NEW! INNOVATIONS—IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN THE LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION PAGE 8 February 2018 Plugged Into Solar Workers’ Wages— What’s Fair? Can Rural America Ever Catch Up? Legislators Write: Reviews of Recent Books 11 Rules to Make Your State the Best in America Don’t risk your health to mask your pain. Talk to a physicalPAGE 2 therapist aboutAd safe pain management. OPIOIDS FEBRUARY 2018 VOL. 44 NO. 2 | CONTENTS A National Conference of State Legislatures Publication Executive Director William T. Pound Director of Communications Karen Hansen The magazine of state policy and politics from the National Conference of State Legislatures, Editor the bipartisan organization that serves all lawmakers and staff. Julie Lays Assistant Editor Kevin Frazzini FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Contributing Editor Jane Carroll Andrade Plugged Into Solar Page 12 SHORT TAKES PAGE 4 Online Magazine BY MEGAN CLEVELAND and JOCELYN DURKAY Connections, insight and ideas from NCSL, with a welcome to Ed Smith Mark Wolf New solar energy developments are fueling local economies new lawmakers from NCSL Executive Director William T. Pound Contributors and providing jobs for thousands. Glen Andersen NEWSMAKERS PAGE 6 Jonathan Griffin John Mahoney What’s happening under the domes Wendy Underhill Brian Weberg Katie Ziegler INNOVATIONS PAGE 8 Strengthening the Legislative Institution: Maine keeps legislative Art Director Bruce Holdeman staff engaged in their work through an aspiring leaders NCSL President program. Senator Deb Peters South Dakota TRENDS PAGE 10 NCSL Staff Chair States benefit from the VW emissions settlement, task forces Chuck Truesdell Fiscal Analyst, get to work updating elections technology, legislatures Legislative Research strengthen sexual harassment training and U.S. teachers’ pay Commission Kentucky comes up short. Denver Office 7700 East First Place STATELINE PAGE 16 Denver, Colorado 80230 News bites from across the country—from (303) 364-7700 a friendly operating-room encounter in Washington, D.C., Arizona to a ban on drunken droning in Office New Jersey 444 N. Capitol St. N.W., Suite 515 Washington, D.C. 20001 OFF THE SHELF PAGE 24 (202) 624-5400 Reviews of recent books by legislators: “Capitol Letters,” by State Legislatures Mitch Greenlick; “The Freedom of the Ignored,” by Bill O’Neill; (ISSN 0147-0641) is and “Who Is Driving the Bus?” by Diana S. Urban published 10 times a year by the National Conference of State Legislatures. TOOLBOX PAGE 26 ©2017, All rights Albo’s Rules reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part Former Virginia Delegate Dave Albo distills almost a quarter without permission is ©2018 BRUCE HOLDEMAN century of legislative life into 11 rules you can use to make your prohibited. Requests for permission to The Tipping Point Page 20 state the best place in America! reprint may be emailed BY JACKSON BRAINERD to Julie Lays at: julie. [email protected]. Millions work for less than the minimum wage, but tips make up STATESTATS PAGE 29 Opinions expressed the difference for many. Rural America Still Seeking Recovery in this magazine do not necessarily Economically, small-town America remains reflect NCSL policy. State Legislatures is SL ONLINE miles behind urban areas. indexed in the PAIS Find more information and links to Bulletin and Expanded Academic Index. resources on topics covered in these YES, NO, MAYBE SO PAGE 30 Annual subscription pages at SL Online. This month’s ethics question: When should rates: U.S.—$49; foreign—$55; a legislator use a blind trust? teachers—$25 (promo Go to ncsl.org/magazine code SLMTEA). Single copy: $6.50. State Legislatures magazine is printed THE FINAL WORD PAGE 31 Periodically, NCSL rents mailing labels to on recycled paper. Meet Illinois Senate President other organizations. If John Cullerton you prefer your name not be included please “I look upon my caucus as a family. I’m sort send a written request. of like the oldest sibling.” Postmaster: Send address changes to: State Legislatures magazine, 7700 East STATE LEGISLATURES FEBRUARY 2018 First Place, Denver, CO 3 80230. CONNECTIONS NCSL Capitol Forum NCSL’s annual Capitol Forum provides the EXPERTISE opportunity for legislators, staff and others interested in “More states are public policy to learn from using some form experts and each other. of performance- This year’s Forum, held based budgeting, in Coronado, California, or results-based in December, attracted budgeting.” Erica more than 600 attendees. MacKellar on how some states In addition to exploring have opted out of zero-based tax reform, cybersecurity, budgeting after finding it requires immigration and other too many resources, on NPR. topics, attendees developed John Feland (above), CEO of Argus Insights, the agenda that