Legislative Reference Library of Texas

Interim Hearings – Week of December 7, 2015

Nov 30

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings – Week of December 7th

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 7th

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Charter schools, implementation of SB 2, 83rd Legislature, R.S.

Charter School Performance in Texas, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO), Stanford University, July 22, 2015
The Status of Charter Schools in Texas: Dispelling the Myths and Analyzing the Realities, Children At Risk, April 24, 2015
Charter School Laws Across the States: Rankings and Scorecard, Center for Education Reform, 2015
"Chartering a New Course in Education," Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, July 17, 2014
Charter Schools, Charter School Finance, Charter School Reports, Texas Education Agency

Charge: Teacher-student relationships

"Texas Sees Rising Number of Improper Teacher-Student Relationships," Austin American-Statesman, September 3, 2015
"Texas Safe Schools Week: Shared Responsibility in Identifying, Reporting Inappropriate Educator-Student Relationships," Texas Education Agency, October 23, 2014
Federal Agencies Can Better Support State Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Abuse by School Personnel, U.S. Government Accountability Office, January 2014
Katelyn Burch Busby, "EDUCATION—Student-Teacher Relationship—Should Teachers Be Held to a Higher Standard? Understanding the Laws Governing Sexual Relationships Between Students and Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools Paschal v. State, 2012 Ark. 127, 388 S.W.3d 429," 36 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 103 (2013)
James R. Baez & Kerri E. Caufield, "Drawing a Line in the Shifting Sand of Social Media: Attempting to Prevent Teachers From 'Liking' a Student Outside the Classroom," 30 Hofstra Lab. & Emp. L.J. 263 (2012)

Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief

Organizational hearing

"The (Long, Long) History of the Texas Property Tax," Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, October 2015
"Property Tax Legislation 2015," Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, August 20, 2015
Property Tax Relief Options for State Governments, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, National Conference of State Legislatures, August 2, 2015
50-State Property Tax Comparison Study, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence, April 2015
Estimating Tax Savings from Homestead Exemptions and Property Tax Credits, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, April 2015
Senate Committee on Finance, Interim Charge Recommendations to the 82nd Legislature (Charge: Property Tax System), January 2011
House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, Interim Report to the 81st Texas Legislature, December 2008

December 8th

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs

Charge: Agricultural liens

James D. Eggleston, Jr., Land, Crops, Cows: Farm and Ranch Acquisition and Financing Issues: "From the First Day You Lay Eyes on Paradise Until You Sell Your Last Cow" (preview, "agricultural liens defined"), presented at The University of Texas School of Law, 48th Annual William W. Gibson, Jr. Mortgage Lending , September 18-19, 2014, Austin, Texas, and October 2-3, 2014, Dallas, Texas
Principles of Feedyard Lending and Marketing, prepared for Texas Cattle Feeders Association, April 2, 2013

Charge: Litter

Environmental Effects of the Single Use Bag Ordinance in Austin, Texas, Austin Resource Recovery & Zero Waste Advisory Commission, June 10, 2015
How Green Is that Grocery Bag Ban? An Assessment of the Environmental and Economic Effects of Grocery Bag Bans and Taxes, Reason Foundation, June 18, 2014
States with Littering Penalties, National Conference of State Legislatures, updated March 2014
Litter Facts & Research, including 2013 Attitudes and Behaviors Study and 2013 Litter Prevention Research Study, Texas Department of Transportation
The Potential Economic Impact of a Texas Beverage Container Deposit Refund System (litter reduction), prepared for Texas League of Conservation Voters, TXP, Inc., 2013

Charge: Agricultural marketing and promotion, Texas Department of Agriculture's Market Development Services

Texas State Resources, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University
Marketing Programs, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Go Texan, Texas Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service - Texas Field Office (Texas agricultural statistics, county estimates, Census of Agriculture for Texas, crop and livestock reports), U.S. Department of Agriculture

Charge: Game animals, domestic fowl, disease and harmful pests

Fowl Registration Facts, Texas Animal Health Commission, November 2012
House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature (Charge 1 - tick-borne disease in livestock, plant pests and diseases), January 2011
Game Animals and Game Management in Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Insects - Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

