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Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research

New Online Collection: Gubernatorial Inauguration Materials

Jan 27

posted by TexasLRL in Governor

The library is pleased to announce a new online collection of gubernatorial inauguration materials. Inauguration of a Texas governor is often celebrated with receptions, parades, galas and barbeques. Over the years, the LRL has accumulated a collection of material related to these events, including invitations, programs and tickets.  These unique items are now available on our website.  The collection features items from the Legislative Reference Library as well as items from private collections and from the Texas State Library and Archives.
 
The oldest pieces in the collection are an invitation and brochure to the 1891 inauguration of Governor James S. Hogg.
 
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More recent inaugural materials provide a detailed look at inaugural events, as well as information about the committees that planned the events. You'll also find unique items like the transcript of Governor W. Lee O'Daniels' 1941 radio broadcast inviting Texans to the inauguration ceremony and a free barbeque (below left), and a brochure for the inaugural special train that was part of Governor Beauford Jester's ceremonies (below right).
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Some governors chose themes for their inauguration ceremonies, such as Governor George Bush, whose inaugural theme in 1995 was "What Texans Can Dream, Texans Can Do," and in 1999 was "Together We Can / Juntos Podemos."
 
Governor George Bush's 1995 inaugural programGovernor George Bush's 1999 inaugural program
 
 
 You can also read through previous inaugural speeches by going here.
 

This entry was posted on January 27, 2014 at 4:48 PM and has received 2315 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 23rd

Jan 23

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 changes to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility. (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 13, 2014)
  • Read about patients discussing alcohol use with their health care providers. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 10, 2014)
  • Examine the risks of distracted driving. (The New England Journal of Medicine, January 2, 2014)
  • See the state-by-state emergency care report card. (American College of Emergency Physicians, 2014)
  • Review results of a survey about uninsured adults' Affordable Care Act enrollment experiences. (Enroll America / PerryUndem, January 9, 2014)
 

This entry was posted on January 23, 2014 at 3:15 PM and has received 894 views. Print this entry.

Legislative History of the "Pregnant Patient" Law

Jan 21

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

What is the history of the "pregnant patient" law?
 
There are technically two applicable laws, Health & Safety Code 166.049 and 166.033, which are both part of the Texas Advance Directives Act, Health & Safety Code 166.001 et seq.  Here is the history of these two sections:

SB 148, 65th Regular Session (1977) added Vernon's Civil Statutes Art. 4950h, the Natural Death Act, including the "Directive to Physicians" form that contained the phrase, "If I have been diagnosed as pregnant and that diagnosis is known to my physician, this directive shall have no force or effect during the course of my pregnancy."  The "Directive to Physicians" form is now in Health & Safety Code 166.033, where it includes the statement, "I understand that under the Texas law this directive has no effect if I have been diagnosed as pregnant."

HB 403, 69th Regular Session (1985) amended the Natural Death Act to add, among other amendments, Vernon's Civil Statutes Art. 4950h, section 4E: "Life-sustaining procedures may not be withheld or withdrawn under this Act from a patient who is pregnant." That particular provision was not present in the introduced bill but was added during the House committee process.  The language is currently in Health & Safety Code 166.049, where it states, "A person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment under this subchapter from a pregnant patient."

In 1989, a non-substantive revision bill moved these sections from the Civil Statutes to the Health & Safety Code.  A subsequent bill, SB 1260, 76th Regular Session (1999), condensed various advance directive and life support-related statutes, including the Natural Death Act, into Health & Safety Code Chapter 166.
 
 

This entry was posted on January 21, 2014 at 8:19 AM and has received 3226 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 16th

Jan 16

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.
  • Trace the history of the official poverty measure. (U.S. Census Bureau, accessed January 2014)
  • See which popular diets are the best for various health conditions. (U.S. News & World Report, 2014)
  • Explore the recently updated Occupational Outlook Handbook. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 8, 2014)
  • Examine prison admissions and releases in 2012. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 2013)

This entry was posted on January 16, 2014 at 3:15 PM and has received 562 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 9th

Jan 9

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 how Texas and California embody the red state–blue state rift. (The Washington Post, December 28, 2013)
  • Consider the impact of distracted driving. (National Institutes of Health, January 1, 2014)
  • Examine state-by-state poverty indicators. (Center for American Progress Action Fund, December 2013)
  • Explore various interactive features about state policies and policy. (Stateline, December 23, 2013)

This entry was posted on January 9, 2014 at 3:15 PM and has received 808 views. Print this entry.

New Laws Effective January 1, 2014

Jan 8

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On January 1, 2014 provisions of 73 bills passed during the regular session of the 83rd Legislature took effect.
 
Additionally, sections of bills passed during the 82nd R.S. and 82nd 1st C.S. in 2011 and the 81st R.S. in 2009 took effect on January 1.
 
To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.
 
 

This entry was posted on January 8, 2014 at 9:47 AM and has received 2485 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, December 19th

Dec 19

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 state thresholds for mental disability in inmates facing the death penalty. (Stateline, December 6, 2013)
  • Explore fiscal conditions in the states. (National Association of State Budget Officers, Fall 2013)
  • Examine active shooter incidents across the country. (ABC Action News, accessed December 2013)
  • Track oral health indicators by region. (Council of State Governments, December 3, 2013)
Happy Holidays to all of our readers! Week in Review will return on Thursday, January 9th.

This entry was posted on December 19, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 613 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, December 12th

Dec 12

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.
  • Consider the 2013 state of Texas children. (Center for Public Policy Priorities, December 3, 2013)
  • Examine student debt by state and by college. (The Institute for College Access & Success, December 2013)
  • Review a 2013 report of various health disparities. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 22, 2013)
  • Read about homeless veterans and programs targeted at homeless veterans. (Congressional Research Service, November 29, 2013)
  • Explore transportation apps and vehicle-sharing programs. (U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund / Frontier Group, Fall 2013)

This entry was posted on December 12, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 691 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of December 16, 2013

Dec 11

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

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.

 

December 18th-19th (12/19 meeting cancelled)

House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations

Topic: Invited testimony. Pursuant to Rule 4, Section 12, the Committee "may meet in executive session for the limited purpose of examining a witness or deliberating, considering, or debating a decision...."

 

After meeting in executive session the committee may consider and take action regarding matters deliberated in closed session, including planning, scheduling, courses of action, and ongoing committee business.

 

This entry was posted on December 11, 2013 at 8:11 AM and has received 751 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, December 5th

Dec 5

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.
  • Consider the economic impact of private for-profit institutions of higher education. (Federal Reserve Bank of New York, November 20, 2013)
  • Track changes over time in employer-sponsored health insurance. (Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed December 4, 2013)
  • Explore a national database of conservation easement records. (National Conservation Easement Database, September 2013)
  • See maps, graphs, and charts of the uninsured rate of young adults. (U.S. Census Bureau, November 21, 2013)

This entry was posted on December 5, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 595 views. Print this entry.

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