eyles said, the state has One policy response, then, is to incentivize private then offering follow-up assistance. This customized a greater chance of building home-grown businesses. investments in entrepreneurs who hire people and support could be a model used by states themselves, The university’s approach focuses more on technical build businesses in targeted rural areas and industries. said Bill Blazar, the Minnesota chamber’s senior vice assistance than on financial support. But within the Some states, for example, have begun offering tax cred- president of public affairs and business development.

Brief written by Laura Tomaka, staff liaison to the Midwestern Legislative Conference Economic Development Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 3 CSG MIDWEST ISSUE BRIEFS

Education

Policies that spur innovation S in schools, personalized learning focus of discussion hen teachers and local school administra- tors think of state laws and departments Wof education, “innovation” is likely not the first word that comes to mind. The MLC Education Committee is led (from left to It’s more likely to be “compliance” — how to meet right) by Wisconsin Rep. Eric Genrich, vice chair; North top-down rules that dictate how young people are Dakota Sen. Kyle Davison, co-chair; and Kansas Rep. assessed, for example, or the size and structure of the Melissa Rooker, co-chair. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) classes that students are in. But at a July meeting of the Midwestern Legislative the classroom, but rather on showing a mastery Conference Education Committee, lawmakers learned of the subject area. of new types of state policies that are placing more “Advanced state” — Comprehensive policy “Students move on when they’re ready to move alignment or active state role in building local decisions in the hands of schools, and even the capacity on,” she said. Conversely, each student struggling students themselves. “Developing state” — Open state policy with mastery gets the extra supports that he or Anne Olson, director of state advocacy for the exibility for local schools to shift to she needs. national organization KnowledgeWorks, singled competency education Competency-based education de-emphasizes out two recent approaches in the Midwest, in North “Emerging state” — Limited state role in building grades and lecture-based instruction, Olson said; local capacity and limited state exibility in policy Dakota and Ohio. for schools to shift to competency education it instead encourages the use of student-led “pas- North Dakota’s public schools and the state’s sion projects” and “blended learning” (a mix of Source: Presentation from Anne Olson of KnowledgeWorks in July at Midwestern school superintendent were given additional statutory Legislative Conference Annual Meeting students working at their own pace with a tablet or authority this year with the passage of SB 2186. Under other device as well as together in small groups). this new law, local school boards can go to the state “A lot of states offer waivers, but they say that In Ohio, competency-based education is the focus superintendent with locally developed plans that seek schools have to come year after year to get them,” of a $2 million, state-funded pilot program. to improve opportunities for students but require Olson said to lawmakers during her presentation. While state grants and waivers can help schools existing state rules to be waived. If the plan has buy-in “That becomes really cumbersome.” experiment with new models of education delivery, from most parents and teachers and meets a few other The plans in North Dakota can last up to five Olson said, some laws stymie innovation, includ- criteria, it will be approved. years and focus on a wide array of education strate- ing mandates on seat time (the Carnegie unit), What makes the language in North Dakota’s law gies, one of which could be competency-based class size, grading and the school calendar. so promising, Olson said, is the duration of the waiver learning. With this learning model, Olson said, She urged legislators to scrutinize these and other and the amount of leeway given to local communities. students advance in school not based on time in “inhibiting policies.”

Brief written by Tim Anderson, staff liaison to the Midwestern Legislative Conference Education Committee. He can be reached at [email protected]. Agriculture & Natural Resources

Public opinion, government Consumer acceptance is one factor that will regulation will shape use of gene determine the future of this new technology in editing technique in farming agriculture; another is government regulation. Minus any new legislation from the U.S. onsumers have welcomed technology in all Congress, rulemaking responsibilities will be split parts of their life — except not always when mainly among two agencies. Cit comes to the food that they eat. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has For many farmers, this vocal opposition to authority over plants and seeds, and the Food and products made with genetically modified corn or A packed room of state and provincial legislators Drug Administration (FDA) has authority over soybeans (or GMOs) has been difficult to accept. take part in a July meeting of the MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. The committee is foods derived from those plants,” explained Jane But now a new form of selective breeding is led by Iowa Sen. Kevin Kinney and Minnesota Rep. DeMarchi, vice president of regulatory affairs for here, and one looming question for the Midwest's Paul Anderson, co-chairs; and Illinois Rep. Norine the American Seed Trade Association. agricultural producers is whether it will be more Hammond, vice chair. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) According to Wolt, only breeding methods that widely accepted by the public. include “synthetic or foreign DNA” have been subject The technology is known as “CRISPR,” a gene increasing a crop’s temperature tolerance, reducing to regulation in the past. editing technique that can reduce the cycle of the need for inputs, eliminating mycotoxins, and But the USDA has begun to shift its regula- plant breeding from decades to five years. And it is making it tastier or healthier to eat. tory focus from “genetically engineered crops” based on native genetic sequences rather than the At the University of Minnesota, for example, to “products of biotechnology,” while the FDA is transgenic material used in GMOs. researchers are using CRISPR to reduce the carcino- reviewing public comment on how it should regulate “Researchers are moving forward cautiously, as all genic compounds found in potatoes, and to prevent gene-edited foods. the wonderful technology from previous methods of them from browning when cut. For now, it is unclear whether CRISPR products transgenic manipulation was not fully realized due CRISPR could transform animal agriculture as will require additional regulation. to public pushback,” Jeff Wolt, a professor of risk and well. Already in Minnesota, a company has edited Last year, the USDA decided not to regulate a policy analysis at Iowa State University, told lawmak- the genes of Holstein cattle to produce polled (horn- mushroom and a corn crop that were gene-edited ers who attended a July session of the Midwestern less) calves. with naturally occurring genes. On the other hand, Legislative Conference Agriculture Committee. “We need to ensure that what we are doing [with in January, the FDA proposed that all intentionally CRISPR’s impact on agriculture, in the Midwest CRISPR-related research] is well-communicated and altered animals would be regulated as a “new animal and around the world, could be revolutionary — transparent,” Wolt said. drug” and deemed unsafe unless approved.

