June 22, 2023

S. 308, Ending China’s Developing National Status Act

As reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 13, 2023

Summary:

S. 308 would require the Department of State to influence international organizations to reclassify China as a developed country instead of as a developing country. On the basis of information about the costs of diplomatic efforts to influence the actions of other nations and international organizations, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2023-2028 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

June 22, 2023

H.R. 3564, Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023

by David Badertscher

Received June 23,2023.

Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.

For the past several months I have been receiving directly from CBO links to which I now plan to begin posting selectively on this blog in the interest of information sharing. If there appears to be sufficient interest among readers of this blog over a period of time, I plan to continue posting selections I receive from CBO.

June 20, 2023

Responding to Errors and Mistakes in ChatGPT and Other Generative AI Systems

by David Badertscher

Since Open AI released ChatGPT for public use on November 30, 2022, its rate of adoption by the public has been explosive and appears to be increasing at a near exponential rate. Within two months after its public release, it had acquired an estimated 100 million users and surpassed one billion page visits by the end of February, 2023 — an increase unprecedented and creating strong incentives for other generative AI systems to join the fray.

In its official announcement of the release to the public of ChatGPT, Open AI stated very clearly that the system would sometimes generate errors of fact and other types of mistakes in a random manner difficult to predict. It also warned potential users of the urgency of checking ChatGPT responses to user queries against other sources for verification. Most other Generative AI systems have issued similar warnings.

The cumulative impact of the public release of ChatGPT, followed by the public release of other generative AI chat systems, is yet to be determined. However, it will be disruptive— at least in the near term — and may require significant changes to the workplace. Some of these changes might very well involve introducing what I would call error management systems to help manage the deluge of items generated by ChatGPT and other systems in a more organized manner.

June 16, 2023

Selected List of Opinion Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 16, 2023

by David Badertscher

During this past week (week ending June 16, 2023) we have received listings of 37 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 84 Constitutional Law summaries, 89 Criminal Law Summaries and 3 U.S. Supreme Court Summaries. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending June 16, 2023:

Criminal Law Opinion Summaries

June 16, 2023

Congressional Budget Office: Announcements, Posted June 8 Through June 15, 2023

by David Badertscher

Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.

The following are announcements we recently received from the Congressional Budget Office:

Legislation considered under suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives during the week of June 19, 2023

June 15, 2023

Congressional Budget Office (CBO): Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2023

by David Badertscher

INTRODUCTION:

Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.

For the past several months I have been receiving directly from CBO links to which I now plan to begin posting selectively on this blog in the interest of information sharing. If there appears to be sufficient interest among readers of this blog over a period of time, I plan to continue posting selections I receive from CBO.

June 15, 2023

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) : H.R. 1165, Data Privacy Act of 2023

by David Badertscher

Received : June 13, 2023.

Summary:

H.R. 1165 would amend title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) to expand and equally apply protections for consumers and customers with respect to the use of data by financial institutions. The bill would redefine the terms consumer and customer and would require financial institutions to provide opportunities for consumers and customers to opt out of having their personal data disclosed to third parties. H.R. 1165 would require financial institutions to notify people about the information they collect and hold and, upon request, delete nonpublic personal information held by the institution. Finally, the bill would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on whether the GLBA’s data safeguards adequately protect people’s nonpublic personal information.

June 10, 2023

Selected List of Weekly Opinion Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 9, 2023

by David Badertscher

During this past week (week ending June 9, 2023) we have received listings of 24 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 64 Constitutional Law summaries, and 42 Criminal Law Summaries. Due to a series of medical issues now resolved, I have not been able to post summaries to this blog since September 16, 2022 and I regret any inconvenience this may have caused. Now that those issues are behind me, I plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

OPINION SUMMARIES POSTED FOR WEEK ENDING June 9, 2023:

Constitutional Law Opinion Summaries.

June 5, 2023

Congressional Budget Office (CBO): Estimated Budgetary Impact of The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

by David Badertscher

INTRODUCTION:

Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.

For the past several months I have been receiving directly from CBO links to which I now plan to begin posting selectively on this blog in the interest of information sharing. If there appears to be sufficient interest among readers of this blog over a period of time, I plan to continue posting selections I receive from CBO.

May 7, 2023

REFLECTIONS OF A RETIRED LAW LIBRARIAN: From Mimeograph to Generative AI

by David Badertscher

Being a retired law librarian of a certain age, I am now often asked to reflect upon my 50 years serving in various capacities as a law librarian. I have noticed that most questions asked can be grouped into discrete categories. For example, people want to know what lessons I have learned along the way as a law librarian, what I found most rewarding being a law librarian, what changes in law librarianship I have observed since I started approximately 50 years ago, and who have been my mentors or people who have greatly influenced me along the way. In this posting, I offer responses to these questions based on my current views.

What are some of the lessons you have learned as a professional in your field and in life?

I have come to appreciate the importance of understanding that change as it relates to all aspects of work and life is constant. And in order to be truly successful and to avoid stagnation, we must learn to become highly adaptable and flexible. Of utmost importance is the need to maintain enduring and useful connections with others.