Wyoming’s Oil & Gas Regulations Must Reflect Industry of Today, Opportunities of Tomorrow

NEWS RELEASE

Majority of the Wyoming Legislature


February 27, 2019

Contact: Representative Mike Greear
House Minerals, Business & Economic Development Chair
Mike.Greear@wyoleg.gov

***Joint Op-Ed for Statewide Distribution***

Wyoming’s Oil & Gas Regulations Must Reflect Industry of Today, Opportunities of Tomorrow

The history of oil and gas production in Wyoming runs deep. Native Americans utilized oil in a variety of ways in their daily lives. The first commercial oil well in Wyoming was drilled near present-day Lander in 1883. By the 1920s, Casper had earned the moniker “Oil City,” as its economy centered around oil production and refining.

Today, oil and gas production plays an important role in the Wyoming economy. State budgets rise and fall with the price of a barrel of oil and hard-working families from Pinedale to Cheyenne put food on their tables thanks to paychecks earned toiling in the oil and gas fields that dot the Wyoming landscape. To that end, it is imperative the state recognize the importance of supporting oil and gas as a bedrock industry in Wyoming while also balancing the need to mitigate impacts on our natural resources and ensure private property rights continue to be held in high regard.

As the 65^th General Session of the Wyoming Legislature commenced last month, it became increasingly clear we needed to take an in-depth, comprehensive look at oil and gas statutes and regulations at the state level.  We have tackled several issues on a case by case basis – including the consolidation of the State Energy Office, Wyoming Pipeline Authority and Wyoming Infrastructure Authority into a one-stop Wyoming Energy Authority. The time is right for a more holistic approach when it comes to addressing oil and gas regulations as well.

As Chairs of the Joint Interim Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, and in conjunction with Governor Mark Gordon and the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, we are announcing plans for an interim study of Wyoming’s oil and gas statutes and regulations with the intention of modernizing the state’s laws to better align with industry practices and the needs of all parties involved.

Given that the oil and gas industry has changed markedly over the past several years, with advances in technology, changes in public policy and the increasing importance of global factors in production and sales, it is critical the Wyoming Legislature work in tandem with private and public sector partners on a comprehensive approach that modernizes our laws. Addressing oil and gas statutes and regulations as an interim topic will allow us to take a deep dive into these issues without the time constraints placed on policymakers during the legislative session.

We often hear from those interested in diversifying the economy that one of the biggest hindrances to growth is arcane government regulations. And while the Legislature has acted to remedy this in other industries like banking, healthcare and agriculture, we continue to lag behind when it comes to oil and gas production. Technological advances have made the industry far safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. Our regulatory framework should recognize these facts, becoming more responsive and solidifying the rights of surface property owners.

As lawmakers, we are committed to getting this right. The stakes are just too high for our economy, our communities and the safety and well-being of Wyoming citizens.

In the interim, the Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee will develop a robust schedule of meetings and discussion topics with a goal of crafting a strategic overhaul of the regulatory and legal framework concerning oil and gas operations in Wyoming. This endeavor will require heavy lifting from many including legislators, the executive branch, private industry, the nonprofit sector, landowners and interested members of the public. Dialogue will be key and compromise inevitable but, in the end, we hope to have a Wyoming that is better suited to move oil and gas production into the future.

Representative Mike Greear (HD-27) is Chairman of the House Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee. Senator Jim Anderson (SD-28) is Chairman of the Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee. The Legislative Service Office provides email notifications of Interim Committee Meetings. To sign up for alerts, visit: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WYLSO/subscriber/new.

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Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act Approved By Wyoming Legislature