Brief written by Carolyn Orr, staff liaison to the Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

4 STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Levy: Maternal mortality is an overlooked, but solvable, public health problem (for 48 states and the District of Columbia) rose Maternal mortality ratios per from 18.8 percent in 2000 to 23.8 percent in 2014, 100,000 live births (2005-2014) State policy options for fostering a 26.6 percent increase. healthy birth outcomes Moreover, she added, the U.S. is the only industrialized country whose maternal mortality 18.0  Create maternal, infant and fetal death rate is rising; all other countries’ rates are dropping. 11.8 review committees; ensure they can access the “We have a higher maternal mortality rate than 18.3 14.5 necessary data to recommend changes in medical many Third World countries,” Levy said to legisla- 23.3 practice and public policy tors. “Something is very, very wrong.” 11.6 14.4  Establish, fund and promote home visiting The issue is hard to perceive outside of raw data, 18.4 12.4 21.7 programs for at-risk expectant mothers because while the national mortality rate is trending in the wrong direction, individual incidents don’t 16.8  Promote programs such as Count the Kicks happen all that often; for example, a hospital with that help a mother track the health of her unborn baby 5,000 births annually might see a maternal death Source: Preeclampsia Foundation (using data from September 2016 article in  Ensure that expectant mothers have access once every 10 years, Levy said. Obstetrics & Gynecology journal) The two most prevalent causes of maternal to prenatal care and promote healthy behaviors deaths are pre-existing conditions exacerbated by State legislation can help create the kind of access (smoking cessation, for example) pregnancy (28 percent) and severe bleeding (27 needed to improve outcomes, however. percent). Conditions contributing to maternal California, for example, reduced its maternal within one year before her death. The goal of this new mortality can begin in or during pregnancy, and mortality rate compared to the U.S. overall rate by 50 law is to provide legislators and health professionals can affect a mother’s health up to a year after she percent since mid-2006. The difference was requiring with the information they need to adopt medical gives birth, Levy said. a hemorrhage cart (the equivalent practices and policies that prevent maternal deaths. The study of “epigenetics,” or of a cardiac arrest “crash” cart) Meanwhile, the American Congress of the factors that turn genes on or MLC Chair’s Initiative: at medical facilities for births Obstetricians and Gynecologists and its partners Healthy Birth Outcomes in off, is key to solving that puzzle and other quality-improvement launched the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal the Midwest and, perhaps, also explaining initiatives. Health to promote better evidence-based maternal persistent racial disparities in If they haven’t already done care; Illinois and Michigan are the only participat- maternal death rates, she added. so, Levy said, states should create ing Midwestern states, although Iowa, Ohio and While the prevailing hypoth- maternal mortality review com- Wisconsin have indicated interest in joining. esis for those disparities is chronic mittees to look at every incidence “If you don’t look into the root causes of these stress, which is known to affect of maternal death. deaths, you’ll never affect change,” Levy said. hormones, blood flow, and other In Michigan, a recently enacted factors, the science isn’t in on that law seeks to ensure that its review This article was written as part of this year’s Midwestern yet, she said. committee has access to the relevant Legislative Conference Chair’s Initiative of Iowa Sen. Janet “What happens to the fetus in the uterus turns data. Under HB 4235, signed into law in December Petersen. This initiative, Healthy Birth Outcomes, is examining those genes on and off” and can set a family’s genetic 2016, physicians and hospitals must report the death ideas to improve the health of mothers and their babies. course through multiple generations, Levy said. of a woman who was pregnant at the time of death or Thank You to the 2017 MLC Annual Meeting Contributors

DIAMOND CONTRIBUTORS BRONZE CONTRIBUTORS 3M Company* Iowa Association of Electric American Chemistry Council* Cooperatives American Wind Energy Association Iowa Bankers Association Anheuser-Busch Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Associated General Contractors of Iowa Iowa Manufactured Housing Association Black Hills Energy Iowa Soybean Association Boyd Gaming PLATINUM CONTRIBUTORS Mediacom Casey’s General Stores, Inc. Meredith Corporation Johnson & Johnson* Celgene Corporation* Pet Food Institute CHS Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 CropLife America* GOLD CONTRIBUTORS The Procter & Gamble Company* Dairyland Power Cooperative Government of Canada North Central States Regional Rural Jobs Coalition Dow AgroSciences Government of the Republic of Council of Carpenters State Government Affairs Council DuPont/Pioneer China (Taiwan) Wells Fargo & Company* Greater Des Moines Partnership Hy-Vee, Inc. SILVER CONTRIBUTORS Agrium Iowa Pork Producers Association FRIENDS Altria Client Services LLC Iowa Speedway Amway* Delta Dental of Iowa Anthem, Inc.* ITC Midwest* Archer Daniels Midland* John Deere Cargill* Kum & Go, LC IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS CN Railroad Monsanto Company Iowa Corn Growers Association Monsanto Company Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Novo Nordisk, Inc.* Iowa Pork Producers Association Sterzing Food Co. Genentech* PhRMA* GlaxoSmithKline* Renewable Energy Group International Paper* United Parcel Service * denotes CSG Associates; RAI Services Company/Reynolds American (a Diamond Contributor) also is a CSG Associate Iowa Biotechnology Association Walgreens Co.*

STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 5 ARTICLES ON MLC MEETING SESSIONS

stamps or Medicaid. In addition, the use of data State general fund spending, FY 2016 State tax collections and digital designs can help “nudge” end users to % of total % point change lagging behind overall Function make decisions that a government wants. spending from FY 2008 Eggers gave the example of New Mexico and its growth in economy K-12 education 35.1% +1.6 recent success in limiting improper payments of Medicaid 20.3% +4.0 unemployment benefits (nationwide, he said, $1 ight years have now passed since the Great of every $8 goes to someone ineligible for them). Recession rocked state finances, and since that Higher education 9.7% -1.6 First, the state analyzed data to identify the Etime, state policymakers have had to settle for Corrections 6.6% -0.4 causes of the improper payments — in the case a modest recovery and still deal with a difficult Transportation 0.8% +0.1 of unemployment benefits, an applicant’s self- fiscal environment. reporting of the reason for losing a job, the amount In a July presentation to state legislators, All other 26.2% -2.2 of his or her earnings, and his or her efforts to find John Hicks, executive director of the National Source: National Association of State Budget Officers a new job. New Mexico then changed the behavior Association of State Budget Officers, detailed just of end users (those making jobless claims) by how different — and more challenging — this solely from defined benefit, changing the amount altering the online application for unemployment period has been compared to other post-recession of time it takes to get a full pension,” Hicks said. benefits. eras. “But those changes don’t have a lot of an im- For example, a pop-up screen appears showing a Since 2011, year-to-year revenue growth in mediate effect on our pension liabilities. … We copy of the letter that will be sent to the individual’s the states has never reached the historic annual are getting out the checkbook [to pay for those former employer — an incentive for the applicant to average of 5.5 percent, and for fiscal year 2018, the liabilities].” be truthful (only people who lose a job through no nation’s governors were recommending an increase fault of their own are eligible for benefits). of only 1.0 percent (and just 0.17 percent in the Article written by Tim Anderson, CSG publications In another part of the online application, 11-state Midwest). manager. He can be reached at [email protected]. users are told that most people are truthful about “That’s a notable item eight years into a their earnings. They must then sign their initials recovery, and it isn’t because we’re cutting taxes verifying the accuracy of their reported earnings. and having to balance our budget as a result,” Hicks Lastly, to ensure that individuals are fulfilling said during his presentation at the Midwestern Eggers: Technology can their obligation to find work while receiving Legislative Conference Annual Meeting’s Fiscal unemployment benefits, New Mexico began Leaders Roundtable. aid state workers and requiring detailed job-search plans while also Instead, this slow rise in state spending reflects providing more online employment resources. a “new normal” in tax collections, the result of only the people they serve “There was a 50 percent reduction in fraud,” moderate increases in gross domestic product and, Eggers said. “That’s pretty amazing, and it was on top of that, a gap between changes in U.S. gross he disastrous launch four years ago of done without having to send out inspectors or domestic product and the taxes being collected Healthcare.gov will never be thought of as doing anything like that.” by states. a shining example of how governments can It just took a nudge. “[States’] revenue streams are growing less T “deliver on digital,” but it will be remembered as More noticeable changes may lie ahead for state than the economy, at least half to a full percentage a turning point, Bill Eggers said in July during governments and their workers. According to Eggers, point off of GDP,” Hicks said. “That didn’t used to a plenary session at the Midwestern Legislative within the next decade, “25 percent of all activities happen.” Conference Annual Meeting. done by people in government are going to be Why is the discrepancy occurring now? “It ended up being the best thing that ever automated” thanks to the rise in artificial intelligence. The answer likely lies somewhere in states’ col- happened to digital government in America,” “You create a bot to do a lot of things that lections of personal income and sales taxes, which Eggers, executive director of Deloitte’s Center for are manual and don’t have a lot of value — for account for 77 percent of general fund revenue. Government Insights, told lawmakers. instance, copying and pasting, opening emails and Potential causes include a decline in the price “What we saw were more changes in the two attachments, filling in forms,” he said. of tangible goods (thus driving down sales tax years after than we had seen probably in the That does not necessarily mean workers revenue), the failure or inability of states to collect previous decade and a half.” will lose their jobs, but it does mean much less taxes from services and Internet sales (both are Errors, outages and technical problems paperwork and a change in the nature of their jobs. growing parts of the U.S. economy), and a decision “You’re freeing up 25 percent of everyone’s time, by many taxpayers to delay sales of their stocks in plagued the rollout of that website — the digital and then what you do is use [technology] to get those anticipation of possible changes in federal law that tool for Americans to get health insurance via the workers a lot more data and information to make better would cut the capital gains tax. . decisions,” he said. “That is a super-empowered worker.” In fiscal year 2017, all 11 Midwestern states (and Though the nation’s political leaders may not be technology experts, Eggers said, they knew one 35 nationally) had to revise their economic forecasts Article written by Tim Anderson, CSG Midwest publications thing: They didn’t want another Healthcare.gov to downward and adjust their budgets accordingly. manager. He can be reached at [email protected]. To the extent that states can spend more, Hicks happen under their watch. And the federal govern- told lawmakers, that money is disproportionately ment’s response to the crisis provides lessons for going to two areas: K-12 education and Medicaid. states on how to improve their own delivery of “[State agencies] continue to get the dregs services, he added. or continue to be cut,” he said. “They haven’t Agencies put a greater emphasis on hiring recovered from the Great Recession and they won’t. technology specialists, did a better job of oversee- This is permanent.” ing IT procurement, and created new partnerships Similarly, a smaller portion of state general with the private sector (for example, engineers funds is going to higher education — 9.7 percent at companies such as Facebook and Google were in FY 2016 vs. 11.3 percent in FY 2008. Over that brought in to fix and improve Healthcare.gov). same time, Medicaid spending has jumped from Most important of all, Eggers said, there 16 percent to 20 percent. became almost “a religious focus on the end user.” Along with health care and K-12 schools, In the case of state government, that end user is public pension systems are another big cost driver any citizen or business of the state. crowding out other areas of state budgets. “Don’t make them adapt to you; you adapt to “We as a group of states have reformed our them,” he said in urging state leaders to employ Bill Eggers talks about the power of technology to pension plans or created new ones, particularly technologies that help simplify the process for transform government at this year’s Midwestern for new employees — for example, hybrid cash complying with government regulations or ap- Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. (photo: balances, defined contributions, moving away plying for government programs such as food Jeffrey Kash)

