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InFocus
Just days after the legislative session adjourned without Arizona lawmakers taking action on school safety, Friday’s tragic shooting at a high school outside Houston, Texas, brought renewed focus on the issue.
Democratic legislative leaders sent Governor Doug Ducey a letter in which they asked that he call lawmakers into special session.The Governor, via spokesman Daniel Scarpinato, called on Republicans and Democrats to “put politics aside and join in support” of an earlier plan offered by the 9th floor.
The Legislature’s rejection of that plan, however, reveals just how far apart the parties remain on the issue of school violence and guns.
Governor Ducey announced his proposal in mid-March, following the Parkland, Fla., school shooting. The package included additional spending on school resource officers and mental health services; more comprehensive background checks; and Severe Threat Orders of Protection (STOP). Similar STOP statutes have been enacted in other states, enabling family members and others to seek a court order mandating that a troubled individual be evaluated to determine if their weapons should be temporarily surrendered.
As the weeks passed, however, legislative backing fizzled. Democratic legislators voiced concern about additional police officers on school grounds, and said they wanted the addition of comprehensive background checks for private weapons sales at gun shows. Republicans balked at the STOP orders, raising civil liberties concerns regarding empowerment of a court to suspend an individual’s 2nd Amendment rights before he/she had actually committed a crime.
Ironically, it was the specter of tens of thousands of #RedForEd supporters at the State Capitol that finished off the school safety plan, as focus turned instead to teacher pay. Governor Ducey now says he intends to revive his plan in January, if not sooner - but past experience demonstrates just how difficult that will be.
Governor Ducey Takes Action On All Remaining Legislation
PHOENIX— Governor Doug Ducey today took action on 62 bills today, clearing out all legislation remaining on the governor’s desk from the 2018 legislative session.
Education continued to be a top priority this legislative session. To strengthen Arizona’s K-12 education system, significant investments were made including — 20 percent teacher pay raises, $1.8 million to fund career and technical education, $10 million for behavioral health specialists, $53 million for building renewal to improve school infrastructure – the highest funding level since 2007 – and $86 million over two years for construction of five new schools.
The governor also worked alongside legislators of both parties to deliver on his commitments to battle the opioid crisis, curb wrong-way driving, reduce burdensome regulations and secure the border.
During the 2018 legislative session, Governor Ducey signed 346 bills and vetoed 23 bills. To view the highlights of how Governor Ducey delivered for Arizonans, click HERE.
Full list of actions HERE.
Supreme Court lets states legalize sports gambling
CNN
Washington (CNN)The Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for states to legalize sports betting, striking down a 1992 federal law that had prohibited most states from authorizing sports betting.
The 6-3 ruling is a victory for New Jersey and other states who have considered allowing sports gambling as a way to encourage tourism and tax revenue. The NCAA, NFL and NBA had backed the federal prohibition.
The court said the federal law violated constitutional principles limiting the federal government from controlling state policy, unconstitutionally forcing states to prohibit sports betting under their own laws.
"The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make," Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the 6-3 opinion. "Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each state is free to act on its own."
Immediately after the ruling, the stock price for Caesars Entertainment rose 6%, and DraftKings said it will enter the sports betting market.
"Today's decision clears the way for all states to make their own decisions about legalizing sports betting, and in one fell swoop gets rid of Nevada's monopoly on the subject and the 1992 federal statute that had protected it," said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law.
"The question now is whether Congress will leave the states to make their own choices or will now try to enact some kind of federal regulation of sports betting," Vladeck added.
[...] Read more HERE.
Veridus clients in the news
UTI Appoints Scott Yessner as Interim Chief Financial Officer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI), announced that effective today Scott Yessner assumed the role of interim chief financial officer of the company and will report to UTI's President and CEO Kim McWaters.
Yessner succeeds Bryce Peterson, who has left the company by mutual agreement to pursue other interests. Peterson's departure was not the result of any dispute or disagreement with our company on any matter relating to our company's accounting practices or financial statements, and he will be available to assist with the transition.
Yessner will serve as the company's principal financial officer and principal accounting officer until a permanent chief financial officer is appointed. Yessner will provide his services through an agreement between the Company and Tatum, a professional services company.
"We thank Bryce for his many contributions to UTI, in particular the successful implementation of our Financial Improvement Plan last year. We wish him well in his future endeavors and appreciate his support during this time of transition," said McWaters. "We are pleased Scott is bringing his relevant experience and expertise as interim CFO at this important and transformative time for our business."
[...] Read more HERE.
Cigna Furthers its Commitment to Help Curb the National Opioid Epidemic
New campaign advances the concept of a "pain plan" to encourage conversations among patients and health care providers about the safe use of opioids and other pain management options
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) is furthering its commitment to curbing the national opioid epidemic by launching a new online campaign featuring easy to use tools to inform Americans and their loved ones about the safe use of opioids for pain management.
Cigna's focus is on preventing the risk of opioid misuse, even before a prescription is written. The new campaign advances the concept of a "pain plan," which is intended to help people partner with their health care providers to better understand available treatments, including behavioral, pharmaceutical and medical options, provide guidance for the safe and appropriate use of opioids, and set goals for pain relief.
An estimated 2.5 million people suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in the United States1. Additionally, one in five people are at increased risk of long-term use with just a 10-day prescription. A proprietary study from Cigna found that while 80 percent of respondents agree that "anyone could become addicted to opioids, even someone like me," the majority are unaware or disagree that "opioids are not safe to take for more than one week without an increased risk of addiction"3.To help encourage informed conversations, people can text "Help with Pain" to 25792 to receive a list of questions they can ask their health care provider, along with a link to other helpful resources. Cigna has also developed a tool enabling people to determine if a prescription is an opioid or not by entering the name of the medicine on the Help with Pain website.
[...] Cigna's new pain resource website provides tools for individuals, care providers and employers to help prevent opioid misuse through education. The website will better equip people to have informed conversations with care providers about chronic and acute pain, and the risks and benefits associated with opioid prescriptions.
[...] Read more HERE.
Arizona business in national Walmart contest to get a spot on their shelves
ABC15
View clip HERE.
Dogs help cross-border businesses stay drug-free
Nogales International
 Vixen, a K-9 trained to sniff out drugs, circled heavy-lifting equipment at a warehouse in Nogales last week with single-minded fervor. Then, catching a whiff of the scent she was looking for, she sat down and stared at her handler, waiting for a reward.
Throwing a chew-toy for the drug-detecting dog, Jack Duke, owner of the firm Southwest Borderland Security Investigations (SWBSI), said while the dogs think they’re playing a game when they seek out drugs or ammunition, for companies on the border, detection and deterrence are serious concerns.
[...] Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said the services offered by Duke’s company is just one example of the ways local cross-border businesses can prevent having drugs infiltrate their loads. Whether it’s employing drug-sniffing dogs or another measure, he said, importers need to do something.
“Getting entangled in any sort of illicit activities really impedes your ability to do business,” Jungmeyer said during a phone interview Tuesday
[...] Read more HERE.
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