NEWS RELEASE Contact: Senator Tara Nethercott Tara.Nethercott@wyoleg.gov (307) 399-7696 Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act Approved By Wyoming Legislature Senator Nethercott lauds passage of bill to combat Medicaid fraud and abuse Cheyenne, Wyo. – Senator Tara Nethercott (SD-04) lauded the passage today of SF 85 – Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act, important legislation that will help combat Medicaid fraud and abuse. The bill codifies into law the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit as a permanent entity of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and gives the unit wide authority to investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud throughout the state. “Medicaid fraud is a one-two punch for Wyoming taxpayers,” said Senator Nethercott. “Not only does it hinder the state’s ability to serve the people who need it most, it also increases the costs of healthcare overall.” “It is our duty, as legislators, to protect Wyoming taxpayers by ensuring their money is being spent on legitimate claims,” continued Senator Nethercott. “This bill makes certain the AG’s Office has the tools it needs to combat Medicaid fraud, ultimately saving hardworking Wyoming families money, improving the overall quality of our healthcare system and protecting the state’s investment.” SF 85 is co-sponsored by Senator Liisa Anselmi-Dalton, Senator Fred Baldwin, Senator Brian Boner, Senator Ogden Driskill, Senator Dave Kinskey, Senate President Drew Perkins, Representative Mike Greear, Representative Lloyd Larsen, Representative Bill Pownall, Representative Clark Stith, and Representative Sue Wilson. The bill has passed both chambers of the Wyoming Legislature and currently awaits Governor Gordon’s signature to be enacted. About Wyoming’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Wyoming’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a specialized task force responsible for investigation and prosecution of Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Medicaid funded healthcare facilities.  The Unit works with many federal and state partners to achieve its mission. In 2018, the Unit prosecuted three cases with United States Attorney’s Office, which resulted in total in over 10 years prison time and $8 million restitution to the Medicaid program.  The Unit also brings civil false claims actions and participates with other states in federal false claims cases. In 2018 the Unit worked with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit to file suit against Purdue Pharma L.P. for damages caused to the State by the opioid epidemic. The Unit’s civil recoveries in 2018 totaled over $450,000 for the Medicaid program.  Suspected Medicaid fraud can be reported to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit toll free at 1-800-378-0345. For more information or to report fraud through the Unit's online fraud reporting form, please visit http://ag.wyo.gov/medicaid-fraud-control-unit.  -End-

Wyoming Legislature Tackles Criminal Justice Reinvestment

NEWS RELEASE

Majority of the Wyoming Legislature

 
February 20, 2019
 
Contact: Representative Albert Sommers
House Speaker Pro Tempore
Albert.Sommers@wyoleg.gov
 

Wyoming Legislature Tackles Criminal Justice Reinvestment
Lawmakers pass four bills to reduce parole/probation revocations, relieve pressure on state prison system and save money

 
Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Wyoming Legislature passed a slate of bills aimed at tackling criminal justice reinvestment in Wyoming. Based on recommendations from the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, formed after a nearly year-long study, the bills offer science-based solutions to the pressures on the state’s prison system.
 
“The fact is, if we do nothing, Wyoming will need an additional 200 beds in our state facilities by 2023, resulting in an additional $51 million in construction and operating costs for the Department of Corrections,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Dan Kirkbride. “We owe it to the people of Wyoming to get this right. We must address the growing pressure on our prison system while making sure the victims and their families get the justice they deserve.”
 
“In 2017 alone, over half of the admissions to the prison system were the result of probation or parole violations, most of which were the result of technical violations and not new criminal activity,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Tara Nethercott. “Reducing these supervision revocations by just 5% could save the Department of Corrections $18.1 million a year that could be reinvested in programs to further reduce recidivism rates.”
 
All four of these bills came out of recommendations from the 2018 Joint Interim Judiciary Committee based on a report generated by the CSG in conjunction with the Wyoming Department of Corrections and the Wyoming Board of Parole. The CSG has been on the ground in Wyoming since May of 2018 and has analyzed approximately 1.2 million Wyoming records. The four bills include:
 
House Bill 45 - Crime victim compensation eligibility clarification extends the deadline for victims of crime to be compensated for mental health counseling and care to 36 months after the crime. Governor Gordon signed the bill into law on February 14, 2019.
 
House Bill 53 - Probation and parole-incentives and sanctions aims to keep people from re-entering the prison system by allowing judges and supervision officers to prescribe lesser punishments such as shorter stays in a county jail or community corrections programs. HB 53 has passed both chambers and awaits Governor Gordon’s signature.
 
Senate File 10 - Modification of probation allows judges to prescribe supervised or unsupervised probation for all crimes not eligible for life without parole or death penalty. It also allows for the reduction in probation time based on several factors including, among others, stable employment, community and family support and successful completion of alcohol or substance abuse programming. Governor Gordon signed the bill into law on February 15, 2019.
 
Senate File 38 – Limitation of length of probation sets the maximum sentence of probation at 36 months based on data-driven evidence that the majority of probation violations occur in the first 36 months of probation. The Joint Conference Committee Report on SF 38 was adopted by both Chamber and now awaits the Governor’s signature.
 

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