State IT chief: Maintain ‘maniacal focus’ on cybersecurity

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Individuals and entities should have a “maniacal focus” on cybersecurity, which includes having strong passwords and backing up data regularly, according to Gary Vance, chief information security officer with the Arkansas Division of Information Systems.

Vance was part of a panel discussion Tuesday (Oct. 8) on the second day of the two-day 2024 Cybersecurity Summit presented by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and the Forge Institute. The first day’s speakers included Jen Easterly, director of the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Vance and James Gentry, Fort Smith’s chief information officer, emphasized the importance of having complex, unique passwords for each site one visits. Gentry said he has 400-500 passwords organized through an encrypted password manager, an application that can be obtained at an app store. Vance said complex passwords close the door on bad actors trying to assess a user’s data.

State IT chief: Maintain ‘maniacal focus’ on cybersecurity

Attorney General Griffin announces cybersecurity summit in October

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Tuesday (May 21) that he will host a Cybersecurity Summit October 7-8, 2024, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock at no cost to attendees.

The summit will feature the Director of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, as the keynote speaker.

“While there will be plenty of Arkansas-specific concerns addressed, this much-needed summit will have national and international appeal as we bring in top experts in the field of cybersecurity. I am particularly thrilled that Jen Easterly, Director of CISA, will serve as our keynote speaker. I’ve known Jen for a long time, and there is no one in government more knowledgeable than her on the topic of cybersecurity,” Griffin said.

AG Griffin announces cybersecurity summit in October

Attorney General Griffin announces investigation of Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, following cyberattack

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing that his office is initiating an investigation of Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, under the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in light of a February cyberattack:

“I am initiating an investigation into Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, to determine whether the confidential medical information of Arkansans was compromised in the late February cyberattack against Change Healthcare and whether any laws were violated. Additionally, my office will look into whether Change Healthcare used reasonable security procedures and practices to protect this information as required by Arkansas law.

“Protecting Arkansans’ personal information and holding organizations accountable for data breaches are two of my responsibilities under Arkansas law.”

The ransomware attack has disrupted billing and healthcare information systems across the country and has threatened hospitals’ ability to care for patients and pay physicians. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced that it will investigate the cyberattack, citing its “unprecedented magnitude.”

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Arkansas attorney general approves FOIA amendment title

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has approved the title of a proposed amendment to enshrine the Freedom of Information Act in the state constitution.

The proposal was put forth by Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT). The group hopes to get a constitutional amendment put on the ballot in November called the “The Arkansas Government Transparency Act.”

The law would enshrine the Freedom of Information Act in the State constitution. This comes after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders made moves to weaken FOIA last year.

Arkansas attorney general approves FOIA amendment title

Daniel Breen/Little Rock Public Radio

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday approved language of an amendment title to enshrine FOIA in the state constitution.

Citizen-initiated government transparency act proposal submitted to Arkansas Attorney General

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas government transparency advocates proposed a ballot measure on Monday that would define a public meeting and create a special body to help citizens denied access to public records.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency submitted a proposed ballot title and popular name for the “Arkansas Government Transparency Act,” a companion to a proposed constitutional amendment submitted last week that would create a right to government transparency.

Attorney General Tim Griffin has until Dec. 11 to approve or reject the amendment ballot title and until Dec. 18 to approve or reject the proposed citizen-initiated act.

Citizen-initiated government transparency act proposal submitted to Arkansas Attorney General

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

A proposed ballot measure would seek to strengthen Arkansas' open records laws.

Proposed Arkansas ballot measure would make abortion access a constitutional right

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office will decide Tuesday whether a proposed measure to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right will go on the 2024 statewide ballot.

Wikimedia Commons

State government entities would not be allowed to “prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict” Arkansans’ access to abortion up to 18 weeks of pregnancy under the Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment, which Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office received Nov. 9.

The proposed amendment would also require access to abortion in cases of rape, incest, “in the event of a fatal fetal anomaly” and to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual.

Proposed Arkansas ballot measure would make abortion access a constitutional right

$50 million AG grant funding Arkansas Children’s opioid research center

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

A $50 million grant using national opioid settlement funds by Attorney General Tim Griffin will allow Arkansas Children’s Hospital to build the $70 million National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) on the hospital’s campus in Little Rock.

Griffin along with Children’s CEO Marcy Doderer announced the center and the grant at an event in front of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute Thursday (Nov. 9). The Institute will add an initial investment of more than $20 million. Scientists will work closely with the Institute and Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center.

Construction on the 45,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in late 2024. Griffin emphasized that NCOR will have its own building and research mission.

$50 million AG grant funding Arkansas Children’s opioid research center

Arkansas Children's

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin presents a check to Arkansas Children's CEO Marcy Doderer at an event Thursday at the hospital's main campus in Little Rock.

AG rejects first try of anti-LEARNS referendum

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office has rejected a proposed ballot referendum by a group hoping to overturn the LEARNS Act that was passed by legislators and signed by Gov. Sarah Sanders earlier this year.

The group, Citizens for Public Education and Students, or CAPES, says it will resubmit the referendum and that it will work with a sister organization to push a constitutional amendment next year that would replace the LEARNS Act.

