The future is looking very green for California.
Starting this year, the Golden State will take its sustainable reputation even further when all food waste from commercial businesses will be converted to energy through anaerobic digestion.
Last September, in response to a desire to keep food waste out of landfills, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1826 into the books. Not only will this measure increase California’s already bustling composting and anaerobic digestion infrastructure, reports Sustainable Cities Collective, but it will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions — namely methane, which is produced by organic waste and is one of the worst greenhouse gases.
“We’ve been really good at recycling in California, such as bottles and cans,” Nick Lapis, legislative coordinator of the nonprofit environmental advocacy organization Californians Against Waste, tells Sustainable Cities Collective. “But we haven’t done as good a job with commercial waste.”
The bill, which requires companies that produce at least 200 tons of organic waste per year (such as supermarkets, hotels and convention centers) to have all of their waste composted and/or anaerobically digested, will go into effect in stages starting July 2015. By 2017, if a company produces at least 100 tons of organic waste, they must comply to the law. And in 2019, commercial producers of 100 tons of total waste will be required to compost or anaerobically digest it.
In a press release, lead author of AB 1826 Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro said, “California is on the forefront of the farm-to-fork movement, but the next step is to move the entire state full circle and transition from fork-to-farm.”
Talk about something that can be digested easily.
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Tag: State Government
For Students Struggling to Learn English, This Border State is Providing Specialized Help
Being a land of immigrants, America is filled with people speaking a variety of languages. Unfortunately, however, children of these new Americans aren’t nearly as proficient in the English language as they need to be. So one state is doing something about it.
California’s initiative to define and identify “long-term English learners” is the first of its kind and comes in the form of a state law and programs by school districts.
The reason for this move? Data from a California study reported that 350,000 students in grades 6 to 12 that have been enrolled in California schools for at least seven years still aren’t fluent English speakers, according to Governing.
Of that group, 90,000 have been identified as long-term learners. To be labeled as such means that the student hasn’t progressed on California’s English proficiency exam for two consecutive years and scores below grade-level on English standardized tests.
According to a 2010 study by the nonprofit Californians Together, there are three main reasons why English language learning students are performing so poorly: (1) schools aren’t effectively monitoring student progress, (2) the curriculum isn’t suitable and (3) teachers need to be re-trained.
Governing reports that California school district LA United has taken a few steps to reverse their current situation: a third of their 600,000 students are still learning English and after five years, about 35,000 still aren’t at grade level. The district has added two new classes to its curriculum aimed at language skills, and it’s revamped its teacher training program. Additionally, since a relationship between teachers, parents and students is required, all three parties are involved in each student’s progress.
“These kids need to be visible,” Shelly Spiegel-Coleman of Californians Together tells Governing. “In many instances, these students are sitting in mainstream classes and are not getting any specialized help.”
Dasha Cifuentes is one such student. Currently enrolled at Fairfax High in Los Angeles, Cifuentes is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, but a native-born American. She has been in California public schools for 11 years, but is still not proficient.
“I should be more confident in English because I was born here, but I’m embarrassed that I haven’t improved myself,” Cifuentes says. “Now, I’m regretting my life not developing myself into a better person, and that hurts me the most,” Cifuentes tells Governing. “I’m more motivated, like a turtle coming out of its shell.”
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When Taxpayer Dollars Aren’t Enough, Private Businesses Step in to Fund Public Programs
Taxes. It seems like we’re always grumbling about them — whether it’s the amount of sales tax we’re charged on a purchase or the total deducted from our paycheck. And regardless of the type, no one usually agrees on who should pay the most in order to bankroll all of the necessary programs funded by taxes.
Well, that’s why several states have developed a slightly different approach. Instead of using tax payer dollars to fund some public programs, they’re turning to the private sector.
It’s called “pay for success” and operates under the theory that if a program is a hit, investors won’t mind putting money into it.
To start, a state’s government outlines specific goals in a target area such as mental illness, homelessness or preventative health care. Next, private investors and philanthropic organizations finance nonprofits that provide cost-effective social services in that target area. Then, if the program meets the established goals, the investors will receive a “success payment.” Not a bad deal, right?
As of right now, three states — New York, Utah and Massachusetts — and New York City have implemented such social impact bond (SIB) programs.
