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Week in Review, March 28th

Mar 28

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.
  • Map the latest state smoking laws. (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, accessed March 2013)
  • Consider the proliferation of hospital ratings from various organizations. (Kaiser Health News, March 18, 2013)
  • Explore the U.S. role in criminal justice reform in Mexico. (Congressional Research Service, March 18, 2013)
  • Find orders, briefs, and other case filings on the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 cases. (Supreme Court of the United States, accessed March 27, 2013)
 

This entry was posted on March 28, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 836 views. Print this entry.

Bills in the News: Term Limits

Mar 25

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Bills in the News

Bills in the News

In this occasional post, we feature topics receiving widespread media coverage, tips for finding bills filed during the 83rd legislative session, and related resources.

 

Bills in the News: Term Limits

Statewide elected officials in Texas currently are not subject to term limits, nor are state legislators. A handful of bills have been introduced in the 83rd Legislature that would impose term limits on some state offices.

 

Bill search

 

To find proposed legislation and proposed constitutional amendments filed during the 83rd Legislature about term limits, use "TERM LIMITS (S0105)." Related subject searches that may be of interest are "Elections--Candidates (I0280)" and "State Officers (I0761)."

 

Resources

 

Recent news articles have tracked proposed legislation that would institute term limits.

Terms of office for the Governor, state Senators, and state Representatives can be found in the Texas Constitution.

 

The Secretary of State provides a current list of statewide elected officials and when their terms expire.

 

The National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL] has created a state-by-state chart of term limits for legislators. NCSL also tracks filed state legislation on term limits.

 

The Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2012 provides a state-by-state table of constitutional and statutory provisions related to executive terms of office and term limits.

 

 

This entry was posted on March 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM and has received 2515 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, March 21st

Mar 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.
  • Compare taxing and spending information by state. (Tax Foundation, March 18, 2013)
  • See which cities had the highest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012. (Environmental Protection Agency, accessed March 2013)
  • Read about how government agencies that use social media can improve accessibility in social media. (HowTo.gov, March 14, 2013)
  • Consider how a recent surge in excise taxes from gun sales benefits wildlife. (Congressional Research Service, March 12, 2013)
  • Explore a study that examines and compares firearms laws and firearms fatalities state by state. (JAMA Internal Medicine, March 6, 2013)
  • Map food access by census tract. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, March 5, 2013)

This entry was posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 817 views. Print this entry.

Medicaid Expansion in Texas: Legislation and Viewpoints

Mar 15

posted by Admin in Medicaid

In February, we wrote about how states are considering Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  We continue this discussion by highlighting bills filed during the 83rd Regular Session that relate to Medicaid expansion, as well several reports published recently that argue for or against Medicaid expansion in Texas.
 
In addition to the bills listed below, the Senate's budget bill (SB 1), contains a rider regarding Medicaid expansion:
 
HB 59 by Rep. Lon Burnam
Relating to participation by political subdivisions in federal healthcare programs.
 
HB 593 by Reps. Elliott Naishtat & Garnet Coleman
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
HB 999 by Rep. Eric Johnson
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
HB 1001 by Rep. Eric Johnson
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid in certain counties under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
HB 2950 by Rep. Justin Rodriguez
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
HB 3122 by Rep. Eddie Lucio, III
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HB 3266 by Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HB 3376 by Rep. Sylvester Turner
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HB 3487 by  Rep. Mike Villarreal
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HB 3700 by Rep. Marisa Márquez
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HB 3722 by Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer
Relating to expanding eligibility for benefits under the Medicaid program and transitioning the delivery of benefits under the Medicaid program from delivery through a managed care model or arrangement to delivery through an integrated and coordinated health care delivery system.
 
HB 3791 by Reps. John Zerwas & J.D. Sheffield
Relating to the creation of a "Texas" solution to issues related to Medicaid, including flexibility in the administration of the Medicaid program, tailored to the needs of the state.
 
HB 3806 by Rep. Helen Giddings
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
HJR 91 by Rep. Garnet Coleman
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the state to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program to certain persons.
 
SB 455 by Sen. José R. Rodríguez
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the application and eligibility determination processes for medical assistance and other programs.
 