6 STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 ARTICLES ON MLC MEETING SESSIONS

But demographic challenges exist among the Legislators challenged to region’s younger population cohorts as well. take on policies associated In 2015, for example, the 11-state Midwest lost close to 78,000 college-educated adults to domestic with aging population migration (the movement of people within the United States), continuing a longtime trend often n a comprehensive speech on demographics that referred to as the “brain drain.” (North Dakota touched on trends ranging from the elderly to was the only state in this region with positive net family formation, Linda Jacobsen ended her talk domestic migration in 2015.) I “The Midwest has a great opportunity in that to the Midwest’s legislators with a policy message: you have a lot of college graduates, and a lot of Act now in order to meet the unavoidable health those with engineering degrees,” Jacobsen said. care and workforce challenges that lie ahead. “The trick is to figure out how to make it attractive “The greatest opportunity is to invest today for those graduates to remain [here].” , senior political writer and analyst to increase the future productive capacity of our She also encouraged lawmakers to focus on for the closely watched website FiveThirtyEight, children, because that is the best way to help offset strategies that close ethnic and racial disparities. talks politics at this year’s Midwestern Legislative the costs of our aging population,” Jacobsen, vice On measures such as low birthweights, poverty, Conference Annual Meeting. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) president of U.S. programs for the nonpartisan access to health insurance and educational attain- Population Reference Bureau, said in July at ment, African Americans and Latinos fare worse 2018: Advantage Democrats the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual than whites. Meeting. The sitting president’s party has historically “They’re going to make up a larger concentra- Already today, about 15 percent of the nation’s fared poorly in midterm elections, a fact that has tion of state populations,” Jacobsen said. population is 65 and older (Those rates are higher Democrats hopeful that they will gain seats in the Across all ethnic and racial groups, too, fewer in five Midwestern states: Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, 2018 state and federal elections. children are living in two-parent families — 69 South Dakota and Wisconsin). That percentage will Since the Civil War, there have been only three percent in 2016 vs. 85 percent in 1970. rise to 21 percent by 2030 and 24 percent by 2060. midterm elections in which the president’s party did But those population numbers tell only part Article written by Tim Anderson, CSG publications not lose U.S. House seats; the average loss is 30 seats. of the story. More than one-third of people 65 manager. He can be reached at [email protected]. When the president’s approval rating is below 50 and older have a disability, Jacobsen noted, and percent, the loss of seats is even greater, Enten noted. dementia (the most costly U.S. health condition) Democrats need 24 to gain control of the U.S. House. affects 1 in 4 people over the age of 80. In addition, a “fairly high correlation” exists Who will care for all of these older individuals? between a generic polling question to voters In the past, unpaid caregivers have played a Enten: What happened on a congressional race (“Will you vote for the huge part, but more and more older people are in 2016? What’s likely to Democrat or the Republican?” without naming living alone — away from family members to care specific candidates) and actual results. As of for them and in communities that may lack an happen in 2018, 2020? mid-July, that generic congressional ballot favors adequate supply of health care workers or facilities. Democrats by six to seven points. The nation’s “elderly support ratio” (the Though he said Democratic control of the U.S. arry Enten, senior political writer and House is probable after 2018, Enten expects fewer number of people ages 18 to 64 per individuals analyst for the website FiveThirtyEight, 65 or older) has been dropping for more than a partisan changes in the U.S. Senate. Many of those Hshared observations on the 2016 election, races next year are in Republican-leaning states, century, from 13.6:1 in 1900 to 4.1:1 in 2016. It some thoughts about the now-nigh 2018 midterm and many incumbents get elected anyway. Enten will fall to 2.8:1 by 2030. election, and — at some audience members’ States in the Midwest, then, will need to find is projecting a swing, in either direction, of only requests — early thoughts on 2020. one or two seats. ways of caring for the elderly with less manpower, “I expect gridlock will continue,” he added. thus Jacobsen’s focus on building up the productive 2016: How the polls got it wrong Between now and 2020, much attention will be capacity of younger people to care for the elderly paid to state-level races that determine which parties (as nurses, doctors or home health care aides, for According to Enten, polls leading up to last year’s control legislatures and governors’ offices — and, as example) or to thrive in other vocations. Their presidential election ended up being so wrong a result, the nation’s redistricting maps. Next year, 36 success will help create the tax base for com- because they didn’t catch non-college-educated gubernatorial elections will be held, including every munities to provide more residential facilities and whites — at a time when educational attainment Midwestern state except Indiana and North Dakota. transportation services for the elderly. has become a major dividing line in our political life. won this part of the electorate over, Nationally, Enten said the map “looks pretty and even Republicans based in urban centers such gosh-darn good for Democrats. ... What we should E M as New York City and Washington, D.C., missed this see are some losses on the Republican side in I trend because most of them are college-educated. gubernatorial races.” Last year’s election also showed that Democrats face an “age gap” among their voters: Younger 2020: Too early to tell much 4.3 voters who came of age after the collapse of the Enten said he’s reluctant to predict anything about Soviet Union in 1991 don’t have the traditional 4.1 the 2020 presidential election at this point. The fear of the word “socialism,” which helps explain 2016 election was unusual because it was clear, 3.7 3.8 3.8 the appeal of Vermont Sen. . But even at the same point in that cycle, that the African-Americans remain the party’s base, Enten 3.7 Democrats were going to nominate Clinton. For 4.0 said, not supporters of Sanders. 3.8 2020, he said, who knows? 4.3 4.1 Trump and were historically bad “I don’t really dismiss anyone at this particular candidates from a popularity standpoint — “Is this 4.0 time … It’s the most wide-open Democratic field the best that our country could do?” Enten asked — since 1992.” but the rise of Trump and Sanders also shows that But whoever runs against Trump, he or she US 11 “America is willing to listen to anything as long as it will need a coherent message that goes beyond has an interesting face.” S US 11 “I’m not him.” Without that message, Enten said, And despite Trump’s comments about women, Trump could win re-election. US 11 minorities and immigrants, he won a bigger percent- age of African-American and Latino voters than Mitt Source: Linda Jacobsen presentation in July 2017 to Midwestern Article written by Jon Davis, policy analyst and assistant Legislative Conference (U.S. Census Bureau data Romney did in 2012.“Don’t make assumptions about editor for CSG Midwest. He can be reached at [email protected]. him or who might support him,” Enten said.

STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 7 STATELINE PROFILE Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite Still known as “Coach” among many constituents, longtime educator has become state and regional leader during 10-year legislative career

by Ilene Grossman ([email protected])

hen you first meet Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite, it won’t take long to figure out that he was Bio-sketch of Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite Wa high school coach. He is an outgoing man with an enthusiasm that  elected to Ohio House in 2006; joined touches everyone he meets, and in the northwest state Senate in 2011 Ohio region that he has represented for 10 years,  Sen. Hite is still known as “Coach” among many of serves as chair of Ohio Senate his constituents. Agriculture Committee Others remember him as their history and  2008 graduate of CSG Midwest’s government teacher. He taught for 30 years, and Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership after he retired, Hite’s former students were among Development; served as co-chair of BILLD those hoping that he would run for an open seat in Steering Committee for four years the Ohio House. After all, it was a way to give back to the community — a message that Hite had been  serves as first vice chair of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference; will imparting to young people for decades. become chair in 2018 “I always thought that teaching was giving  back, but evidently my students didn’t,” Hite jokes retired teacher and coach; member of the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame about their encouragement that he run for office.  he and his wife, Diane, have three grown children and four granddaughters Along with these nudges to run, Hite says poli- tics “was just in the DNA” for him and his family. It was the center of many dinner table discussions How would you describe your style as a What do you believe are some of the biggest among his parents (both of whom were teachers) Q: legislator and your approach to working with Q: challenges ahead for the Ohio General and three older siblings. Growing up, Hite had constituents? Assembly? three older sisters; two were Democrats, and he I have always felt it is not who is right but I would say our biggest challenge is education. and the other sister were Republicans. While they A: what’s right. I will work with anyone to get A: There are too many people who want to argued all the time, they loved each other. something done. I make it a point to have friends change things all the time, and we lack consistency. Hite figured that’s how politics worked. on both sides of the aisle. But sometimes I turn into The kids are suffering from that, and so are the teach- After years of thinking about American Coach Hite, and people can be surprised by that. I ers and administrators, and even school boards. government and a career of teaching it, Hite has get frustrated when we can’t accomplish something. We have over-tested kids and over-penalized spent the last 10 years in the legislative arena. He I think my constituents find that I am accessible teachers, and we’ve got to get back to allowing the shared his unique perspective, and discussed some and will talk to them, no matter what, even if they are creativity of our individuals that are in education of his legislative accomplishments and his state’s unbelievably upset about something. I will let them to flourish. We’ve stymied that creativity in favor policy challenges, in a recent interview with CSG say their peace and let them know where I stand. of accountability. Being a teacher or administrator Midwest. is a tough job, tougher than it has ever been, and What legislation have you sponsored that you there aren’t enough people who understand what What did you learn when you came to the Q: are most proud of and why? it’s like to be in a school or a classroom. Q: Ohio General Assembly that you didn’t expect? I lost a niece to bacterial meningitis when she Everyone thinks they are an expert on edu- When I got to Columbus, I thought I A: was 4 years old, and I worked to get required cation because they went to school. If they A: should go back to my students and tell vaccinations for schoolchildren [for meningococcal understood all the requirements that are thrown at them there is a little more to politics and govern- disease]. The legislation, known as Tessa’s Law [SB teachers, and the regulations, we might be able to ment than we tell them in our textbooks. Not that 121, passed in 2015], will make a huge difference. It allow these teachers to continue with the passion the difference was bad or good; it was just much was very difficult for me to testify for the bill, but it will that got them into the classroom in the first place. help to save lives. Even as the bill was being discussed, more involved than I thought. The negotiations We’ve got to fix this, and that is one of my goals in it helped to get the word out about vaccinations. to get a bill passed are very important. That’s the the next few years. good thing about what I did for a living; I enjoy interacting with all kinds of people and being a As 2018 chair of MLC, Sen. Hite will help lead planning for meeting in Manitoba part of the process. Ohio Sen. Cliff HIte has long been an active leader in CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference — the nonpartisan How has your experience as a football player association of all legislators from 11 U.S. states and four Q: and a coach impacted your approach to work- affiliate provinces. ing with your legislative colleagues? Next year, he will take over as MLC chair, and among his duties As a coach, you are always in the fray. In will be helping plan the group’s 73rd Annual Meeting. It will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, marking the third time that politics, there are times when a group is A: an MLC Annual Meeting has been held in a Canadian province. flailing on an issue and they need a coach. They JULY 15 –18, 2018 “The networking with so many different people from so many MIDWESTERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE need someone to bring them together and remind places exposes you to a lot of good ideas, and you can bring 73RD ANNUAL MEETING • WINNIPEG, MANITOBA them where they need to go to get the result they some of these ideas back to your state,” Hite says. want. I am called on to do that many times — to “The MLC meeting and programs like BILLD [a legislative leadership program of the MLC] help give you the confidence that help people work out their differences and get on you can do things in your state as a legislator. The meeting participants are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and the same page. That’s what you have to do as a you can be a part of that if you listen, take notes and interact. The process is invigorating.” football coach, and to be a successful legislator.

8 STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 FIRST PERSON A FORUM FOR LEGISLATORS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS State leads on getting lead out Under new Illinois law, many schools and day care centers must test water; communities will inventory lead service lines

by Illinois Rep. Sonya Harper ([email protected])