New York City was the first, establishing their Adolescent Behavioral Learning Experience (ABLE) program to reduce recidivism among 3,400 adolescents from Riker’s Island each year during a four year time period, according to the New York Times. The program was funded by Goldman Sachs. According to a press release, “Goldman Sachs receives its capital back only if the re-admission rate – measured by total jail days avoided – is reduced by 10 percent or more. Should the reduction exceed 11 percent, Goldman Sachs will also receive a financial return that is consistent with typical community development lending.”
The program in Massachusetts is targeting recidivism rates and employment outcomes among at-risk youth. There’s also a program for adult basic education in development.
Even the federal government is throwing its hat into the ring. The Obama administration funded a model project in Ohio as well as promised $500 million to help other states and local governments start programs.
And now, all eyes are on these programs whose success could mean a complete revamping in how governments operate. Fewer taxes and more public projects — now that’s a plan that most of us could get behind.
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The Apps That Connect Utah with Its On-The-Go Citizens
Most of us have probably complained about how the government is out of touch and outdated — both at the state and federal level, especially when it comes to technology.
With technology rapidly changing and advancing every day, it’s pertinent for the government to get tech savvy. After all, this year is the first time that Americans will access the Internet through mobile devices more than through their PC. With 55 percent of Internet activity coming through smartphones or tablets, governments really need to reassess their tech efficiency.
Enter Utah’s state government. Of the handful of states that actually have mobile-friendly websites, Utah is leading the pack by a huge margin.
So what makes the Beehive State so advanced? Well, back in 2009, it became the first state to develop an iPhone app that allowed users to see the licensure status of various professionals in the state. It also worked with Google Glass and created an app that notifies users about incoming trains and light rail as well as other transit-related information.
And that was five years ago. Since then, it has also created apps that provide information based on the user’s current location and one that allows mobile payments, making life a little easier for on-the-go workers.
Up next, Utah is working on how to adapt the new biometric fingerprint scanning feature that will be on the next Apple iPhone.
All of these advances only beg the question as to why other states aren’t implementing the same policies. Well, for many, the worry is that by updating to mobile-friendly websites, they will alienate other groups, particularly those of the older generation or people without access to mobile devices.
In that respect, Utah is lucky. By far, its residents are the youngest in the country: There are 2.8 million under the age of 18, making them much more receptive to anything tech-related. (It’s no surprise that 26 percent of the 1.63 million unique visitors to the state’s website in June accessed it through mobile devices.)
“Our mobile strategy is reaching new population groups that haven’t interacted with government before. That’s why total visits to the state’s websites have grown substantially in the last couple of years,” Dave Fletcher, the state’s chief technology office, tells Governing.
Not only is the mobile-friendly website making it easier for citizens, but it’s taking some of the cost pressures off the government. With jobs being cut, the government is becoming more reliant upon technology, and mobile devices are a huge asset.
But it isn’t all smooth-sailing, though. There are always concerns about having to work with developers, managing security and keeping pace with new technology.
However, for Utah, the benefits definitely outweigh these challenges.
Hopefully, by following Utah’s example, other states will start implementing the same technology. In this new age, it’s about the time the government tells its citizens: “yes, there is an app for that.”
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How Streamlining the First Day of Work Increases Productivity and Cuts Costs
The first day at a new job is much like the first day of school. You’re given a tour of the space, meet everyone and get set up with all of the necessary passwords and policies. It can be monotonous and time-consuming for both employee and employer.
That’s why Pennsylvania made the move to expedite the process back in 2010, with the state, employees and employers now reaping the benefits.
Thanks to the government’s move to centralize the human resources functions for executive branch departments, the new system is the height of efficiency. Now, when employees start working, they have a one-stop destination for all of their transactions and needs — such as information about benefits, payroll and health care, among others — for as long as they are a state employee.
Especially beneficial, though, is the online onboarding program for new hires. Usually, incoming workers would have to wait until the first day to receive all of their training procedures, but now, all new employees (about 200 per month) are contacted via email by the human resources department two weeks before they start work. Within the message is a login and password to a website containing all of the information they need, including paperwork, benefits enrollment and office polices.
Since its inception, all parties have noticed how much the better the process now is. For the state, it’s estimated that it has saved $1 million because of the reduction in workload and rise in productivity. Employees aren’t twiddling their thumbs on the first day of work because they are already prepared and can get to work the minute they step through the door.