guides told attendees that 90 percent of the “This is the first NCSL’s advocacy work world’s data were created in the last two serious table-setting on Capitol Hill. Visit ncsl. years, during a plenary breakfast on “The election for 2021 org to find resources from Next 10 Years: What You Need to Know.” redistricting.” the Forum and learn more Tim Storey on the about the organization’s Utah Senator Howard Stephenson and Arkansas Senator Joyce Elliott (above importance of advocacy efforts on behalf right) discussed the integral role of science, technology, engineering and the 2018 midterm elections to of states. math during a session on “Aerospace & Education: The New Economy.” redistricting, in The Hill. The Young and the Professional “What exactly will the cost be, and will Did you know NCSL has a Young and New Professionals program? The this raise premiums YNP group supports newly elected and young legislators and staff by generally?” Richard connecting them with peers from across the nation. The program also offers Cauchi on what professional development programs on a variety of skills, including leadership, states want to know communication, navigating the legislature, managing your workload and more. before requiring insurers to cover Email [email protected] to join and receive the group’s newsletter. the Bridge, an electrical opioid withdrawal device, in Forbes. Hawaii Senator Stanley Chang networks with a colleague during NCSL’s Legislative Summit in Boston. New Reports IDEAS Each year, NCSL’s research experts publish numerous reports on a host of public policy topics. They provide the latest trends, research, best practices and examples for state legislators, legislative staff and others working to improve public policy. Here are some of our most recent titles: • 12 Principles of Effective Juvenile Justice Policy • The State of Occupational Licensing: Research, State Policies and Trends • State Policy and Research in Early Education • Here Comes the Sun: A State Policy Handbook for Distributed Solar Energy • P3 Infrastructure Delivery: Principles for State Legislatures • State Tax Actions • Closure for the Seventh Generation: Stewardship of the U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Complex and Legacy Waste Sites, 2017 Edition • The Costs and Consequences of Disparities in Behavioral Health Care • State Strategies for Preventing Child and Adolescent Injuries and Violence • Prescribing Policies: States Confront Opioid Epidemic • Improving Systems of Care for Children with Special Needs • Improving Access to Care in Rural and Underserved Communities FEBRUARY 2018 4 STATE LEGISLATURES Message From the Executive Director William T. Pound Welcome to all who serve in our and to share ideas that can help you craft improve your skills, solutions you can state legislatures. You are all members solutions that work. adapt to your state’s needs, insight that of NCSL. Given the uncertainty out of If you are not involved with NCSL, challenges your assumptions, facts to bol- Washington, Americans are looking more or are unfamiliar with the organization, ster your positions and, we hope, a phrase and more to the states to solve problems I invite you to participate. Your engage- or two to make you chuckle. and NCSL is here to help. We provide ment helps ensure that NCSL achieves its Remember, through NCSL, you are thorough, unbiased and comprehensive mission to strengthen state legislatures by part of the community of all legislators— information to help you navigate com- providing support, ideas, connections and Republicans and Democrats—and staff plex policy issues. Contact NCSL issue a strong voice on Capitol Hill. across the country. We are committed to specialists when you need information, We hope each issue of this magazine your success. Turn to us often. attend one of our meetings to network helps you in your challenging job. Behind with colleagues or invite us to your state. the award-winning cover art you’ll dis- We’re happy to testify before committees cover award-winning stories on ways to Welcome to These Newly Elected or Appointed State Legislators Cheryl Acton Charles Clements N.D. Holcomb Carol Murphy Shanique Speight Bilal Ali Robert Clements Rolanda Hollis Anne Neu Charlie St. Clair Teri Anulewicz Casey Conley Eileen Horn Bee Nguyen Joseph Stagni John Armato John Connor Chris Hurst Terry Norris John Stefanski Gail Armstrong Erika Connors Allison Ikley-Freeman Nathaniel Oaks Clark Stith Hala Ayala Kelly Convirs-Fowler Morgan Irwin Robert Olszewski Brian Sullivan Stephen Baldwin Don Coram Jon Jacobsen Chuck Payne Art Swann Dan Barrett Kristin Corrado D. Rolland Jennings Mark Peake Annette Taddeo John Barrett Sandy Crawford Jay Jones Christine Pellegrino Alfred Taylor Steve Bartels Raymond Crews Jen Jordan Marvin Pendarvis Cheikh Taylor Douglas Barthel Joseph Cryan