regional roundup | EAST
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The East GPS & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WEDDING PLANNING 101
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a bill in June to use $140,000 in federal stimulus money for a pilot program tracking high-risk domestic violence offenders with GPS, according to the Hartford Courant. The new law came from recommendations of the bipartisan Task Force on Domestic Violence created by Connecticut House Speaker Christopher Donovan, the newspaper reports.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is featuring recommended steps for those planning weddings on how to avoid potential mishaps with wedding service providers on her blog. Her office knows of customer service complaints that happened on a wedding day, including the reception hall going out of business, the caterer not having enough food, the limo driver never showing up and the photographer becoming unreachable after being paid, according to the blog.
TAX AMNESTY With a ticker sign that said, “Time Left to Pay Up,” Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell helped make a final push in June to convince delinquent taxpayers to pay taxes owed to the state, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The program collected $101 million by early June and lured taxpayers by waiving all the penalties and half of the interest on back taxes if they paid up.
TOPIX.COM
DRUG REBATES Maine joins 16 other states in a joint motion in two whistleblower lawsuits against the drug manufacturer Wyeth, saying it knowingly failed to report certain discounted prices of its drugs that were required by Medicaid program laws, according to a press release. The states say the drug company avoided paying hundreds of millions in rebates to state Medicaid programs for two drugs.
ANNUAL MEETING The Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference will hold its 50th annual meeting Aug. 15–18 in Portland, Maine. Visit www.csgeast.org for more information.
CAPITOL IDEAS
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JULY/AUGUST 2010
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New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney joins 22 other state attorneys general to urge Topix.com, an Internet message board, to improve consumer protections and eliminate its $19.99 fee for what it calls a “priority review” of abusive or inappropriate posts, according to a press release. The initial investigation began in Kentucky and Connecticut.
© Images.com/Corbis (Warren Gebert)
learn more about these and other in the Eastern Region, visit: Todevelopments capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgeast.org.
Delaware Proposes New Laws after Earl Bradley Case Delaware is moving to beef up patient protection after a case where Dr. Earl Bradley, a pediatrician, was arrested and indicted on a combined total of more than 500 counts of sexually abusing and exploiting more than 100 of his young patients. Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden’s office, Gov. Jack Markell and a bipartisan coalition of legislators filed bills in June to strengthen patient protections and improve oversight of the medical profession in response to the Bradley case, according to a press release. The bills reflect recommendations made by separate reviews the attorney general and governor ordered, according to the press release. Both reviews found multiple instances where the system had failed and made it clear that the laws and procedures in this area were broken and needed reform. “These bills have broad bipartisan support. They should make a real difference to protect patients, and particularly children, going forward,” Markell said. The package includes seven bills that will: » Increase scrutiny Delaware physi-
cians receive from the Board of Medical Practice when renewing their medical licenses. » Boost penalties for health care professionals who fail to live up to their legal responsibilities to report suspicious behavior by doctors that could harm patients. » Require additional child abuse prevention training for medical professionals, law enforcement officers and prosecutors, as well as additional instruction on legal obligations to report suspicions of abuse. » Require a physician or physician’s assistant treating a person age 15 or younger to have another adult in the room when that child is disrobed, partially disrobed or undergoing certain physical examinations. » Toughen penalties for individuals who abuse a child and are in a position of trust or authority over the victim. » Enhance the Board of Medical Practice’s authority to crack down on unprofessional conduct. » Double the maximum fine to $10,000 for individuals with knowledge of suspected child abuse who do not alert authorities.