But Pennsylvania isn’t finished yet. It plans to add a second component to the onboarding, which would contain welcome videos introducing employees to the agency’s policies, procedures and training.
There is so much stress that usually accompanies starting a new job, but Pennsylvania’s system is easing the transition. Now if they can only create a way to make it easier to remember all your coworkers’ names.
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Would You See a Doctor Who Never Completed His Residency?
For most of us, going to the doctor can be as simple as making an appointment. But for some, especially those in living in rural areas, getting medical care can be much more difficult.
This is the case for those living in desolate locals of Missouri where 40 percent of the population reside, but only 25 percent of the doctors statewide practice.
However, that’s scheduled to change, due to a new law signed by Gov. Jay Nixon earlier this month. Under it, medical school graduates will be allowed to practice in underserved areas without completing their residency.
In every state, medical school graduates can’t apply for their license until they have completed a residency that lasts at least a year. That is, in every state except for Missouri. For those graduating in the Show Me state, they can begin to practice immediately upon completion of their licensing exams — even if the residency still isn’t finished.
Instead, the grad will work as an “assistant physician” alongside a “collaborating physician” who agrees to be responsible for the assistant. After a month, the assistant physician will be allowed to work independently, but still under the watchful eye of the collaborating physician.
The new law is dividing medical professionals. Proponents express its need considering how few doctors there are to serve underserved areas, which are defined as a place where there is a low ratio of primary-care doctors per 1,000 residents, a high rate of infant mortality or where many senior citizens and others live below the poverty line.
Opponents, however, are not so sure that this is the best solution for Missouri residents. Since many those living in underserved areas may need more medical attention, a recent grad with little experience might not be the best option.
Rosemary Gibson of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is one such person wary of the law. “Primary care is not simple,” Gibson told Governing. “If you have a lot of older people living in rural areas, they have a lot of co-morbidities [such as diabetes combined with heart disease].”
Jeff Howell, a lobbyist for the Missouri State Medical Association, sees the law as a viable and helpful solution and believes that the critics’ concerns about the qualifications of the grads aren’t warranted. “They’ll still be in collaboration with a licensed physician,” Howell told Governing. “That collaborative practice never disappears.”
While those in the medical field continues to squabble over whether or not this is a good idea, for those in rural Missouri, this law could make a doctor a stone’s throw away.
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Once Silent, Disabled Florida Kids Now Have Someone Speaking on Their Behalf
Liberty and the pursuit of happiness aren’t the only rights you have in this country. You’re also entitled to an attorney. But that’s something disabled children didn’t have in the state of Florida.
Fortunately, that’s now changing.
According to HB 561, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on June 25, it is mandatory that dependent children with special needs receive an attorney in court. The $4.5 million allocated by the Florida legislature will go towards paying any lawyer who agrees to represent these clients, making legal services available for these children. (Attorneys, though, can provide their services pro bono if they choose.)
Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) will use certain criteria to determine eligibility. In order to be considered, the child must fall into one of the following categories: reside in a nursing home, have a developmental disability, be a human trafficking victim, or be an unwanted recipient of prescribed psychiatric drugs.
This new law is desperately needed considering Florida’s track record with children with special needs. An investigation conducted by the Miami Herald revealed that since 2008, the DCF knew of 500 children that had died of abuse or neglect. Of those victims, 85 percent were disabled. And the news gets even worse from there. Disabled children in the state are 17 times more likely to die from abuse or neglect than those without limitations.
One such death was Tamiyah Audain, an autistic girl who was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis. After her mother passed away, the child went to live with her cousin. In 2013, she was found dead in the relative’s apartment — her death due to neglect and abuse.
Since cases such as these are so common in the Sunshine State, hopefully this law is a step in the right direction. Everyone has the right to an attorney, and in the case of disabled children, this legal representation is even more necessary.
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Civic Crowdfunding: The Future of Paying for Community Projects
When we think of fundraising, most of us probably think of individuals and a private organization, but what about residents and their local government?
Well, Kickstarter-esque campaigns are getting a little kick themselves with the introduction of civic crowdfunding, a joint venture between citizens and the local government to benefit their town or city. Sites like Citizinvestor, Neighbor.ly and IOBY are providing a platform for governments and citizens to suggest community projects for the town and then raise the money to fund it.
