Selected links to items concerning government operations posted on the Internet during the week ending July 19, 2024

AI and The Law  A report posted on Sui Generis, a New York Law Blog" by Nicole Black, Esq., addressing using AI in and by law firms. Click the text following highlighted in blue to access the report:  New Report Highlights GenAI Adoption Trends in Law.

 

AI Gun Scan Company, ZeroEyes, Raises $53M  The company has raised more than $100 million in equity and debt from private investment firms, and it has hired more than 150 people, some of them veterans, half in the Philadelphia area. READ MORE

 

Are We More at Risk of Infectious Disease Now Than Ever?  From COVID to Lyme disease, there are numerous illnesses that residents across Connecticut and the nation are at risk of. But does that mean we are more at risk today than times in the past? 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

 

At First Meeting, R.I. AI Task Force Considers Advisers  Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced the group’s membership, and that he would host its inaugural gathering, on Friday. Members will assess the risks and opportunities in artificial intelligence. READ MORE

  

Atlanta AI Council Meets at Last, Looks to Create Committees  The new council, chaired by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, held its inaugural gathering at the end of June, six months after it was announced. The group may create committees to get more heavily involved in day-to-day operations. READ MORE

 

Atlanta Cyclists Warn of E-Bike Dangers on Shared Paths  Atlanta limits e-bike motors to 20 miles per hour on shared-use paths, but there have been several reports of bikes traveling at speeds up to 70 mph. READ MORE

 

Big Batteries Were Key to California Grid Surviving Recent Heat Wave  The state’s power grid maintained service throughout a nearly three-weeklong record-setting heat wave. Officials are crediting investments in clean energy, particularly in 10,000 megawatts of battery storage.  READ MORE

 

Boston to Roll Out Tap-to-Pay Transit Fare Payment Option  The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in partnership with Cubic Transportation Systems, will introduce new contactless tap-to-ride technology, where riders tap a credit card or digital wallet to pay transit fares. READ MORE

 

Can a Gov Tech Supplier Help Reduce Recidivism Rates?  That’s one of the main ideas driving a deal between Geographic Solutions and California prison authorities. The company’s software is helping give soon-to-be-released inmates a chance to apply for jobs. READ MORE

 

ChatGPT and Google Gemini Pass Ethical Hacking Exams  Researchers at the University of Missouri say the automation and speed of large language models could be useful in cyber defense, but they can’t yet replace human cybersecurity experts. READ MORE

 

Chicago Teaches Barber Students How to Reverse Overdoses  Rush University Medical Center is using its classes of barber and hair stylist students to help combat the opioid crisis by providing them training about substance use disorders and how to administer Narcan. READ MORE

 

Chinese Tech Firm Files to Launch 10K Low-Orbit Satellites  Plus, Waymo reports 50,000 weekly driverless taxi rides in three major cities, research finds investments in renewable energy are paying off and parrots, it turns out, like to FaceTime their friends. READ MORE

Clay County, Ind., Declares Local Disaster After Cyber Attack  The local government declared a “local disaster emergency” due to a “significant disruption in services as a result of a criminal ransomware attack.” This follows disruptions to the county courthouse and probation/community corrections. READ MORE

 

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 Connecticut. READ MORE

 

FBI Revamps Criminal Justice Data Security Policy  Revisions to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy affect all entities who have access to that data, including education departments, police, vendors and more. READ MORE

 

Feds Give Georgia’s Blue Bird $80M for EV School Buses  The bus maker will receive the money under the Domestic Auto Manufacturing Conversion Grants program plan, which aims to spur U.S. production of electric, hydrogen or hybrid vehicles. It will convert a factory to produce the buses. READ MORE

First-of-its-Kind Gender-Based Violence: Law, Policy, and Practice Course Gives Students Real-World Experience  Albany Law School continues to find innovative ways to advance its curriculum to prepare students for a career in law. A fitting example is the new Gender-Based Violence: Law, Policy, and Practice class. The two-credit course, first offered in the spring semester of 2024, focuses on the first-of-its-kind federal plan U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action, which was adopted in the spring of 2023. READ MORE 

