INFORMATION
Legal Report: Legislation
08/21/2007 - A bill (H.R. 660) that would increase courthouse security has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. It will now proceed to the full committee for a vote. The bill was introduced by Sen. John Conyers (D-MI), who chairs the Judiciary Committee.
Legal Report: Legislation
08/21/2007 - In response to the Virginia Tech shootings, the House of Representatives has approved a bill (H.R. 2640) introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) that would require all states to submit information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Legal Report: Legal Issues
08/21/2007 - The California Court of Appeal has ruled that an employee who was fired after making a workplace violence complaint against a coworker may sue his employer for a violation of public policy. The court ruled that the employer’ s actions violated public policy when it failed to take steps to address credible workplace violence threats. (Franklin v. The Monadnock Company, California Court of Appeal, No. B191267, 2007)
Legal Report: Legal Issues
08/16/2007 - Rulings on negligence stemming from an employee's injury during a bank robbery and malicious prosecution, plus legislation covering data mining and RFID.
Legal Report: Legal Issues
08/14/2007 - Judicial decisions on false imprisonment and discrimination, and legislation on healthcare, genetic discrimination, rail, healthcare, and courthouse security.
Legal Report: Legal Issues
08/14/2007 - This wrap-up of state legislative activity looks at trends around the country on background checks, homeland security, identity theft, and other issues.
Legal Report: Academic \ Educational Programs
08/13/2007 - A new law (formerly S.B. 61) requires that all public and private schools develop antibullying programs and take steps to eliminate bullying at schools and during all school functions regardless of location.
Legal Report: Contingency Planning \ Disaster Management
08/13/2007 - Two bills (S. 430 and H.R. 718) introduced by Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) would require the military to identify gaps between federal and state capabilities to respond to emergencies that have been created by the deployment of National Guard troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would also make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Legal Report: Hiring \ Employment Issues
08/13/2007 - The bill (H.R. 493) would prohibit discrimination based on genetic information has been approved by the House of Representatives. The Senate has agreed to consider the measure and has also released a report on the proposed legislation.
Legal Report: Legal Issues
08/13/2007 - The bill (S. 378) would increase courthouse security has been approved by the Senate. The House of Representatives has not announced whether it will take action on the bill, which would also require that the U.S. Marshals Service offer ongoing security advice to the judiciary.
Legal Report: Privacy
08/13/2007 - The Senate Judiciary Committee recently held a hearing to examine the privacy and civil liberties concerns surrounding the driver's license requirements mandated under the REAL ID Act. Witnesses also evaluated two new bills - S. 717 and H.R. 1117 - that would repeal REAL ID and require a new set of standards for driver's licenses. You can read the full testimony here.
Legal Report: Investigations
08/13/2007 - In a recent decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals found a company guilty of malicious prosecution after it investigated an employee for wrongdoing, fired him, and then reported his alleged activities to the police despite the fact that the employee's innocence could have easily been ascertained, said the court.
Legal Report: Privacy
08/13/2007 - Washington Governor Christine Gergoire has signed a bill (S.B. 5087) into law that blocks the implementation of a federal driver's license program, known as REAL ID. Under the new state law, Washington would implement REAL ID if it is altered to include full funding and privacy protection for state residents. Right now, the law is an unfunded mandate, and critics say that privacy issues have not been addressed.
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