Developments

First Look: Department of Energy's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Grid Resiliency Pricing

Government
Agency
Energy

Proposes that certain power plants be offered new pricing dependent on their "resiliency" — defined by having a 90 day supply of fuel on-site — which FERC later rejects.

Updated last January 12, 2018

for the 01/08/2018 FERC response to DOE.

Protecting Our Infants Act: Report to Congress (SAMHSA Report)

Government
Agency
Statute
Neuroscience

Original Development Brief – Provides relevant background information of opioid use disorder, prenatal opioid exposure, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, reviews current activities of the HHS with relation to these issues, and recommends strategies to abate the gaps and obstacles identified in these activities.

Updated last January 5, 2018

for the 05/2017 report.

First Look: Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots (CREEPER) Act of 2017 (HR 4655, 115th Congress)

Government
Elected Body
Robotics/AI

Prohibits the importation or transportation of child sex dolls in the United States.

Updated last December 19, 2017

for the 12/14/2017 version of HR 4655.

Power and Security Systems (PASS) Act (Public Law 115-78)

Government
Statute
Energy

Original Development Brief – Extends an exemption to energy conservation standards for external power supplies until 2023 and requires the Department of Energy to rule two years prior to that date on whether such standards or an alternative should actually apply to these devices.

Updated last December 14, 2017

for the 11/02/2017 Public Law.

Second Circuit deems classified documents relating to the 2014 government-sanctioned drone killing of three Americans as exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (ACLU v. DOJ)

Government
Agency
Judicial
Robotics/AI

Original Development Brief – Provides guidance on the type of documents that are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and limits public inquiry into government drone strikes.

Updated last December 13, 2017

for the 12/20/2016 decision.

Fundamentally Understanding the Usability and Realistic Evolution (FUTURE) of Artificial Intelligence Act of 2017 (HR 4625 / S 2217, 115th Congress)

Government
Elected Body
Robotics/AI

Original Development Brief - Requires the Department of Commerce to establish the Federal Advisory Committee on the Development and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence.

Updated last December 13, 2017

for the 12/12/2017 version of the bill.

Actions Needed to Ensure Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury Are Considered in Misconduct Separations (GAO Report)

Government
Agency
Neuroscience

Original Development Brief – Assesses the Department of Defense’s compliance with internal policies on considering post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury during misconduct separations and recommends greater adherence to those policies.

Updated last December 12, 2017

for the May 2017 report.

Pesticide Protection Act of 2017 (HR 3380, 115th Congress)

Government
Elected Body
Neuroscience

Original Development Brief – Prohibits the continued sale and use of chlorpyrifos, a common ingredient in pesticides, for all currently registered uses.

Updated last December 8, 2017

for the 07/25/2017 version of HR 3380.

Repeal of Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers Rule (Public Law 115-4)

Government
Elected Body
Statute
Energy

Original Development Brief – Repeals an Obama-era Securities and Exchange Commission rule designed to increase transparency in transactions between US oil, gas, and mining companies and foreign governments.

Updated last December 6, 2017

for Public Law 115-4.

Science Module: Protected Areas of the United States

Science
Energy