> Policy Committee Session
LAW, JUSTICE AND ETHICS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2006 10:15 am – 12:00 pm Churchill I Chair Sen. Charles D. Jones (LA) Chair, NBCSL Committee on Law, Justice and Ethics 1st Vice Chair Sen. Thelma Harper (TN) 2nd Vice Chair Rep. Linda Coleman (MS) NBCSL Policy Staff Faye Anderson JURISDICTION This committee addresses issues related to affirmative action; criminal justice, including mandatory sentencing laws, alternatives to incarceration and ex-offender reentry services; state and federal initiatives to eradicate illegal drug trafficking; crime victims’ assistance programs; and racial profiling. The committee monitors judicial and U.S. Attorney appointments and Public Defender programs, and studies the disparate treatment of African Americans in convictions and sentencing and formulates policy to effect remediation. The committee also monitors redistricting plans and enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and addresses barriers to voting such as photo identification requirements and the disenfranchisement of formerly incarcerated persons. The committee tracks ethics cases involving African-American elected officials and proposes solutions to address the selective prosecution of black elected officials. The committee provides information on ethics training resources and tools state legislators need to comply with state ethics and campaign finance disclosure laws. TOPIC Protecting, Preserving and Enhancing HBCUs and Black Political Power The policy session will highlight current state legislative and executive assaults on historically black colleges and universities, and engage stakeholders in a discussion about formulating a strategy to stave off the assaults and shore up these cornerstones of the African American community. There will also be a discussion of the racial disparity in substance abuse policy and the disparate treatment of black elected officials. PANELISTS Sen. Rodney Ellis (TX) Rep. Harold James (PA) Rep. John W. Rogers, Jr. (AL) Lezli Baskerville President and CEO, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education Senior Judge Arthur L. Burnett, Sr. (Inactive) National Executive Director, National African American Drug Policy Coalition Jaribu Hill President, Magnolia Bar Association |