The process is simple. Like ordinary crowdfunding, an idea is posted to one of the sites by either the government or an individual. People can then donate funds to the project online, assisting the government with the cost.
MIT’s Center for Civic Media’s Rodrigo Davies has been studying the growth and trends of civic crowdfunding over the past four years and has recently released his report, which focused on seven geographical areas: four in the U.S. and one each in the U.K., Spain and Brazil. Through his research, Davies discovered trends as well as questions that will need to be resolved as civic crowdfunding continues to evolve.
So far, Davies found that civic crowdfunding has been operating on a small scale, but nonetheless, it has been executed with great success. He reports that between 2010 and March 2014 there were 1,224 civic campaigns with a total of $10.74 million raised averaging about $6,357 per project. The greatest success though is that on Kickstarter, a popular crowdfunding website, 81 percent of projects labeled “civic” were fully funded.
Generally, the most common projects are gardens and parks because, Davies reports, they are usually volunteer-based, fast to build, and uncontroversial. And while civic crowdfunding has been limited to a few big cities such as New York and San Francisco, there’s no reason why they cannot spread to small towns and other cities.
The big question, though, is the role of governments in this endeavor. Davies points out that local leadership has three options: It can use the familiar platforms to promote projects, it can organize and execute its own campaigns, or (and this is Davies’s pick) it can adopt a “facilitator” role, in which it will help with financing but will indirectly be responsible. Ultimately, it’s about the government finding a balance between beings supportive and active all the while not overstepping its boundaries.
The bottom line? Citizens will benefit from these projects, even if it takes some time to figure out exactly how civic crowdfunding works best.
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1 in 4 Can’t Retire Through Their Employer in Connecticut. Now the State Is Changing That.
As America prepares for the baby boomers to enter their golden years, it’s disturbing to hear that only 18 percent of Americans feel secure in their retirement, according to a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Enter Connecticut and its plan to research ways to help create a comfortable retirement for its private-sector employees. State lawmakers recently dedicated $400,000 toward the exploration of a potential private-sector retirement plan. Why is the government so interested in these employees? Perhaps it is because 740,000 of the state’s residents currently are not able to have a retirement plan through their company. The goal of the research is to develop a plan that would set up retirement accounts for the private-sector employees, which would be filled with money automatically deducted from their paychecks. For a small fee, these accounts would be monitored — and there would be an assured rate of return. However, not all of Connecticut’s lawmakers are in support of the plan. Opponents argue that this would interfere with the functioning of Social Security and other federal laws, or it would put more of a burden on taxpayers. These concerns are all things that need to be considered and addressed during the research. Connecticut may be the first state to commit money to the project, but it is not the first to toy with the notion. In 2012, California passed legislation to establish a similar program, but they are still in the process of raising funds. The hope is that by 2016, 7.4 million people will be served by a plan. Additionally, Illinois, Maryland, and Washington all looked into the option, but have not developed anything. While Connecticut is only committing itself to research, this is still a step forward and may encourage other states to follow suit.
How San Francisco Got Its Residents to Care About Sewers
After a huge sinkhole opened up in San Francisco’s Richmond District, city officials knew they had to come up with a way to sell residents on a massive upgrade to the city’s outdated sewer systems.
The Sewer System Improvement Program is a 20-year, multi-billion dollar project to update the ecologically unsound and dated treatment plants, while shoring up the whole system from the threat of future earthquakes. But officials at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission worried that a boring PSA wouldn’t be sufficient to communicate the urgency of the undertaking.
In October, the Commission launched a new advertising campaign that used humor to inform San Franciscans about the sewer project. The ads read as notes from the San Francisco Sewer System, and included text such as “Your #2 is my #1,” “No one deals with more crap than I do” and “You can’t live a day without me.” They worked. The Commission’s social media reach has expanded and conversations have started on Twitter and Facebook about making the city’s major watersheds more green. Attendance at the department’s public planning forums is up too, with roughly 80 people attending, and tours of the city’s treatment plants booked months in advance.
“It’s about how you approach the problem, not about how much money you have,” Tyrone Jue, the Commission’s director of communications, told Fast Company. “The advertising campaign, yes, it costs money. [But] it’s a choice every agency has to make, whether you’re small or large. You engage with people in different manners … People want that transparency and openness out of their government; it creates community.”
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