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Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research

Week in Review, February 11

Feb 11

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Track the economic recovery from the Great Recession by state. (Pew Charitable Trusts, February 3, 2016)
  • Review litigation between the states and the federal government related to the enforcement of immigration law. (Congressional Research Service, January 27, 2016)
  • Read about the gig economy and on-demand services. (Congressional Research Service, February 5, 2016)
  • Find the 2016 March primary election candidate filings by county. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed February 10, 2016)
 
 

This entry was posted on February 11, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 525 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of February 15, 2016

Feb 8

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of February 15

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.
 

February 17

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: First Amendment religious liberty protections

 

February 18

House Select Committee on Mental Health

Invited testimony

 

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services   

Charge: Healthy aging

 

Charge: Long-term care

 

Charge: "Wrongful birth" cause of action

 

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Judicial salaries, legislators' retirement annuities, straight-ticket voting

 

 

 

This entry was posted on February 8, 2016 at 10:48 AM and has received 1221 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, February 4

Feb 4

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Explore what local health agencies across the U.S. are doing to address the Zika virus. (Governing, February 4, 2016)
  • Read about the new lower passing score for the GED Testing Service. (Education Week, Curriculum Matters, January 20, 2016)
  • Consider the federal corrections system and recent recommendations for improving it. (Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections, January 2016)
  • Review developing policy and regulations related to unmanned aircraft systems. (Congressional Research Service, January 27, 2016)
  • Examine the effect of the removal of Planned Parenthood from the Texas Women's Health Program. (The New England Journal of Medicine, February 3, 2016)
 

This entry was posted on February 4, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 580 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of February 8, 2016

Feb 1

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of February 8

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

February 9 Top

House Committee on Corrections

Charge: Incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses, alternatives to incarceration including community supervision

Charge: Inmate release policies of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including direct release from administrative segregation

House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Private Property Rights in Water

Topic: How to supply water while respecting private property rights of individual owners

House Committee on Public Education  

Charge: Middle grades

Charge: High performing students

February 10 Top

House Committee on Corrections

Charge: Recidivism & Reentry

House Committee on Public Health

Charge: Preparedness for public health threats and emergencies, including natural disasters and infectious diseases

Charge: Telemedicine in Texas

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation, specifically:

Topic: Local briefing on English Language Learning

February 11 Top

Topic: Select committee budgets

 

House Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Community college system

Charge: Community colleges offering affordable baccalaureate degree programs, student pathways

Senate Select Committee Property Tax Reform & Relief  

Charge: Property tax process, including appraisal system

Charge: Reducing tax burden

 

 

This entry was posted on February 1, 2016 at 9:03 AM and has received 1734 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 28

Jan 28

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

  • Find investigation information and related reports about the West fertilizer explosion and fire. (U.S. Chemical Safety Board, accessed January 28, 2016)
  • Read about the gender wage gap and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. (Economic Policy Institute, January 26, 2016)
  • View the grand jury indictments related to the Planned Parenthood investigation. (District Court of Harris County, Texas, January 25, 2016)
  • Map abortion coverage through Affordable Care Act Marketplace health insurance plans. (Kaiser Family Foundation, January 20, 2016)
 

This entry was posted on January 28, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 674 views. Print this entry.

Members Not Returning, 85th Legislature

Jan 27

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Members of the Legislature

Below is a list of members (as of January 27, 2016) not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature.

  • A complete list of candidates in the Texas House 2016 Primary can be seen here.
  • A list of candidates in the Texas Senate 2016 Primary can be seen here.

Information about candidates by county is available on the Texas Secretary of State's website, filings by county page.

 

 

Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock Retiring
Rep. Myra Crownover Retiring
Sen. Kevin Eltife Retiring
Rep. Joe Farias Resigned effective 8/10/15
Rep. Allen Fletcher Retiring
Sen. Troy Fraser Retiring
Rep. Patricia Harless Retiring
Rep. Bryan Hughes Seeking another office
Rep. Jim Keffer Retiring
Rep. Susan King Seeking another office
Rep. Marisa Márquez Retiring
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer Seeking another office
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon Resigned effective 1/31/16
Rep. Elliott Naishtat Retiring
Rep. John Otto Retiring
Rep. David Simpson Seeking another office
Rep. Scott Turner Retiring
Rep. Sylvester Turner Resigned effective 1/1/16; sworn in as Mayor of Houston on 1/2/16 

 

This entry was posted on January 27, 2016 at 2:14 PM and has received 2574 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of February 1, 2016

Jan 25

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

Week of February 1

February 2

House Committee on Natural Resources

Charge: Water markets in Texas

 

Charge: Regional and state water planning processes, with emphasis on integration of HB 4, 83rd Legislature, R.S., regional planning groups, groundwater management, drought of record, and related issues

 

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including review of the surface water permitting process in Texas

 

February 3

House Committee on Energy Resources

Charge 1: Impacts of declining oil prices, energy development strategies

 

Charge 2: Oilfield theft

 

Charge 7: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations 

Charge 3: Natural disaster preparedness planning, as it pertains to Hurricane Dolly disaster recovery efforts

This entry was posted on January 25, 2016 at 4:00 PM and has received 1375 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 21