Floodbase Aims to Bring More Real-Time Clarity to Flood Risk  The company, which already serves the federal government, has released a data-based product to other public agencies. The goal is to help officials with flood response, management and recovery operations. READ MORE

 

Florida Welcome Signs With DeSantis Motto Cost $60K  The state now has signs that welcome visitors to “The Free State of Florida” at 24 locations along highways and two welcome centers. The slogan has been used in Gov. Ron DeSantis’  ampaign since at least 2022.  READ MORE

 

Florida Will Pull Digital ID App from Stores, Redo It  In an email Wednesday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said it will revise the Florida Smart ID application, and asked users to delete it. The app has since been deactivated. READ MORE

 

Future-Proofing the Public Sector with Technology Modernization  As advancements in technology speed up, government agencies face a decision: maintain old legacy systems or invest in modern technology. The imperative for leaders is not just about keeping pace with technological advancements but about reducing risks by making smart choices that will stand the test of time. By all measures, migrating legacy IT system functions to the cloud is the smart choice. DOWNLOAD

 

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

 

Guarding Gold: Cybersecurity Challenges Ahead of the Paris Olympics  Preparations for the Paris Summer Olympics have been going on for years. And given the expected global audience and international participation, cybersecurity is at the center of the action. READ MORE

 

Harford County Approves AP African American Studies Curriculum  The Maryland county’s Board of Education unanimously approved the updated coursework this week following hours of public comments. The elective course will be offered next year to juniors and seniors at six schools. READ MORE

 

Heavy Rains, Floods Force Hundreds to Flee St. Louis Area  Heavy rains on Tuesday threatened failure of the 89-year-old Nashville, Mo., City Reservoir Dam, forcing about 200 people to evacuate their homes. More rain is expected across the region. READ MORE

 

How ‘Alternative Investments’ Are Dragging Down Pension Performance  The major public funds have almost doubled their investments in high-fee, nontraditional vehicles, and important new research shows how costly it’s been. It’s a wake-up call for greater scrutiny of fee structures and consultants’ assumptions. READ MORE

 

How Contact Centers Can Innovate Without Disruption  Contact centers are essential to creating a satisfying customer experience (CX) for government agencies and their constituents. In this Government Technology Q&A, Jerry Dotson, vice president of public sector, Avaya Government Solutions, explains how the right CX platform lets government organizations implement new contact center technologies easily and efficiently.  READ MORE

 

How Governments Are Using AI and GIS to Fast-Track Permits  State and municipal agencies and one of the nation’s most populous counties are integrating AI and GIS into their permitting systems, adding automation and enhancing transparency to improve service and accountability. READ MORE

 

Is Minnesota’s Governor Taking Fraud Claims Seriously?  Recent reports from the legislative auditor about stolen millions have sparked questions about Gov. Tim Walz’ administration and its oversight of public funds. READ MORE

Massachusetts City Doubles Number of Surveillance Cameras  Officials in Methuen, Mass., have started the process of installing 50 public police cameras in recent weeks as part of the citywide camera network that will cover all 23 square miles of the city. READ MORE

 

Minnesota Housing Agency Accused of Making Racial Segregation Worse  The Minneapolis-based Stairstep Foundation works with more than 100 Black churches and argued that the Minnesota Advisory Committee has not encouraged or allocated subsidized housing appropriately.  READ MORE

 

Nebraska Court Rules State Workers Must Return to the Office  Gov. Jim Pillen ordered state workers back in the office at the start of the year, but the employees union balked. A labor court said the union had "engaged in a pattern of willful, flagrant, aggravated, persistent and pervasive prohibited misconduct." READ MORE

 

New England Attorneys General Notify Cyber Attack Victims  Officials in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are contacting and offering resources to people whose personal and health information may have been compromised in the February Change Healthcare incident. READ MORE

 

