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August 03, 2024

Links to selected items concerning government operations posted on the Internet during the week ending August 2, 2024

5 Steps for Tapping into Grant Opportunities  Today's governments face a crisis of confidence and capacity. To regain public trust and effectively tackle critical issues, they must embrace the "Three C's": capacity, competence, and collaboration. This whitepaper provides a strategic framework with five steps for local governments to enhance their grant application and management processes. DOWNLOAD

Adaptive AI: Helping Reshape Public Service  Discover how New York & Dearborn, MI are using Google AI to transform citizen services, enhance accessibility, and streamline operations. SEE THE IMPACT

After Computer Outage, Scottsdale Went ‘Old School’  CrowdStrike’s botched cybersecurity update affected airlines and other entities all over the world. Here’s how police and fire departments coped in the Arizona city. READ MORE

Alabama Considers Blockchain, Crypto Use and Regulation  The Alabama Blockchain Study Commission, created by legislative resolution in May, met for the first time Tuesday. State lawmakers, and public- and private-sector representatives chose its leaders. READ MORE

Alabama Jails More People Per Capita Than Any Country, Except One  There are 898 inmates per 100,000 Alabama residents, a higher rate than any nation other than El Salvador. Five other southern states incarcerate more people, however, and Alabama is sending less people to prison than it was 10 years ago. READ MORE

Apple to Adopt Biden Administration’s Voluntary AI Safeguards  The technology company joins Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI and others in agreeing to voluntary measures around artificial intelligence. These will include testing AI systems for security flaws and risks. READ MORE  

Are Mobile Homes Next in Line for Energy-Efficient Protections?  Michigan’s Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act will take effect in October and will prevent HOAs from blocking the installation of a wide range of energy-efficient measures at their homes. Residents of mobile home communities might be next. READ MORE

Are We Only 20 Years from the Singularity?  When futurist Ray Kurzweil popularized the idea that AI would one day surpass human intelligence, he predicted its occurrence in 2045. With two decades to go, now is the time to get ahead on regulating it. READ MORE

Broadband Report Rates Counties on Transparency, Equity  The report, from the Communications Workers of America, critiques federally funded broadband work by 14 counties in the South, Northeast and Midwest on metrics including availability of project information. READ MORE

California Police Group Says Rural Depts. Need More Officers  The state’s largest law enforcement organization found that police staffing in the state is at a 30-year low and is especially bad in rural counties. READ MORE

Can AI Screening Tools Protect Campaigns Against Extremists?  Social media screening company Ferretly has launched a tool to help officials weed out extremists who apply for such election-season jobs as canvassers and poll watchers, the latest example of election-securing tech. READ MORE

Can AI Screening Tools Protect Campaigns Against Extremists?  Social media screening company Ferretly has launched a tool to help officials weed out extremists who apply for such election-season jobs as canvassers and poll watchers, the latest example of election-securing tech. READ MORE

Cause and Impact of Bayou Lafourche Oil Spill Still Unclear  The large oil spill was first detected on Saturday and was traced back to a leaking fuel tank at the Crescent Midstream pumping station. So far, 17 aquatic salamanders, two turtles and one crawfish have been found dead as a result. READ MORE

Checklist: Is Your Website Your Single Source of Truth?  Local government websites should be resident engagement tools, not digital brochures or org charts. We use intuitive navigation, smart search, and more for optimal self-service. GET MY CHECKLIST

Cloud Procurement: Myths and Opportunities  With the expiration of emergency procurement provisions, many agencies have returned to traditional procedures after a period of unprecedented flexibility and rapid delivery of cloud-based services. But government IT leaders may have more latitude to take advantage of cloud-based solutions than they realize. This thought leadership paper debunks common misconceptions about cloud procurement and outlines strategies for simplifying procurement processes. DOWNLOAD

Connecticut’s Digital Equity Work Supports Regional Efforts  Digital Equity Program Manager Lauren Thompson on building a people-centered program, maximizing federal funding and making sure residents have the tools they need to get online in ConnecticutREAD MORE

