CS G i n 202 3 As a national organization with a regional focus, The Council of State Governments is comprised of many moving parts, with expansive work addressing policy areas and initiatives that span all 50 states, U.S. territories and international partnerships with Canadian provinces. Members from East to West participate in this growing community by exchanging information and ideas at a number of organized national and regional meetings. Take a look at some of this year's more notable happenings related these convenings across CSG.
DOL Continues Funding of CSG-led CAPE-Youth to Support Disabled Youth Employment Initiatives The U.S. Department of Labor announced the $7.5 million, five-year continuation of the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) in September. This policy center was established by the Office of Disability Employment Policy in 2019 to enhance national, state and local workforce systems focusing on improved outcomes for youth with disabilities, especially those from underserved communities. CSG oversees the development and management of CAPE-Youth.
Teacher Compact is Activated with Adoption by 10th State
ISSUE 4 2023 | CSG CAPITOL IDEAS
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 by the CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts in November 2022 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.
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LENS Program Commenced as Nonpartisan Staff Adapt to Changing Environments Dramatic shifts in workforce structure and operations during the pandemic resulted in nonpartisan staff having to navigate a changing legislative environment with more pronounced challenges around recruitment and retention. To promote dialogue and leadership development among fundamental state government institutions, CSG West convened the first-ever cohort of the Leadership Excellence for Nonpartisan Staff (LENS) program this fall, featuring 30 staff members from around the Western region. The program curriculum included 10 online classes and was designed to equip nonpartisan staff with critical leadership skills to advance in their careers, empower participants to strengthen and protect legislative institutions, and develop interstate networks to support the sharing of resources and best practices.
Colorado River Forum Advanced Dialogue Around the West’s Vital Water Resources With current water agreements set to expire in 2026, dialogue and collaboration among Colorado River Basin states is critical for the sustainability of the region. Since 2021, the CSG West Colorado River Forum has provided state legislators in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming the opportunity to review and discuss the most consequential issues facing the Colorado River Basin. This year’s forum took place Sept. 12-15 in Pinedale, Wyoming, where members and water experts examined topics in Colorado River system hydrology, flood irrigation, new federal investments in the region, industrial water use, approaches to conservation, and considerations for the basin’s future governance.
CSG Associates Organize Recovery Efforts Following Hawaii Wildfires The devastating early August wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, were fueled by the arrival of Hurricane Dora, a category four storm. On Aug. 8, the fire’s blazes spread, making parts of the island nearly unrecognizable. Many CSG Associate members — including Amazon, AT&T, CUNA, Honda and Teladoc Health — took action to help those that were displaced and impacted by the natural disaster. Aid in the form of monetary donations, supplies, health care and network services have all been implemented to support Hawaii.
Bob Budd, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, discusses ecological factors influencing the Upper Green River Basin near Big Piney, Wyoming, during the Colorado River Forum in September. Photo credit: Jonathan Lennartz