New Jersey Braces for School Smartphone Ban Fighting Officials in Middletown, N.J., have proposed a policy banning smartphone use in classrooms, bathrooms, locker rooms and most spaces outside of high school free periods, as a statewide ban is discussed. READ MORE

 

Often Overlooked, Printers Require Protection Strategies  We rely on printing and document sharing so often it’s easy to overlook the security vulnerabilities inherent to them. However, both pose significant risks. DOWNLOAD

 

Political and Labor Leader in Philadelphia Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison  On Thursday, John Dougherty was sentenced to federal prison following convictions of bribery and embezzlement. Dougherty led the state’s most powerful labor union for nearly 30 years. READ MORE

 

Prepare for a New Dust Bowl  No rainmaker, aqueduct or prayer can save the Ogallala Aquifer from depletion. The battle over its decline pits good policy against powerful agricultural and political interests. READ MORE

 

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

 

Ransomware Attack Hits Florida Department of Health  This new cyber attack has disrupted the state’s ability to issue death and birth certificates, and the breach might be putting sensitive patient data at risk. READ MORE

 

Report: Police Must Evolve to Combat New Age of Cyber Threats  Public safety threats are increasingly blending physical violence, cyber attacks and online influence campaigns. The report calls for new law enforcement training, a national threat system and more. READ MORE

 

San Francisco Elevates Seasoned Exec to CIO  IT Leader  Interim CIO Michael Makstman, in place since Jan. 1, has been made permanent and will lead the city-county’s Department of Technology. Makstman has been with San Francisco more than six years and was previously its CISO. READ MORE

 

Seattle to Vote on Record $1.55 Billion Transportation Levy  The proposal would increase property taxes to fund new sidewalks, bike lanes, and other transportation infrastructure. It would replace a $930 million levy expiring this year. READ MORE

 

See the USA in Your Chevrolet, for About 11 Cents a Mile  Traveling across the West in an electric car turned out to have unexpected thrills, and occasional frustrations. Our reporter found that the chargers were out there — but connecting with them sometimes meant taking the long way around. READ MORE

 

Self-Service, Automation Driving Public-Sector IT Innovation  Learn how the convergence of self-service and automation in public-sector IT enhances efficiency for government agencies — streamlining access to services, freeing up resources and fostering innovation. LEARN MORE

 

Should Noncitizens Be Able to Be Cops and Firefighters?  This fall, Denver voters will decide whether people who are legal residents but not U.S. citizens should be able to work as city firefighters and police officers. If approved by a majority, the citizenship requirement will be removed.  READ MORE

 

Some Police Leave Big Cities to Avoid Scrutiny  Larger departments struggle to hire, despite big salaries and bonuses, while smaller agencies are seeing their incentives yield more hires. READ MORE

 

South Carolina’s Blueprint Reveals How It Will Leverage AI  The state’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy details how agencies will leverage the technology for predictive analysis, to improve resident services and drive workforce development. Ethics and security are part of the plan. READ MORE

 

State of Local Government Survey Results - 2024  A recent survey of over 500 local government leaders and if there’s one thing that the results tell us, it’s that the need to do more with less is greater than ever. Download this year’s annual survey to see what the biggest opportunities and obstacles facing the public sector are.  SEE THE RESULTS

 

States Tighten Funeral Home Rules After Decades of Lax Oversight  Lawmakers in Colorado, Illinois and Michigan are seeking to tighten regulations on the funeral home industry after numerous incidents prompted outrage from the public and grieving families. READ MORE

 

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

 

Strengthening Supervision for Safer Communities  Staff shortages and rising caseloads are contributing to an increase in the average time adults remain incarcerated. Supervision software can streamline pretrial, probation and parole processes and help officers manage cases more efficiently. This paper explains how modern supervision software can help improve outcomes and protect communities.  DOWNLOAD

 

The Contributions Older People Could Make to Government  When it comes to public-sector jobs and elective office, age discrimination is real. Governments would do well to tap into the experience and the particular type of intelligence that people of a certain age can bring to bear. READ MORE

