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June 25, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Joan Nass Named to National Panel on Law and Criminal Justice

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Joan Nass has been appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Law and Criminal Justice at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a national organization that facilitates the exchange of information and problem-solving solutions between legislators from across the country. The appointment was made by House Speaker Hannah Pingree.

Rep. Nass (R-Acton), a third-term legislator, said she is honored by the appointment. “It’s an opportunity to learn how lawmakers in other states handle problems similar to problems we face in Maine,” she said. “When you have members of 49 other state legislatures on the same committee, it’s a great chance to share ideas and best practices.”

Rep. Nass serves as the ranking Republican on the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and also is a member of the Legal and Veterans Affairs panel.

The NCSL’s Law and Criminal Justice Committee examines principles for a balanced state-federal system and takes policy positions to preserve state sovereignty and set a high standard for federal preemption of state laws. The numerous criminal justice issues under the committee’s jurisdiction include capital punishment, corrections, crime victims, drug crime, juvenile justice, probation and parole and criminal sentencing. The jurisdiction also takes in campaign finance, civil rights, gun control, domestic violence and product liability.

The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, plus its commonwealths and territories. The organization provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.

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