was sitting in a House committee in Springfield happened to our neighbors in Flint, Mich., Chicago around this time last year when I received the % of Midwestern children under 6 was not about to let the status of our children’s I news that 26 schools in Chicago had just tested testing for high lead levels in blood drinking water go unknown, especially knowing the positive for high levels of lead in their drinking detrimental and irreparable effects of lead poisoning. water. What caught my attention the most was that N/A Lead in water or in soil speaks to the larger my daughter’s school was named in the headline of 0.25% issues of environmental justice that many com- the news story as topping the list of schools with munities like mine across the country have been N/A 0.77% lead-contaminated water. dealing with for generations. In most places 0.49% I immediately forwarded the article to my across the state and country, ethnic minorities 0.70% mother at home in Chicago, and told her to not allow N/A and/or those of a certain socioeconomic status 0.95% 1.1% my daughter to continue to drink the school water or 0.85% tend to inhabit areas with a greater number of environmental concerns. You will notice in these eat any food the school prepared. My daughter was 0.62% also to take her own bottled water and lunch every areas that people, especially children, suffer from day. Things have been like that ever since. high rates of ailments such as respiratory illnesses * A high lead level is de ned as 10 micrograms per deciliter or more. Data Going through this experience and others is why collection methods vary from state to state. Rates are for the year 2015, except for like asthma, lead poisoning and others. sponsoring SB 550 was so important to me. The Iowa and Kansas, where the last available data were for 2012. No statistics are available for Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota; those three states have legislation, which was signed into law earlier this not been part of the national surveillance system. Over the past two decades, the Next step: Paying for mitigation year, requires certain schools in the state of Illinois to percentage of children testing for high levels of lead has dropped signi cantly t is up to our states to help local communities test for lead in their potable water sources (see article across the Midwest and country. Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deal with these serious environmental concerns. below for details). Every day we should be asking ourselves: How I was no stranger to issues with lead. I grew I can we pass better laws and policies that will organizations such as Imagine Englewood If, which up in the Greater Englewood neighborhood of ensure all of our children a fair chance to grow up for the past 10 years have been training residents and Chicago, which has some of the highest levels of healthy by allowing them to breathe clean air and parents on ways to prevent lead poisoning and ways lead poisoning in the state. We are known nation- eat food that was grown and prepared with clean, wide for our gun violence and other social ills, to detect it in homes, soil and water. lead-free water? but I am certain that the environmental factors, While I am proud of the hard work they do, Today my daughter’s school has either fixed or pollutants and physical infrastructure of our cities, there is no way they can fulfill all of the educational, permanently disconnected the fountains and sinks villages and neighborhoods also have a profound identification and mitigation needs of our commu- that were found to have lead contamination above effect on our health, quality and length of life. nity based on their current capacity. States and local the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion. This is a governments must find more ways to educate people school district where 80 percent of the children are Lead poses multiple dangers on environmental concerns such as lead, clean air economically disadvantaged. I know everyone can’t Lead can be found in older homes that used and water and then work swiftly to remediate areas afford to bring a bag lunch and bottled water to school lead-based paint, have contaminated soil or have where people are obviously showing signs of illnesses each day, so that means we still have a lot of work to do. drinking water pumped through leaded pipes. No resulting from these environmental issues. I commend my colleagues for helping me pass amount of lead is safe, and it can cause brain dam- While I was not happy to see that my child’s SB 550 in order to get the testing done at all schools age in children and adults. Any exposure can lead school had high levels of lead in some of its water in Illinois, but now we have to figure out how we pay to a lower IQ, ADHD, hearing problems, stunted sources, I was happy that Chicago Public Schools was for any mitigation that might be needed for schools growth, or digestive and reproductive problems. proactive and decided to test its schools even before that test positive. I look forward to working on that My community is home to grass-roots nonprofit this legislation was introduced. After seeing what in the near future with the continued assistance of grass-roots community organizations such as Imagine Requirements of SB 550, Illinois’ recently enacted lead-testing law Englewood If and dedicated advocacy groups such as the Illinois Environmental Council. • School buildings built before 2000 that serve 10 or more children in grades pre-K through 5, whether Not only are we to be good servants of the public, private, charter, or nonpublic day or residential institutions, will need to test each source of potable people, but also good stewards of this Earth that water for lead. Those sources include taps, faucets, drinking fountain, and classroom wash basins as well as food-preparation water sources, but janitorial sinks and basins are excluded. houses and takes care of the people. Paying close attention to issues dealing with the environment • The water to be tested is to be the first draw of water that has been standing in pipes for at least 8 hours and public health helps us do just that. but not more than 18 hours. If a sample exceeds 5 parts per billion, the school is to promptly notify parents and legal guardians of the location in the school where that sample was taken. Note that this level is below Rep. Sonya Harper is a Democrat from Chicago. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lead action level of 15 ppb. • Schools built before 1987 are to conduct testing by Dec. 31, 2017. Schools built from 1987 to 1999 are to be tested by Dec. 31, 2018. The state will determine by June 30, 2019, if schools built from 2000 onward will need to conduct lead testing as well. Submissions welcome This page is designed to be a forum for legislators and • Licensed day care centers, day care homes and group day care homes built before 2000 that serve children under the age of 6 will need to test drinking water for lead based on rules that will be in place by Jan. 1, 2018. constitutional officers. The opinions expressed on this page Those rules are to include testing requirements, training requirements and notification of results. do not reflect those of The Council of State Governments or • Community water systems are to complete a comprehensive inventory of lead service lines in their system the Midwestern Legislative Conference. Responses to any by April 15, 2018, and update that information annually. Such systems are also to notify potentially affected FirstPerson article are welcome, as are pieces written on residences of construction or repair work on water mains, lead service lines or water meters that could potentially increase lead levels in drinking water. Notification is not required if the inventory shows that the other topics. For more information, contact Tim Anderson water system being worked on is lead-free. at 630.925.1922 or [email protected].

STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 9 CSG MIDWEST NEWS & EVENTS Iowa hosts largest gathering of Midwest’s legislators CSG’s nonpartisan MLC Annual Meeting promotes information sharing and collaboration among states, provinces