 

The Emerging Strategy for Getting Drivers of the Biggest Gas Guzzlers Into EVs  The top 10 percent of drivers in the U.S. consume more than a third of the gasoline. Some lawmakers hope targeting them with EV incentives will help reduce emissions more quickly. READ MORE

 

The Expensive Help Texas Is Getting at the Border  The federal government has deployed the National Guard to Texas’ border with Mexico for years, but a number of states have dug into their own budgets to send more military and law enforcement personnel. Some states have spent millions. READ MORE

 

The Mission: Connect Every American  From tough terrains to harsh climates, connecting every American requires resilience. Witness the relentless efforts to bridge the digital divide. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY NCTA] STREAM THE DOCUFILM NOW

 

The Real Reason Local Governments Are Facing More ADA Non-Compliance Fines  Perceived redesign costs, unknowledgeable website design partners, and limited maintenance resources are holding too many municipalities back from ADA compliance. LEARN MORE

 

The Winners and Losers of Pennsylvania’s $47.6B Budget  The state’s budget will include big changes to how the state funds its public schools and offers a new approach to higher ed. But residents earning minimum wage and SEPTA won’t be so lucky in financial allocation this year.  READ MORE

 

Two Years In, Americans Still Learning What the 988 Crisis Line Is All About  The national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is two years old. Americans know it’s there, but not many know what it does.  READ MORE

 

Under Watchful Eyes, Guilford County Upgrades Its 911 Center  One of North Carolina's largest counties is deploying a new emergency communications system from Hexagon. The exec running the 911 center — now the new president of NENA — details what will happen and what’s at stake. READ MORE

 

Use This Framework to Modernize Your Government Grant Programs  This framework accommodates the uniqueness of each government grant program so you can modernize at your own pace. LEARN MORE

 

Washington State Launches Food Poisoning  Reporting Tool  Announced  Monday, the Foodborne Illness Notification System from the Washington Department of Health is an online platform residents can use to notify authorities about illness or food safety concerns. READ MORE

 

West Virginia Appeals to SCOTUS Over Transgender Sports Ban  State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a petition with the court asking it to overturn an appellate court finding that the ban violated Title IX rights. READ MORE

 

What’s New in Digital Equity: Rating Low-Cost Internet Plans  Plus, the FCC is taking steps to update broadband data collection, more states have had their initial proposals for BEAD funding approved, Oakland got a grant to expand broadband infrastructure, and more. READ MORE

 

When ‘Universal’ Pre-K Really Isn’t: Barriers to Participating Abound  A lack of awareness, limited hours and a shortage of teachers are among the hurdles.  READ MORE

 

Why Scammers Are Targeting Cryptocurrency ATMs  Experts say crypto ATMs have become a vehicle for international criminal enterprises, and that millions of dollars’ worth of fraud is carried out using the machines in the U.S. alone. READ MORE

 

Will the 2024 Elections Lead to a Massive CIO Changeup?  With 11 gubernatorial elections impending, should state and local governments expect to see major changes in the leadership of technology and innovation? Government Technology digs into the data. READ MORE

 

Winning Online Budget Books  From budget books to open data, see how local government teams around the country are making their voices, and impact, heard with these online publications. SEE HOW

 

Yolo County, Calif., Moves to Gov Domains for Security  Yolo County is proactively enhancing the security and trustworthiness of its online presence by transitioning all county professional email accounts and webpages from the ".org" domain to the ".gov" domain. READ MORE

 

Municipal and school audits issued

On July 19, 2024, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the publication of the local government and school audits listed below.

Click on the text in color to access the complete text of the audit for the jurisdiction.

 

Town of Stafford – Capital Projects (Genesee County)

The board did not properly authorize and monitor capital project activity. Because the board relied on an engineering firm and a financial advisor to manage capital projects, it was not aware of project overruns, cash flow issues or financing source shortfalls. Moreover, a portion of the costs to construct water districts was unfairly paid for by taxpayers not living in or receiving benefit from these water districts. The board and supervisor also did not maintain adequate capital project accounting records or include eligible expenditures totaling $3,496 in the grant reimbursement applications. As a result, the town received less funding than it was entitled to.