Cross Channel Citizen Care: Overcoming Contact Center Challenges  Today, the public has numerous avenues to contact government agencies, including mail, email, social media, and phone. However, the expansion of options doesn't always equate to better service. In this e-book, we'll address three significant challenges facing government call centers as they pivot to meet the changing expectations in this digital age--and how cloud-based call centers empower agencies to rise to the challenge. DOWNLOAD

DDoS Attack, Security to Blame for Latest Microsoft Outage  Various Microsoft 365 and Azure services went down for about eight hours Tuesday. This time, a distributed denial-of-service attack, and a mishap with the company’s cyber defenses, were behind the outage. READ MORE

DeKalb County, Ga., CIO Retiring, Will Join Center for Digital Government  John Matelski, the longtime CIO and director of innovation and technology at DeKalb County, Ga., is stepping down from the public sector. He will join the Center for Digital Government at e.Republic next week. READ MORE

Digital Transformation Success Stories  Discover why CivicPlus® is trusted by local governments nationwide. Download our fact sheet to see what our #CPfamily says about partnering with us for their website redesign projects. DOWNLOAD NOW

Discover How Slack Enhances Emergency Response and Operations  Learn how Slack can enhance emergency response communication for agencies and organizations dealing with complex incidents. Explore the capabilities of Slack for emergency response! LEARN HOW

Dreamforce registration is now open!  Register today for the largest and most trusted AI event in the world. Experience 1,500+ sessions, visionary keynotes, product announcements, hands-on learning, and more. REGISTER NOW

Enhancing Government Services with Payment Innovations  Constituents' expectations are evolving rapidly, making it challenging for billers to keep up. A positive customer experience reduces call volumes, boosts satisfaction, and encourages actions like paperless billing and AutoPay. DOWNLOAD

Fast, Accurate Identity Verification Helps California Homeowners  The state used AI/ML-driven identity verification software to fight fraud and deliver nearly $1 billion in post-COVID-19 mortgage relief. READ MORE

Fed’s AI Wildfire Detection Program Tested in Boulder, Colo.  The Next Generation Fire System, a new AI program from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, can process a fire hose of satellite data to spot fires smaller than a football field. Authorities tested it last month. READ MORE

Feds Approve North Carolina’s Medical Debt Forgiveness Plan  Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan to leverage Medicaid funds and help relieve up to $4 billion in debt for people across the state won approval on Friday. For the order to take effect, hospitals need to sign on. READ MORE

Fight Looms as Vote Nears Over Kids’ Online Safety Bills  U.S. Senators prepared to vote Tuesday on a package of bills designed to safeguard children online. Opponents geared up to lobby against them in the House. READ MORE

Florida Has the Most Heat-Related Illnesses in the U.S.  Between 2018 and 2022, the Sunshine State saw more than 26,000 emergency room visits and 5,000 hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses. In Miami, there were 46 days of heat index temperatures above 100 last summer. READ MORE

For Locals, GIS Brings Election Day Into Sharper Focus  Local governments have turned to GIS tech to enhance their election process, for staff and voters alike. This year, several jurisdictions will debut new features to further improve transparency and make voting easier. READ MORE

Google Public Sector unveils AI thought leadership hub: Helping organizations innovate  Google launches new thought leadership hub detailing AI tools designed to address public sector challenges, from healthcare to sustainability. Explore Real-world AI in Action For the Public Sector

Google's AI hub: How AI is empowering the public sector  Discover how adaptive, secure, and responsible AI is helping modernize government services. Explore case studies, white papers, and expert insights. Discover How AI is Transforming Citizen Services

How an Alabama Town Staved Off School Resegregation  In the 1970s, Black students organized protests and a boycott that cost local white businesses money. Today, many families who could afford private school still choose Thomasville’s public schools. READ MORE

How Much Do Cities Know About Their Residents?  Long Beach, Calif., has launched a digital rights platform that consists of data privacy notices for city-deployed technologies. Residents can find out what personal data is taken, how long it’s stored and whether it's shared or encrypted. READ MORE