lose to 500 state and provincial lawmakers, their guests, and others came to Iowa’s capital At the MLC Annual Meeting, legislators Ccity in July to take part in the premier event adopted 7 policy resolutions that ... for the region’s legislators. The Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual 1) Urge passage of a new farm bill that includes Meeting has been held every year since 1945. Its a “size and crop neutral insurance program,” goal is to provide participants with the opportunity provides for agricultural research and a strong to collaborate with one another while also learning conservation program, supports the development of from leading policy experts and hearing from highly bio-based energy sources, and includes a domestic renowned speakers — all in a welcoming, nonparti- hunger and nutrition safety net san setting. The Midwestern Office of The Council of Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter and Iowa Sen. Janet State Governments provides staff support to the MLC. Petersen explore the art of legislative negotiations 2) Call for full federal funding of the Great Lakes Led by Sen. Janet Petersen, chair of the MLC, Iowa’s during a professional development workshop held Restoration Initiative legislators planned the four-day event and hosted their on the final day of this year’s MLC Annual Meeting. 3) Support open and reciprocal trade in North legislative colleagues. At this year’s meeting: Petersen oversaw the July event as MLC chair; Trotter served as MLC chair in 2006. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) America • Each of the MLC’s six interstate policy com- mittees met (see pages 2, 3 and 4 for details 4) Seek greater integration of U.S.-Canada on those committees and their sessions). • A keynote presentation by Pulitzer Prize win- energy markets and an improved cross-border • A plenary session was held on Sen. Petersen’s ner Isabel Wilkerson examined the enduring energy infrastructure MLC Chair’s Initiative, which is focusing impact of the 20th century’s Great Migration ; 5) Encourage the federal government to on state strategies to ensure healthy birth it was followed by a session on current demo- outcomes (see cover story). graphic trends in the Midwest (see page 7). modernize the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. • Featured speakers included political writer • Legislators explored key trends in state 6) Recognize the importance of federalism Harry Enten of FiveThirtyEight (see page budget and tax policy (see page 6). 7) and Bill Eggers, who spoke about the • Attendees took part in a professional 7) Endorse the relationship between the MLC power of technology to reshape state development workshop on legislative states and Taiwan governments (see page 6). negotiation.

Sharing Capitol Ideas: Photos from the 2017 MLC Annual Meeting

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson delivers the keynote address on the enduring impact of the Great Migration of Indiana Sen. Karen Tallian African-Americans in the 20th century. asks a question of keynote speaker Isabel Wilkerson.

A large delegation of members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba took part in this year’s Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Next year, these provincial legislators will serve as hosts when the MLC Annual Meeting is held in Manitoba’s capital city of Winnipeg. The meeting will run from July 15-18.

(all photos on this page: Jeffrey Kash)

Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz, Illinois Rep. Norine Hammond and Kansas Rep. South Dakota Sen. Jim Bolin Carolyn McGinn participate in the (right) discusses education Midwestern Legislative Conference policy as Michigan Sen. Goeff Executive Committee meeting. Hansen looks on.

The Council of State Governments was founded in 1933 as a national, nonpartisan organization to assist and advance state government. The headquarters office, in Lexington, Ky., is responsible for a variety of national programs and services, including research, reference publications, innovations transfer, suggested state legislation and interstate consulting services. The Midwestern Office supports several groups of state officials, including the Midwestern Legislative Conference, an association of all legislators in 11 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan are MLC affiliate members.

10 STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 Wisconsin Rep. Joan Ballweg nominated to join national leadership team at CSG Bipartisan group of legislators made choice in July at MLC Annual Meeting

isconsin Rep. Joan Ballweg has been Administrative Rules, is a founder and co-chair of chosen by a bipartisan group of her the Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus, and Wlegislative peers from the Midwest to has long been a legislative leader on issues rang- join the national leadership ing from agriculture and the CALENDAR team of The Council of State economy to higher education Governments, the nation’s and homeland security. only organization serving all “CSG stands to benefit UPCOMING MIDWESTERN LEGISLATIVE three branches of government. greatly with Rep. Ballweg on CONFERENCE AND THE COUNCIL OF STATE CSG’s Midwestern the national leadership team,” GOVERNMENTS EVENTS Legislative Conference Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Executive Committee selected Wisconsin Rep. Joan Ballweg Robin Vos says. GREAT LAKES LEGISLATIVE Rep. Ballweg at its July 9 meet- participates in July at the Midwestern “She’s a proven leader CAUCUS MEETING ing in Des Moines, Iowa. Legislative Conference Executive who has extensive legislative September 22-23, 2017 “We are excited to have our Committee meeting, along with knowledge and is committed to Toronto, Ontario colleague, Rep. Joan Ballweg Wisconsin Rep. Eric Genrich (left). bipartisan collaboration.” of Wisconsin, represent the At that meeting, the committee In 2016, Ballweg served as Contact: Lisa Janairo ([email protected]) 920.458.5910 Midwest region on the na- nominated Rep. Ballweg to be an officer chair of the MLC and helped of The Council of State Governments. greatlakeslegislators.org tional level,” says Iowa Sen. raise awareness among the (photo: Jeffrey Kash) Janet Petersen, current chair Midwest’s legislators about of the MLC. MIDWEST INTERSTATE PASSENGER state policies to enhance child RAIL COMMISSION MEETING “Rep. Ballweg knows the well-being, strengthen families and improve long- importance of bringing legislators together in a October 9-11, 2017 term outcomes. Wichita, Kansas nonpartisan way to learn from each other and work CSG’s national Executive Committee will on initiatives that advance the common good.” consider her nomination in December. Contact: Laura Kliewer ([email protected]) A member of the Wisconsin Assembly since If this nomination is approved, she would 630.935.1922 miprc.org 2005, Rep. Ballweg serves as co-chair of the become CSG vice chair in 2018 and be in line to Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of be CSG chair-elect in 2019 and CSG chair in 2020. CSG NATIONAL CONFERENCE December 14-16, 2017 Las Vegas, Nevada

Michigan Sen. Ken Horn elected to become next Contact: Kelley Arnold ([email protected]) 859.244.8000 officer of Midwestern Legislative Conference csg.org