SB 880 by Sen. Rodney Ellis
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
SB 1232 by Sen. Royce West
Relating to expanding eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ensuring the provision of quality care under and the effectiveness of the medical assistance program.
 
SB 1477 by Sen. Bob Deuell
Relating to flexibility in the administration of the Medicaid program, a block grant funding approach to Medicaid expansion, and the establishment of a health benefit exchange tailored to the needs of the state.
 
SB 1808 by Sen. Charles Schwertner
Relating to the cost effects of expanding eligibility for medical assistance under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
SB 1816 by Sen. José R. Rodríguez
Relating to the expansion of eligibility for medical assistance to certain persons under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and funding of that expansion.
 
SJR 8 by Sen. Rodney Ellis
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the state to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program to certain persons.
 
SJR 61 by Sen. Charles Schwertner
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the reduction of amounts paid by Texans to provide health care to the uninsured if Medicaid eligibility is expanded in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; requiring hospital district tax rate reductions.
 
Viewpoints on Medicaid expansion in Texas:
Over the summer, Governor Rick Perry expressed his opposition to Medicaid expansion in Texas. Local organizations and individuals have also published their viewpoints about this issue. Below you will find a selection of these reports, organized alphabetically by title.  Back to top
 
Alternative Medicaid Proposals. Legislative Budget Board, January 2013. 
 
 
The Case against Medicaid expansion. John Davidson / Texas Public Policy Foundation, March 13, 2013.
 
Expanding Medicaid in Texas: smart, affordable and fair. Billy Hamilton Consulting, January 2013.
 
Fix Medicaid before you expand it. Senator Tommy Williams, Austin American Statesman, February 28, 2013.
 
 
Letter to Governor Rick Perry regarding Medicaid expansion. Senator Bob Deuell, February 28, 2013.
 
The long road to reform (Medicaid expansion). Texas Hospital Association, January/February 2013.
 
Medicaid expansion plan bad for Texas. Senator Bob Deuell, Rep. Charles Schwertner, Rep. Mark Shelton, and Rep. John Zerwas, San Antonio Express News, July 18, 2012.
 
 
Texas physicians: expand coverage, and reform Medicaid. Texas Medical Association, February 2,
 
Texas should not expand Medicaid. Arlene Wohlgemuth / Texas Public Policy Foundation, February 26, 2013.
 
 

This entry was posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:54 AM and has received 5546 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, March 14th

Mar 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.
  • Check out a national map of the status of kindergarten in each state. (Children's Defense Fund, February 1, 2013)
  • Examine the waiver of certain federal work participation standards under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. (Congressional Research Service, March 7, 2013)
  • Explore passenger rail development and improvement. (Brookings, March 2013)
  • Track traffic death rates across the states. (Stateline, March 12, 2013)
 

This entry was posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 982 views. Print this entry.

Lobbyists at the Texas Legislature

Mar 12

posted by Admin in Legislative process

Session is in full throttle, and with it, a higher volume of visitors associated with the legislative community. Among these visitors are lobbyists for various industries and organizations. If you ever want to see a list of lobbyists currently registered with the state, the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) is the place to go. Chapter 305 of the Texas Government Code requires lobbyists to register with the TEC and to file periodic reports of lobbying activity. On the TEC website, you can find a list of currently registered lobbyists and their contact information, as well as lobby activity reports.  If you're looking for past lists, you can find these on the same page, going back to 1998. The Library has lists in hard copy from 1995 to 1999. For assistance, please contact us at (512) 463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 12, 2013 at 10:30 AM and has received 2662 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, March 7th

Mar 7

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.
  • Check out an infographic on the American public's priorities for health care in 2013. (Kaiser Family Foundation / Journal of the American Medical Association, February 27, 2013)
  • Find Spanish-language resources on heart health. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, February 20, 2013)
  • See a state-by-state chart of pending and adopted state legislation related to guns. (Council of State Governments, February 25, 2013)
  • Examine the state of food hardship in 2012. (Food Research and Action Center, February 2013)
  • Consider the problem of widespread seafood fraud. (Oceana, February 21, 2013)
 

This entry was posted on March 7, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 970 views. Print this entry.

