The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"Process and application changes to benefit enrollment systems during COVID-19: Findings from state aging and disability agencies." ADvancing States, August 2020, pp. 1-11
Explores adjustments that states have made to processing eligibility and enrollment for benefits access, including changes to application and supporting document requirements. Highlights Texas' use of waivers to increase access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP].
See:http://www.advancingstate ...

"Teaching in the time of COVID-19: State recommendations for educator preparation programs and new teachers." American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, September 22, 2020, pp. 1-14
Recommends state policy changes to address pandemic-related issues in the area of teacher education and certification, including possible changes to clinical practice requirements for educator preparation programs [EPPs]. Mentions Texas' suspension of teacher licensing exams because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes a link to an interactive map of pandemic-related state policy changes relating to teacher training and certification.
Related information at:https://aacte.org/state-a ...
See:https://secure.aacte.org/ ...

"Separating myth from fact about the troubles of the Postal Service." By Kevin R. Kosar. American Enterprise Institute, September 2020, pp. 1-10
Discusses the recent political and media attention directed at the United States Postal Service [USPS]. Highlights short-term problems the agency should address to increase Americans’ confidence going into the November 2020 election and long-term problems Congress can address to avoid cutting service or abandoning the USPS’s self-funding model.
See:https://www.aei.org/wp-co ...

"SNAP benefit boost would get needed food aid to the poorest participants, who have been left out." By Stacy Dean, et al. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 16, 2020, pp. 1-9
Describes the results of the United States Census Bureau's recent Household Pulse Survey on food hardship and the role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], formerly known as food stamps. Charts the number of children in SNAP households in each state that are not helped by SNAP COVID-19 emergency allotments.
See:https://www.cbpp.org/site ...
Report at: https://www.census.gov/da ...

"Implications of COVID-19 on the research and evaluation provisions of the Family First Act." By Elizabeth Jordan and Amy McKlindon. Child Trends, September 9, 2020, pp. 1-7
Explains how the COVID-19 pandemic could influence the evidence and evaluation requirements of the Family First Prevention Services Act, which expands federal child welfare funding for evidence-based mental health, substance abuse, and in-home parenting programs to help children at risk of entering foster care.
See:https://www.childtrends.o ...
Related information at:https://www.congress.gov/ ...

"The test of our tests: The pandemic is changing the debate over standardized exams, but our relationship with them remains as conflicted as ever." By Eric Hoover. Chronicle of Higher Education, August 7, 2020, pp. 17-23
Highlights disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement tests. Discusses prepandemic studies that suggest such tests hurt low-income and minority students. Profiles colleges which have permanently suspended testing requirements in their admissions process, including Lamar University in Beaumont.

"The world economy: The 90% economy, revisited." Economist, September 19th-25th, 2020, pp. 67-68
Discusses the impact of lockdown measures on global gross domestic product [GDP] growth. Notes there is a lot of variation in economic recovery between industries and countries.

"Support for students in foster care." By Alyssa Evans and Meghan McCann. ECS Policy Brief, September 2020, pp. 1-12
Provides examples of how states can support and ensure educational stability for students in foster care.
See:https://www.ecs.org/wp-co ...

"Revised Certification Revenue Estimate: Tracing the pandemic's impact on state revenues." By Michael Castellon. Fiscal Notes, September 2020, pp. 1, 3-8
Describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Texas economy. Details the July 2020 revision of the Comptroller's Certification Revenue Estimate [CRE] and the factors considered, including economic activity, tax revenues, and oil price volatility.
See:https://comptroller.texas ...
Report at: https://comptroller.texas ...

"Reaching those in need: Estimates of state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation rates in 2017." By Karen Cunnyngham. Mathematica Policy Research, August 2020, pp. 1-8
Presents a study for the United States Department of Agriculture on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] participation rates by state in 2017. Finds 4.526 million Texans were eligible for SNAP benefits in 2017 and an estimated 75 percent of those participated.
See:https://www.mathematica.o ...

"Public health in rural states: The case against certificate-of-need laws." By Thomas Stratmann, Matthew C. Baker, and Elise Amez-Droz. Policy Brief (Mercatus Center, George Mason University), September 2020, pp. 1-6
Points out the unintended side effects of certificate-of-need [CON] laws, including restricted access to needed services. Proposes pathways for rural states and counties to repeal CON laws gradually.
See:https://www.mercatus.org/ ...

"In April, she was jailed on a probation violation. By June, she was dead." By Tana Ganeva. Reason, September 16, 2020, pp. 1-3
Details the death of a 46-year-old woman incarcerated in the Bi-State Justice Center, a private jail in Texarkana run by LaSalle Corrections. Alleges that medical neglect led to the woman's death in custody.
See:https://reason.com/2020/0 ...

"Trade in the SLC region amid the COVID-19 pandemic." By Roger Moore. SLC Policy Analysis (Southern Legislative Conference), September 2020, pp. 1-18
Highlights export and import data, as reported monthly by the United States Census Bureau, to predict how the pandemic has impacted the economy. Includes statistics for all 50 states, including Texas and other Southern Legislative Conference [SLC] states.
See:https://www.slcatlanta.or ...

"COVID-19's fiscal ills: Busted Texas budgets, critical local choices." By Jason Saving. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Third Quarter 2020, pp. 3-6
Reports state and local government revenues will fall short of expectations as demand for social services soars. Expects difficult financial times to extend into 2021.
See:https://www.dallasfed.org ...