WHAT'S AT CSG HAPPENING CSG Midwest

CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Applications Due Aug. 1

This December, 20 outstanding leaders will join the CSG 20 Under 40 community at the CSG National Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. These up-and-coming leaders are public servants passionate about advancing the common good and providing exceptional leadership to their state and community. Leaders can either apply or be nominated through the CSG website. Applications or nominations are due by 5 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on Aug. 1. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Associates in Action: Amazon, Gilead, NASPO

CSG Associates have had an active spring. The National Association of State Procurement Officials launched a reimbursement program for public procurement professionals in March as part of its celebration of National Procurement Month. Amazon recently offered millions in engineering scholarships and Gilead Sciences, Inc., a research-based biopharmaceutical company, became the top funder for HIV-related philanthropy. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Teacher Compact is Activated with Adoption by 10th State

The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact became active in June with Oregon’s enactment of legislation to join the compact. Model compact legislation released to the states in November required a minimum of 10 states to join the compact prior to its activation. Earlier this year, the compact was adopted by Colorado, Utah, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida, Alabama, Nebraska and Nevada. Next steps for member states include the nomination of commissioners, who will then convene to draft compact rules and bylaws at their first official meeting. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Task Force Convenes to Learn, Improve Mental Health Policy

Policymakers and industry professionals gathered in Chicago April 29-30 to discuss the future of mental health policy with the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). The National Task Force on Workforce Mental Health Policy reviewed presentations and expert panels before joining breakout sessions highlighting workforce mental health policy. Topics included behavioral health coverage, individual placement and support programs, and workplace care and support. CLICK TO LEARN MORE .

2023 Birkholz Fellows Class Comprised of 14 Great Lakes Legislators

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus named 14 state and provincial legislators to its 2023 Birkholz Fellows class. CSG Midwest provides staff support to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, which is a binational, nonpartisan group of legislators. The Birkholz Institute is among the caucus’ ongoing initiatives. The newly named Birkholz Fellows convened in Detroit for a two-day policy workshop on April 21-22. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

State Policy for Transportation Funding Changes with Rise in Electric Vehicle Use

As electric vehicle use increases, states face reduced transportation funding, like revenue from the gas tax, and must find a way to pay for roads and other costs. To combat this, states are raising prices for electric vehicle registration, increased taxes on vehicle charging stations and instating road-user charges. All 11 CSG Midwest members charge higher registration fees for electric vehicles and Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota are examining implanting a road-user charge. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Midwest Approaches Opioid Prevention Through Harm Reduction Policy

Overdose deaths have more than doubled in the last decade, spurred by the increased use of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Many Midwest state legislatures approached the issue through “harm reduction,” which changes state laws, as well as through investments in new programs that prevent overdoses by reaching people who use drugs, or increasing criminal penalties for those who manufacture or distribute fentanyl. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Ohio Bill Offers Incentive for Rural Attorneys

Intended to inspire public service attorneys, Ohio HB 150 (2022) established the Rural Practice Incentive Program, which authorizes the payment of up to $50,000 of an attorney’s student loans if the individual agrees to be a public service attorney in an underserved community. South Dakota has had a similar program since 2013 and, in 2022, the Kansas Supreme Court formed the Rural Justice Initiative Committee to better serve rural communities. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.