The LEARNS Act is Sanders’ signature education legislation that, among many other provisions, creates “education freedom accounts” giving families access to about $7,000 for non-public school options that otherwise would have gone to the public schools where their children would have attended. It also increases the minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000 and provides every teacher a $2,000 raise.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/04/ag-rejects-first-try-of-anti-learns-referendum/

Attorney General Tim Griffin

Attorney General Griffin files lawsuit to stop ATF's unlawful ‘Stabilizing Braces’ Rule

LITTLE ROCK – Following his filing of a multistate lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement:

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) new ‘stabilizing braces’ rule is unlawful. For more than a decade, these braces have been sold as firearm attachments not subject to regulation. Stabilizing braces were designed to help people with disabilities use pistols, and they have become increasingly popular with senior citizens. The rule, however, affects most pistol owners, as many lawful gun owners use stabilizers to mitigate firearm recoil and enhance accuracy. Congress didn’t grant President Biden’s ATF the authority to impose such a broad and sweeping mandate on Americans, and we’re asking the Court to immediately block it.”

Griffin: ‘Hill’s commitment to healthcare and Arkansas make her an exemplary appointee’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after appointing Martha McKenzie Hill to the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission:

“I am honored to appoint Martha McKenzie Hill to the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission replacing Dr. Roddy Lochala, whose term expired in 2017. Hill’s commitment to healthcare and Arkansas make her an exemplary appointee. I appreciate her continued willingness to serve the state of Arkansas.”

Martha McKenzie Hill is appointed to a four-year term that will expire in February 2027.

About Martha McKenzie Hill

Martha McKenzie Hill has extensive experience working as an advocate for clients before the Arkansas Legislature and the state executive branch. Martha’s experience began as a volunteer advocate for the Arkansas State PTA. Previously in Washington, D.C., she served in the President George H.W. Bush administration from January 1990 until January 1993 first at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of the Legal Adviser and then at the White House as a member of the National Security Council staff, as Deputy Legal Adviser. Prior to that, she represented companies and families in private practice in Dallas, Texas. Hill obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in history with honors and special honors. She then went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Hill serves as Counsel at Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

About Attorney General Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was elected Attorney General of Arkansas on November 8, 2022. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas on November 4, 2014, and was re-elected for his second four-year term on November 6, 2018. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th Representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. For the 113th Congress, he was a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority. In the 112th Congress, he served as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He also attended graduate school at Oxford University. Griffin has served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of colonel. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault in Mosul, Iraq). He is currently serving as the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for the 81st Readiness Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Prior to his current post, Griffin served as the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and a senior legislative advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Colonel Griffin holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush. Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.

AG Griffin: 5,000 new prison beds needed

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Attorney General Tim Griffin is not a legislator nor is he governor, but he’s on the same page with Gov. Sarah Sanders and legislative leaders and has been instrumental in pushing for criminal justice reforms that include serving longer sentences, provide work and education skills to prisoners, and expanding prison bed capacity.

Griffin said Sunday (Jan. 22) in an interview on Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics he believes that 5,000 prison beds are needed to meet demand.

“We need a minimum three [3,000] in my view,” Griffin said. “The truth is, we’ve been building prisons, we’ve been building them for years as a matter of practice in a practical matter because we have been quietly pushing our violent felons into – they don’t have room in state prison – we’ve been pushing them into county jails. Which has basically made county jails useless. For the purpose of putting misdemeanors, DUIs, etc. So we have basically made misdemeanor justice irrelevant.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/ag-griffin-5000-new-prison-beds-needed/

Poll: Griffin leads in AG primary; large undecided in State Treasurer GOP race

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin has a commanding lead over his challenger Leon Jones, Jr. in their quest for the Republican nomination for Arkansas Attorney General. Rep. Mark Lowery leads State Sen. Mat Pitsch in the State Treasurer’s primary race, although a large block of GOP voters remain undecided.

The latest statewide Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 802 GOP primary voters was conducted on Monday, May 2, 2022 and has a margin of error of +/-4.3%. Respondents were asked for whom they planned to vote in the Attorney General’s and Treasurer’s races.

Attorney General
57% – Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin
10% – Leon Jones, Jr.
33% – Undecided

Treasurer of State
12% – State Senator Mathew W. Pitsch
30% – State Representative Mark Lowery
58% – Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/05/poll-griffin-leads-in-ag-primary-large-undecided-in-state-treasurer-gop-race/

Trump Endorses Tim Griffin for Arkansas Attorney General

by Roby Brock

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Lt. Governor Tim Griffin in his bid for Arkansas Attorney General.

Trump issued the following statement on Friday (March 5), saying Griffin was his choice in the 2022 race.

“Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin, who is running for Attorney General, is a highly respected Army Veteran who will always fight for the great people of Arkansas. Tim will be tough on Crime, defend our Second Amendment, loves our Military and our Vets, and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the brave Men and Women of Law Enforcement. Tim Griffin has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/03/trump-endorses-tim-griffin-in-ag-bid/

Lt. Gov. Griffin Discusses Decision To Run for AG Instead of Governor

By PAUL GATLING

Roby Brock speaks with Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin about his decision to run for Arkansas attorney general instead of the governorship. Griffin made the announcement earlier this month after Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she'd be joining the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, which also includes current Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/lt-gov-griffin-discusses-decision-run-ag-instead-governor

COURTESY / LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Griffin To Exit Arkansas Governor's Race, Will Seek Attorney General Post

By ROBY BROCK / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

The field for Arkansas governor just got smaller. Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., announced Monday (Feb. 8) he would no longer seek the state’s top executive post and instead will run for Attorney General.

In a Monday morning announcement, Griffin said, “Since announcing my campaign for governor last year, I’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible support I have received from all corners of the state. While I believe Arkansans are ready for my message of bold, conservative leadership, my conversations with friends and supporters have persuaded me that at this time, I can do more for Arkansas in a different capacity. I have prayed about this decision with my family and I have listened.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/griffin-exit-arkansas-governors-race-will-seek-attorney-general-post

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