ichigan Sen. Ken Horn will soon become The MLC is led by four committee officers 73RD ANNUAL MEETING OF an officer of the Midwestern Legislative (which rotate on an annual basis), and on the final THE MIDWESTERN LEGISLATIVE MConference after being elected to the day of the group’s four-day meeting in Des Moines, CONFERENCE position by fellow legislators at this summer’s the Midwest’s legislators elected Horn to serve as July 15-18, 2018 MLC Annual Meeting in Des second vice chair. Winnipeg, Manitoba Moines, Iowa. With his selection, Sen. Contact: Gail Meyer ([email protected]) A member of the Michigan Horn is in line to serve as MLC 630.925.1922 Legislature since 2007, Sen. chair in 2020, when the group csgmidwest.org Horn currently serves as meets in Michigan. In 2018, chair of the state Senate the other three MLC officers 24TH ANNUAL Economic Development and will be: BOWHAY INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE International Investment • Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (BILLD) Committee and as vice chair; August 10-14, 2018 chair of the Transportation Minneapolis, Minnesota Committee. While in the • Illinois Rep. Elgie Sims, Shown here at this year’s Midwestern Michigan House, he was chair first vice chair; and Contact: Laura Tomaka ([email protected]) Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, of the Energy & Technology • Iowa Sen. Janet Petersen, 630.925.1922 Michigan Sen. Ken Horn is a 10-year csgmidwest.org and Insurance committees. veteran of the Legislature. He will join immediate past chair. He also has long been the four-member leadership team of the Staff support for the MLC active in the MLC, a non- MLC later this year. (photo: Jeffrey Kash) is provided by the Midwestern partisan association of state Office of The Council of State and provincial lawmakers Governments. that facilitates regional cooperation, information CSG is the nation’s only organization serving sharing and leadership training. In addition to the executive, judicial and legislative branches being a 2007 graduate of the Bowhay Institute for of state government. It offers regional, national Legislative Leadership Development, Sen. Horn and international opportunities for state officials is co-chair of the MLC’s Economic Development to collaborate, develop leadership skills and create Committee and a member of its Executive problem-solving partnerships. Committee.

STATELINE MIDWEST AUGUST 2017 11 NONPROFIT CAPITOL the year. ofaspecialsessionheldearlierinthe product facets of the state’s opioid crisis. The bills were into law that inJuly seekto address myriad Wisconsin opioid epidemic laws take aimat state’s Elevennew Wisconsin investigate drug trafficking (AB 10). ofJustice to hirepartment specialagents to • providing $420,000to the Wisconsin De (ABin addiction 7);and hospitals to hire more whospecialize doctors providing $63,000inannualstate grants for gional opioidtreatment programs (AB 8)and • spending$1milliononupto three newre mental health,alcohol and drug issues(AB 11); to identify andhelpstudents struggling with ing for teachers andotherschoolpersonnel (ABaddiction 6)andfundingnewtrain high schoolstudents struggling to overcome schoolfor upto 15• theopeningofacharter newlawsOther in Wisconsin authorize: diately after administering thedrugs. als mustbeproperly trained 911imme andcall to treat opioidoverdoses (SB1). These individu from lawsuits iftheyadminister drugs designed residence halldirectors, willnow beprotected school employees andvolunteers, alongwith According to the ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID

CAROL STREAM, IL Gov. Scott Walker signed11bills PERMIT NO. 1859

Stateline Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Midwest

August 2017 CLIPS - - - - - The Council of State Governments ,

Midwestern Office cure qualifiedemployees. workforce industries’ andlocal to se ability grams improve student outcomes inthe colleges’whether thecommunity newpro lor of higher education is required to study law,Under the new Ohio the state’s chancel Minnesota other Midwestern states: be conferred by colleges community infive laureate Association, bachelor’s degrees can According to theCommunity College Bacca college. and fillavoid notalready metby afour-year gree mustmeetaregional workforce need to students.portunities Inaddition,thede work-based learningandemployment op nesses —for example, theyagree to offer buy-in from orarea aregional busi industry must show that itsfour-year program has To college acommunity getthego-ahead, chancellor ofhighereducation. technical fieldsandbeapproved by Ohio’s programs mustbelimited to appliedand Under HB49(thestate’s budgetbill),these degree programs for students. the chance to develop andprovide bachelor’s west where colleges community willhave Ohio offer four-year degrees collegesto community Ohio provides path for 701 E. 22nd Street, Suite 110 hasbecome thelatest state intheMid Lombard, IL 60148-5095

Phone: 630.925.1922 , North Dakota North Fax: 630.925.1930 E-mail: [email protected] www.csgmidwest.org Indiana and CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Wisconsin , Michigan . ------, recordings. body cameras and/orpublicaccess to the laws that set guidelines onpolice useof Dakota nois least six other Midwestern states — Over thepastthree years, legislatures inat recordings. enforcement mustprovide themwiththe recordings want acopy ofthefootage, law records law. However, ofthese ifthesubjects veillance”) isexempt from thestate's public safe from orhostileintrusion casual orsur an individualmay reasonably to expect be captured inaprivate place (“a place where Also underthenewlaw, camera footage completion ofthelegalcase. ing criminalinvestigation mustbekept until years; any recording ofanongo that ispart a police officer must be retained for three days. Footage related to complaints against to bekept by law enforcement for at least30 in January. Itrequires recordings evidentiary HB 4427, signed into law in July, takes effect captured onpolice bodycameras. rules for theretention andrelease offootage proval to inJuly abillthat setsstatewide Michigan footage police camera retention, release of Michigan setsrulesfor , Indiana and legislators gave unanimousap , Nebraska Kansas , Minnesota — have passed , North Illi - - - -

to 4.95 percent rate and corporate the from 3.75individual rate income from tax percent legislation The state's the a budget. raises 736 days withouthad gonearecord-setting According to the incomecorporate taxes. state's the July that increases individual and Illinois overriding vetoBy the ofGov. Rauner, Bruce deal includestaxhike record-setting impasse; Illinois hasbudgetafter to override aveto by Gov. Brownback. Sam 2012. Legislature the required changes Those that date businesses exemptions to for back that also eliminates taxfix of a budget part state'sthe rates this year income tax as Kansas in Illinois,In to addition recent the actions filers)or $209,210 (heads of households). applies to incomes ofover $156,910 (single marginalhighest rate, 9.85 percent, which structures. income tax have states seven Midwestern graduated-rate Dakota according to Tax the Foundation. of 3.23 percent and 4.25 percent, respectively, are two a flat The with other individual incometax. Illinois Midwest in the states is oneofthree in revenue to state. the in to an additional bring estimated $5 billion are5.25 changes percent to percent. 7 Those Indiana has at no all. income tax other The legislators adopted a new budget in legislators adopted anew budget lawmakers enacted increases to increases enacted lawmakers and Michigan Chicago Tribune Minnesota , which have, which rates , has the Illinois South