Town of Lancaster – Town Supervisor’s Financial Duties (Erie County)

The former supervisor did not perform his financial duties and did not monitor the work performed by the firm he improperly contracted with to act as director of finance, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate financial records and significant control weaknesses. Monthly financial reports were not generated and provided to the board and bank reconciliations were not completed promptly. Auditors found 86 budget lines were overspent by nearly $9.2 million and 21 budget transfers totaling $483,122 were completed without board approval. They also found 76% of journal entries were made 70 days after the transaction took place and 60% of journal entries were approved by the firm without the supervisor’s review. The supervisor also compromised the security of the town’s resources by granting unrestricted access to the financial system and online banking to the firm, a third party. He did not ensure proper segregation of duties or put other controls in place, which allowed the firm to disburse $2.5 million of the town’s cash without any town official’s approval. The supervisor and other board members were unaware of these deficiencies and continued to pay the firm even though the contract terms were not fulfilled.

Franklin-Essex-Hamilton Board of Cooperative Educational Services – Capital Project State Aid

BOCES officials did not properly claim state aid for a capital project. As a result, as of Jan. 31, 2024, five component school districts had not received $652,054 in state aid they were entitled to for the project, and two districts received $916,278 in aid before being entitled to it. In addition, if officials do not claim approximately $1.5 million in eligible project expenditures, seven districts will not benefit from approximately $835,000 in state aid to they should receive.

Rensselaer City School District – Medicaid Reimbursements (Rensselaer County)

District officials did not submit claims for all Medicaid-eligible services provided to students and did not correct and resubmit rejected claims. The district also lacked adequate procedures to ensure Medicaid claims were submitted and reimbursed. As a result, claims were either not submitted or reimbursed for just over 1,260 eligible services totaling $46,338. Had the district claimed all eligible services, it would have realized revenues totaling $23,169.

Town of Franklinville – Procurement (Cattaraugus County)

Town officials did not always comply with the requirements of the town’s procurement policy because the board members, highway superintendent and former town supervisor, who served as the town’s chief financial officer, were not familiar with the town’s procurement policy and its requirements. Further, they did not research publications or attend free training that was available to assist them in their procurement responsibilities. As a result, $827,000, or 41%, of the $2 million in procurements reviewed were made without competitive procurement methods.

City of Yonkers – Budget Review (Westchester County)

The city’s adopted budget for fiscal year 2024-25 and supporting documents are in compliance with the requirements of state law. The city’s 2024-25 budget totals $1.51 billion, which includes operating and debt service funding of $794.2 million for Yonkers Public Schools and $719 million for the city. The 2024-25 budget is $81.2 million more than the city’s budget for 2023-24, an increase of 5.7%. The budget relies on nonrecurring revenue of $133.5 million, such as appropriated fund balance, one-time state and federal funding and sale of property, to balance its budget. The city could face a total shortfall of approximately $2.6 million if revenue estimates are not realized. The city plans to borrow up to $15 million for tax certiorari settlements in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Overtime costs could potentially be underestimated for police by as much as $2 million and for firefighting by as much as $131,000. Employee retirement costs are likely underestimated by as much as $945,000. Life, health and dental insurance costs could potentially be underestimated by as much as $195,000. Social security costs could potentially be underestimated by as much as $194,000.

Village of Elmira Heights – Claims Auditing (Chemung County)

Although state law requires a village board to audit all claims against a village before payment is made, the board did not perform a thorough and deliberate audit of individual claims, increasing the risk that improper payments could be made. Although the 213 claims reviewed totaling $771,282 were for proper village purposes, auditors determined that 34 claims totaling $143,560 were improperly paid before board approval and 11 claims totaling $34,987 lacked evidence that verbal or written quotes were obtained as required by the village’s procurement policy.

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