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F..XPANDED DEFINITION OF TAX-EXEMPT CITIES URGED TO SEEK FEDERAL MEDICINE COULD Irv ACT CITY REVENUES DEPUTIZATION FOR AIRPORT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Cities with extensive health care facilities or medical buying companies should be particularly interested in a The National League of Cities (NLC) is requesting that hearing State Board of Equalization (SBOE) Business Taxes local Of T'3cials contact the Transportation Security Adminis- Committee, se: for July 31 (although this date is subject to :ration (TSA) to seek federal deputization for local police change), The committee will review proposed amendments officers serving at airports. that would expand the definition of tax-exempt or~hotic and prosthetic devices under Regulation 1591. These Last week, in a conference call with NLC and other local devices are listed as tax-exempt medicines with the narrow officials organizations, the TSA provided an update on the definition that they must be "worn on the body.r'This status of the Local Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) that definition is restricted by language stating "if any part of the replaced the National Guard at the nation's 429 commercial ortho:lc device is not worn on the person, the device is not airports in early May. Many cities and airport authorities a medicine for purposes of this regulation." have been concerned about the costs and liability risks associated with having LEOs oversee the security screening The League is opposed to any expanded definition in process at airport checkpoints, a function that will ulti- Regulation 1591, based on estimates of revenue losses mately be taken over by federal employees of the TSA as under a related court case against SBOE that failed, required by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (P.L 107-71), During the SBOE interested parties hearings, representa- :ives for the medical industry recommended that these In response to local government concerns over liability, definitions should be expanded to devices for drainage or the TSA has requested that any city or airport authority, intravenous administration of medicines or fluids, in concerned about liability of LEOs, should contact the TSA addition, the industry representatives recommended that and ask that LEOs be deputized as U.S. Marshals by the U.S. dressings a!so be included in the expanded definition. Justice Department for purposes of discharging the federal duties at airport security checkpoints. This option may offer Cities that wish to participate in the hearing process can some liability protection to cities, although NLC continues to obtain copies of the SBOE background and staff recommen- pursue a blanket federal policy on liability protection for da:ion materials on the SBOE website ~ LEOs. Additional information about TSA is available at under the Business Taxes Committee Meeting Schedule. An www.tsa.dot.gov. If you have any questions, or would like additional staff report should be available by Monday, July to request depotization for LEOs at airports in your city, 22 including a revenue loss estimate. The meeting will be contact Harry Schaefer of the TSA at (202) 493-1289 or held in Sacramento on July 31 at 9:30 am. (subject to email him at: harry.schaefer@ost.dot.gov. change). City representatives are encouraged to testify and if interested, should contact Jean Korinke at 916/658-8245 or_ikorinke@cacities.org NEW PUBLICATION FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT A Local Official's Guide to Ethics Laws This helpful guide provides an overview of ethics laws so public officials can gain a better understanding of :heir legal and ethical obligations. Purchase this publication on-line at the ClTYBOOKS section of the Web site. Price $10. Checks made payable to ILSG. PAGE 4/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org