How the U.S. Military Approaches Natural Disaster Preparedness  In the face of natural disasters, preparation is key. This white paper explores how the U.S. military utilizes technology solutions such as drones, portable cell sites, and satellite connectivity to enhance disaster preparedness. The paper also explores how collaborative disaster response training improves coordination, communication, and readiness, ensuring optimal performance when disaster strikes. DOWNLOAD

How to Navigate IT Challenges in Government  The public sector faces some unique challenges when it comes to IT management. Here’s what government IT organizations are doing to tackle problems and deliver a great user experience. READ MORE

Hundreds at N.C. DMVs Stalled in Friday’s CrowdStrike Outage  The worldwide Microsoft computer outage meant 1,894 customers at the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles on Friday could not be served. About 1,300 people with appointments were able to come back later. READ MORE

Illinois Should Be an Economic Powerhouse. Why Isn’t It?  It’s a combination of factors ranging from corruption to unbalanced taxation to unfunded liabilities to lack of an entrepreneurial tradition. But the state also has many strengths it could build on. READ MORE

Implementing AI in Local Government? Here's What to Watch  The National Association of Counties’ AI Exploratory Committee has released a report for local governments on integrating artificial intelligence. It offers use cases, and examines risks and opportunities. READ MORE

Indiana Classrooms Will See Broad Policy Changes This Year  Legislators enacted more than a dozen new laws related to education, including changes to testing curriculum and classroom behavior. READ MORE

Inside Minnesota’s Dollar-Driven Cyber Defense Tool Minnesota’s new cybersecurity tool translates cyber risk into dollars and cents, empowering agencies to make data-driven decisions that protect critical assets and optimize security spending. READ MORE

Jersey Shore Town Worries Parking App Is Driving Business Away  Some locals of Stone Harbor, a wealthy Jersey Shore community in Cape May County, N.J., worry that the town’s parking app, ParkMobile, doesn’t always work and, as a result, is discouraging travelers from stopping. READ MORE

L.A. County Bot Aims to Catch Phishing Before It Starts  Officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services have deployed a new tool with robotic process automation that scans suspicious emails. It has eliminated a backlog of nearly 3,000 messages. READ MORE

Like Election Systems, Voter Registration Must Be Cyber Secure  Panelists in a recent webinar discussed how bad actors might want to tamper with voter registration databases — and how election offices around the country have been working to stay resilient against threats. READ MORE

Long Fiscal COVID: The Lingering Governmental Disease  Federal aid helped states and localities cope with the biggest costs of the pandemic. But good things don’t last forever, and this one didn’t. READ MORE

Meet the Man in Charge of Reopening Baltimore's Port  Jonathan Daniels, an experienced crisis manager, is getting Baltimore’s port back in business. READ MORE

Meta to Pay Texas $1.4B for Using Facial Recognition Without Users’ Consent  Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Facebook parent company in 2022, claiming it had used personal biometric data without permission. READ MORE

N.J. Launches Online Information Hub for Disability Services  The state’s new Disability Information Hub offers information about state programs, resources and assistance for people with disabilities. Their input helped guide its development and design. READ MORE

NYC’s Data-Driven Future: 46 Algorithms and Counting  New York City, which tracks the number of algorithms its departments use, has seen adoption of those tools skyrocket in recent years. Officials see them as a way to modernize government and enhance efficiency. READ MORE

Ohio Throws Hundreds of Millions to Tech Giants’ Data Centers  Data centers are popping up across the state as they get hundreds of millions in state and local tax breaks each year. But some experts worry that the facilities may soon overburden the available power supply. READ MORE

Ohioans Can Now Add Drivers’ Licenses to Apple Wallet  Gov. Mike DeWine announced that businesses can now download the Ohio Mobile ID Check app, which enables them to accept ID cards via iPhones. However, physical cards are still needed for driving and interactions with police. READ MORE

One Year Later: Brandon Johnson’s Campaign Is Still Funded by Unions  Chicago mayor has raised $2.6 million since his election in April 2023. Nearly half of those funds come from unions. Another large check was from Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk. READ MORE