Texas Women: Then and Now

Mar 4

posted by TexasLRL in Texas history

 

Representative Edith Wilman
Rep. Edith Wilmans was the first woman
elected to the Texas Legislature.
(Photo courtesy of the State Preservation Board)
Jane McCallum
An online exhibit with the Austin Public Library
focuses on the Austin Suffrage Association,
headed by Jane McCallum (pictured above). 
Workers and owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
The owners and workers at the
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, 1910.

Texas Women: Then and Now

Third in a series of posts about the 33rd Legislature, held 100 years ago. Read the previous posts here and here.

Suffrage

By 1913, woman's suffrage had already been an issue for more than forty years—it was discussed at the state Constitutional Convention of 1868-69. Many Western states, in fact, had already granted women the right to vote. In 1907, Representative Jess Baker had introduced an unsuccessful resolution to give women the vote (HJR 17).

During the 33rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Representative Frank Burmeister introduced HJR 9, giving women the right to vote. While the committee gave it a favorable report, the resolution did not progress any further. The committee minority report states that there was no "popular demand" among women in Texas for the vote, but the very same year, the Texas Woman Suffrage Association was formed (later to become the League of Women Voters of Texas), following the foundation of woman's suffrage clubs in Austin and San Antonio a few years earlier. Five years later, Texas women would gain the right to vote in primaries (1918), and the full right to vote in 1919 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

"We oppose the effort to reduce the standard of womanhood and we deprecate the effort to dash from the high pedestal upon which Southern manhood has placed them, the wives and daughters of the South and especially of Texas." -Commitee Minority Report

Property Rights and Labor Laws

The legislators of the 33rd Regular Session passed a major milestone for women regarding marital property rights. Houston attorney Hortense S. Ward, one of the first women admitted to the Texas State Bar, worked to help HB 22 by Representative W.B. Goodner become law.

While husbands remained in control of community property, the new law allowed wives to control rent and other income from their own property holdings, as well as income from her stocks and bonds. In addition, wives could now exclusively control  their own bank accounts. Previously, a husband could access a bank account held solely in his wife's name.  Married women in Texas would not see full property and other rights until 1967; the 1913 law was a major step forward.

Female labor laws were also a concern during this time period. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire had occurred just two years prior. In 1913, legislators passed SB 30, by Senator O.S. Lattimore, that limited the number of hours females could work. The hours varied by profession (a maximum of 10 or 11 hours in 24 hours and no more than 54 hours per week). The following session, the hours would be further reduced to nine. In 1918, several protections for females in the workplace would be set in place, just as women were entering the workforce because of World War I.

Texas Women in 2013

Since gaining the right to vote in 1919, Texas women have made their voices heard as voters and as legislators and elected officials. Representative Edith Wilmans became the first woman elected to the Texas Legislature in 1923. Today, women make up 21% of the legislature, with 31 representatives and 7 senators. Women serve in our congressional delegation and in high elected office, such as Comptroller Susan Combs. More than 4.5 million Texas women voted in the 2008 presidential election, accounting for 54% of the state electorate.

  • How does Texas compare to other states in terms of number of female legislators? Take a look at this map by the National Conference of State Legislators.
  • The Governor's Commission for Women was created in 1967 by Gov. John Connally and has been in continuous existence since 1987. Today, the Commission focuses on four specific areas: increasing female participation in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math); assisting women who are older than 50 with workforce skills and job placement; providing assistance to women in military households; and expanding education about women's health issues.
  • March is Women’s History Month, a tradition that began in 1909 with National Women’s Day (now International Women’s Day). Learn more about famous Texas women through the Ruthe Winegarten Foundation.

You can learn more about women's issues in Texas and nationwide through resources in the Legislative Reference Library. Books such as "Women and the Texas Revolution," provide historical perspective. Legislative and agency reports going back to the 1970s, such as an interim committee report from 1988 on women and minority-owned businesses, provide context for legislation.

To find current and historic legislation related to women, use the Legislative Archive System and the Texas Legislature Online and peruse the subject list. There are many applicable subjects, such as "Women's Health Program (S0698,)" "Women's Shelters (S0049)," or “Women (I0925).”

This entry was posted on March 4, 2013 at 9:00 AM and has received 6587 views. Print this entry.