Jan 21

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Read about students who transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions. (Community College Research Center, January 2016)
  • Consider the Texas AG opinion and related documents about playing daily fantasy sports for a fee. (Legal Sports Report, January 19, 2016)
  • Track recent and past crime statistics. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed January 2016)
  • Review documents related to the drinking water issues in Flint, MI. (Flint Water Study, accessed January 2016)
 
 

This entry was posted on January 21, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 576 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of January 25, 2016

Jan 15

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of January 25

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

January 25

Joint Legislative Committee on Health & Human Services Transition, Oversight

Invited testimony only

 

January 26

Invited testimony on all interim charges

 

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

Charge: Elder financial abuse

·         Financial Crimes Against the Elderly, 2015 Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures, November 20, 2015

·         "Lies, Secrets, and Scams: How to Prevent Elder Abuse," Consumer Reports, November 3, 2015

·         "Why Elder Financial Abuse Is Such A Slippery Crime," Forbes, February 13, 2015

·         Cumulative 2015 Elder Financial Abuse Legislation, American Bankers Association, updated as of January 26, 2015

·         The True Link Report on Elder Financial Abuse 2015, True Link Financial, January 2015

·         Georgia Akers, Associate Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 3, "Elder Abuse, Exploitation and Consumer Scams: Ethical Duties," 2014 CPE by the Sea, Houston TSCPA Foundation and TSCPA CPE Foundation, Inc., Galveston, Texas, June 11-13, 2014

 

Charge: Collection process of delinquent ad valorem property taxes, role of tax lien transfers

·         Interim Report to the 84th Legislature (Charge 3 - Property tax liens), House Committee on Business and Industry, January 2015

·         Texas Property Tax Law Changes 2015 (Tax Code, Chapter 31, Collections, and Chapter 33, Delinquency), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, August 2015

·         Property Tax Lending Consolidated Volume Report Calendar Year 2014, Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, June 23, 2015

·         Property Tax Lending Study, Finance Commission of Texas, prepared by Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, August 2012

·         Property Tax Bills (delinquent tax bill contents, delinquency dates, penalty and interest by type of property tax bill), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Senate Committee on Finance

Topic: Testimony from Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Legislative Budget Board on impact of oil prices and production on state revenue and the budget

·         "Falling Oil Prices Leading to Drop in Texas Road Funding," Texas Tribune, January 20, 2016

·         2016 Texas Economic Outlook: Riding the Energy Roller Coaster, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, January 12, 2016

·         Monthly State Revenue Watch, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Updated January 2016

·         The 2016-2017 Certification Revenue Estimate, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, October 13, 2015

 

Charge: Behavioral/mental health services and expenditures across state government

·         A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas, 2nd Edition, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014

·         Texas Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, Texas Department of State Health Services, June 2012

·         Comprehensive Analysis of Public Behavioral Health System (Rider 71 report background), Texas Department of State Health Services

 

Senate Committee on State Affairs  

Charge: Implementation of open carry (HB 910) and campus carry (SB 11)

 

January 27

Senate Committee on Transportation

Charge: State's Vehicle Inspection Program

·         Texas "Two Steps, One Sticker" Program Starts as a 'Square Dance', Texas Association of Counties, April 2, 2015

·         Vehicle Inspection and Two Steps One Sticker, Texas Department of Public Safety

 

Charge: Necessity of Driver Responsibility Program

·         Interim Report to the 84th Legislature (Charge 4), House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, January 2015

·         An Audit Report on Selected Contracts at the Department of Public Safety (Chapter 3 - Driver Responsibility Program), State Auditor's Office, June 2013

·         Driver Responsibility Program (Issue Brief), Legislative Budget Board, January 2013

·         Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency: Selected Issues and Recommendations (Driver Responsibility Program), Legislative Budget Board, January 2007

·         Driver Responsibility Program, Texas Department of Public Safety

 

Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief   

Charge: Property tax process

·         Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency: Selected Issues and Recommendations (Property Appraisals), Legislative Budget Board, January 2015

·         Appraising the Appraisals: Local Values and Property Taxes, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, July 2014

·         Interim Charge Recommendations to the 82nd Legislature (Property Tax System), Senate Committee on Finance, January 2011

·         Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature (Property Tax Appraisals), House Committee on Ways & Means, January 2011

·         Interim Report (Property Tax Appraisal System), Senate Finance Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps, January 2009

·         Interim Report to the 81st Legislature, House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, December 2008

·         Interim Report to the 81st Legislature (Charge 4), House Committee on Local Government Ways and Means, December 2008

·         Findings and Recommendations: a Report from the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, January 2007

·         Texas Property Tax System, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Charge: Tax burden

·         "Lopsided Election Puts Political Target on Property Taxes," Austin American Statesman, November 9, 2015

·         "Property Tax Relief Comes With Big Cost to State," Texas Tribune, October 4, 2015

·         A Brief History of Texas Property Tax Relief Initiatives (Presentation), Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, May 20, 2008

 

 

This entry was posted on January 15, 2016 at 12:48 PM and has received 2096 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 14

Jan 14

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Examine the recent increase in Freedom of Information Act cases filed. (The FOIA Project, January 6, 2016)
  • Consider electronic cigarette advertising that reaches middle and high school students. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 8, 2016)
  • Review issues related to the death penalty in Texas in the past year. (Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, December 16, 2015)
  • Explore causes of death and which segments of the population are affected by specific causes. (FlowingData, accessed January 13, 2016) 
 

This entry was posted on January 14, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 598 views. Print this entry.

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