Site Map - Legislation

09/30/2010 - A bill (S. 1749) that would prohibit the use of cell phones by all prisoners and would designate cell phones as contraband in prisons has been approved by the House of Representatives. A different version of the bill was previously passed by the Senate; the bill must now go into conference committee to reconcile the differences. Another bill (S. 251) currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security would allow corrections officials to petition the government to use wireless jamming devices in prisons.

09/30/2010 - The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing to discuss port security initiatives and explore whether the SAFE Port Act of 2006 should be reauthorized in its previous form or should be altered to address additional security issues.

08/31/2010 - A new Alabama law (formerly H.B. 102) will increase the penalties for trade-secret theft. Under the new law, it will be a felony for a person to intentionally pay or recruit a third party to steal or attempt to steal a trade secret from his or her employer.

08/31/2010 - A New York bill (A.B. 2952) would prohibit police or peace officers from using excessive force either defensively or in making an arrest or preventing an escape. The bill would also make it a misdemeanor for a police officer to intend to kill rather than stop a person. The introduction of the bill was prompted by the case of Sean Bell, a 23-year-old man who was shot and killed by police on his wedding day after hitting an unmarked police car with his van.

08/31/2010 - A prosecutor dismisses a felony charge against a security guard, and an employee may not sue her company for failure to investigate her discrimination claim.

08/18/2010 - Come November 4, Massachusetts will no longer allow employers to ask applicants to check the box that asks whether they have a criminal record when filling out a job application.

07/28/2010 - A new Alabama law (formerly H.B. 37) will allow the state superintendent of education to revoke the teaching certificate of any teacher convicted of felony sex offenses or sexual abuse of a child. Under the law, if such a conviction is overturned, the certificate will be reinstated and the local board of education may choose to return the teacher to his or her previous position. Even if the teacher is not rehired, he or she will receive back pay and benefits.

07/28/2010 - A bill (S. 1684) that would require that local law enforcement collect information on convicted arsonists and bombers similar to that currently collected on sex offenders has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

07/28/2010 - Victimized ESPN reporter Erin Andrews this week urged Congress to pass antistalking legislation that would toughen sentencing and allow law enforcement to pursue stalking undertaken via cell phone or the Internet.

07/28/2010 - The financial reform bill signed last week by President Obama not only strengthens whistleblower protections but provides a financial incentive to blow the whistle against fraud on Wall Street.

07/27/2010 - An update on this term's relevant cases from the U.S. Supreme Court, including those on privacy, fraud, terrorism, gun control, and the constitutionality of Sarbanes-Oxley.

07/22/2010 - The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing yesterday to discuss current port security initiatives and explore whether the SAFE Port Act of 2006 should be reauthorized in its previous form or should be altered to address additional security issues.

06/30/2010 - A new Utah law (formerly H.B. 206) would restrict how employers could request personal information from prospective employees. Under the law, employers may not request an applicant’s Social Security number, date of birth, or driver’s license number until after the applicant has been offered a job. The information may also be requested after the applicant has agreed to a criminal background check, credit check, or driving record check.