Philadelphia Demands City Workers Return to the Office. Can They Get There?  Philadelphia’s mayor has ordered city workers back to the office. Unfortunately for them, the state is not providing the amount of funding that local transit needs. READ MORE

Protect Digital Identities from Fraud  Discover strategies to enhance digital identity security and reduce fraud risks. READ THE WHITE PAPER

Recovering from CrowdStrike, Prepping for the Next Incident  A bad update can bring down entire operations. Here’s how governments are returning to business as usual after the landmark CrowdStrike outage — and how to prepare for the next such incident. READ MORE

Releasing Prisoners from Long Sentences Draws New Interest  “Second look” laws allow courts or parole boards to re-evaluate a person’s long prison sentence. The bills often focus on older populations or those whose crimes might have mitigating factors. READ MORE

Sarah Tuneberg Named Colorado Digital Service Director  Tuneberg, a private- and public-sector technologist, will lead the division of the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology. Her work at the state includes exponentially scaling COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. READ MORE

Secretary of State Finds Minn. Election Misinformation Source  Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has tracked down the source of recent presidential ballot deadline misinformation. It originated from Grok, the AI chatbot available to premium users of social media platform X. READ MORE

Sensors Call 911, Too — and Now RapidSOS Has a Tool for That  As much of communication is handed over to connected devices, the newest product from RapidSOS offers processing for sensor-initiated 911 calls. The company is also focused on firefighting tech. READ MORE

States Can't Rely on Workforce Cuts to Balance Their Budgets  In the typical state, personnel costs represent 40 percent less of the overall budget than was true 30 years ago. READ MORE

States’ Opportunity to Take on a Bigger Regulatory Role  The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Chevron case empowers the levels of government most trusted by Americans to have more impact on issues that directly impact their economies and communities. READ MORE 

Strengthen Your Digital Identity Today  Learn effective methods to safeguard digital identities and prevent online fraud. ACCESS THE FULL WHITE PAPER

The Just Transition to Carbon-Free Buildings That We Need  The money flowing out of Washington can go a long way toward decarbonizing the buildings we live and work in. But it’s crucial to design the implementation of these projects to benefit everyone. READ MORE

The Mess States Are Making of AI Regulation  Lawmakers are proposing hundreds of measures to micromanage and control this emergent technology. A complicated regulatory framework could devastate America’s technology businesses and global competitiveness. READ MORE

Washington Evaluated 25 Percent Fewer Kids for Special Ed During Pandemic  Approximately 8,500 fewer students were evaluated for a disability than during an earlier two-year period. That means thousands of students may not be getting the accommodations they need. READ MORE

We’re Measuring Homelessness Services the Wrong Way  Nonprofit service providers publish plenty of metrics about their activities, but too often they don’t reflect actual success in reducing homelessness. Measuring impact would help them do more good. READ MORE

What Can We Learn from the Largest Global IT Incident Ever?  On July 19, 2024, a CrowdStrike software update unleashed mayhem on computer systems at airports, banks and more from Australia to Atlanta. What happened, and what lessons can we take away? READ MORE

What Governments Need to Build a Strong Workforce  Fearing a fishbowl political environment, too many public-sector organizations are reluctant to collect and use data on how they’re doing in hiring and retaining talent. But it's better to know than not to know. READ MORE

Will California’s Proposed AI Models Act Stifle Innovation?  Technology execs are critical of state Sen. Scott Wiener’s Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act. The San Francisco Democrat said Thursday it is narrower than the European Union AI law. READ MORE

With Fed’s Millions, OK Tech Hub to Explore Autonomous Systems  Tulsa Innovation Labs has received a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to develop an innovation hub that will look at ramping up advanced manufacturing for autonomous systems, from agriculture to transportation. READ MORE


CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the decisions summarized here. Accordingly, these summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.
THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SUCH MATERIAL, DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
New York Public Personnel Law. Email: publications@nycap.rr.com