Weekly Roundup: Interesting Reads for GPS Members

“IRS outlines new tax law effect on tax exempt organizations.” Jan. 28, 2020, IRS. From the Article: “The Internal Revenue Service wants tax-exempt organizations to know about recent tax law changes that might affect them. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act, passed on December 20, 2019, includes several provisions that may apply to tax-exempt organizations’ current and previous tax years.”

“Attorney General Josh Stein Sues to Prevent Release of 3-D Firearm Files.” Jan. 24, 2020, N.C. Department of Justice. From the Press Release: “Attorney General Josh Stein joined a federal lawsuit to challenge the federal government’s latest effort to allow 3-D printed firearm blueprints to be released online. These files would allow plug-and-play access to 3-D printed unregistered, untraceable, hard-to-detect firearms, also known as ‘ghost guns.'”

“City Obligations for Providing Services to Annexed Areas.” By Frayda Bluestein, Jan. 30, 2020, UNC School of Government. Questions Presented in the Article: “What services must be provided to annexed areas? Is there a standard level of services that a city must meet? If a city provides utilities, does the law require a city to extend those utilities to all satellite areas?”

“Appeals court tosses slip-and-fall award because of admission of Google Maps image.” By Debra Cassens Weiss, Oct. 24, 2019, ABA Journal. From the Article: “A Florida appeals court has reversed a $90,000 jury award to a woman who slipped and fell on a sidewalk because a Google Maps photo used to bolster her case was not properly authenticated. . . . [plaintiff] had introduced a Google Maps photo of the sidewalk with a November 2007 date stamp to help prove that the city of Miami should have known about the faulty sidewalk.”

“State laws provide for civil actions and other creative remedies for trafficking survivors.” By Amanda Robert, Feb. 1, 2020, ABA Journal. From the Article: “States are implementing or updating their own laws to better protect and support survivors. While criminal protections may permit survivors to seal, vacate or expunge records or provide them with immunity, civil remedies can help them restore lost income and pay off significant debts.”

“Feds Challenge Calif. Law Banning Private Prisons.” By Kaitlyn Burton, Jan. 27, 2020, Law360. From the Article: “The Trump administration has sued California over its new law banning private prisons in the state, arguing that the federal government has the power to house prisoners and detainees where it sees fit without states meddling.”

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