December 10th

House Committee on Appropriations

Topic: Texas Child Support Enforcement System 2.0

"A Troubled State Contract Gets Renewed Scrutiny, But Who Is To Blame?," Austin American Statesman, October 31, 2015
"Upgrade of AG's Child Support System Facing Problems," Texas Tribune, July 16, 2015
IV&V Review Services for the State of Texas OAG CSD TXCSES 2.0 (T2) Program (Semi-Annual Review Report - VOLUME I - Version 2.0 Final), UT Austin, Advanced Research in Software Engineering Center (UT ARiSE), September 12, 2014
TXCSES 2.0 Initiative Status Report (2011) and TXCSES 2.0 Initiative Status Report (2013), Texas Attorney General's Office
The Development of the Texas Child Support Enforcement System 2.0 at the Office of the Attorney General, Texas State Auditor's Office, July 2011

House Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Undocumented immigrants

"Trust in Immigration Enforcement: State Noncooperation and Sanctuary Cities after Secure Communities", Chicago Kent Law Review, last revised November 27, 2015
State Laws Related to Immigration and Immigrants (2015 Immigration Report), National Conference of State Legislatures, August 3, 2015
State and Local “Sanctuary” Policies Limiting Participation in Immigration Enforcement, Congressional Research Service, July 10, 2015
Guidance on State and Local Governments' Assistance in Immigration Enforcement and Related Matters, U. S. Department of Homeland Security, updated July 9, 2015
Final Report of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing (1.9.1 Action Item: Decouple federal immigration enforcement from routine local policing), President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, May 2015
"Who is Responsible for U.S. Immigration Policy?" , Insights on Law & Society, Spring 2014
"Which States Make Life Easier or Harder for Illegal Immigrants" and "States Are Divided by the Lines They Draw on Immigration," New York Times, March 29, 2015
Authority of State and Local Police to Enforce Federal Immigration Law, Congressional Research Service, September 10, 2012
Enforcing Immigration Law at the State and Local Levels: A Public Policy Dilemma, Rand Center on Quality Policing, 2010
Interim Report to the 81st Texas Legislature (Border Security Charge), Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade, January 2009
Interim Report to the 81st Texas Legislature (Charge 15), Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, December 2008
Tribpedia: Immigration, Texas Tribune

December 10th - CANCELLED

House Administration Committee

Topic: Select committee budgets

This entry was posted on November 30, 2015 at 4:14 PM and has received 1796 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of November 30, 2015

Nov 23

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings – Week of November 30th

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 2nd

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations

Charge 2: Home rule municipalities' process to adopt ordinances, rules, and regulations, including initiative and referendum

Alphabet Soup: Types of Cities, Texas Municipal League Legal Department, 2015
Handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers, Texas Municipal League, 2015
"Home Rule Charters," Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association, June 15, 2010
TML City Officials Directory (search by government type: home rule), Texas Municipal League

Charge 3: Natural disaster preparedness planning and coordination

Lessons From Texas: 10 Years of Disaster Recovery Examined (White Paper), Texas Appleseed, September 17, 2015
Congressional Primer on Major Disasters and Emergencies, Congressional Research Service, May 19, 2015
State of Texas Emergency Management Plan and Annexes, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Division of Emergency Management, May 2012
State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan: 2010-2013, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Division of Emergency Management, October 18, 2010, and 2013 Update
Senate Subcommittee on Flooding and Evacuations, Interim Report, Report to the 82nd Legislature, January 2011
House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness, Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature, December 2010
Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, Report to the 81st Legislature (Charge 3, Disaster planning and first response), December 2008
Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources, Interim Report to the 78th Legislature: Natural Disasters, August 2002

Charge 6: Government accountability in elections regarding issuance of public debt

Improving Financial Transparency at the Ballot Box, Texas Public Policy Foundation, September 2014
Your Money and Local Debt, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, September 2012
Texas Transparency: Debt at a Glance (state, counties, cities, independent school districts, community/junior college districts), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Transparency: Local Bond Elections, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Local Debt Explorer, Texas Tribune, including data collected by Texas Bond Review Board reflecting debt load as of August 2014

December 3rd

Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, Subcommittee on Border Security

Charge: Sanctuary cities

"Immigration Sanctuary Ban Creates Uncertainty in North Carolina," New York Times, November 14, 2015
"Senate Democrats Block ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Bill," Washington Post, October 20, 2015 and Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, S. 2146, 114th Cong. (2015-2016)
"Sanctuary Cities," Trust Acts, and Community Policing Explained, American Immigration Council, October 2015
"Numerous Texas Cities Offering Immigration Sanctuary," Watchdog.org, July 17, 2015
The Criminalization of Immigration in the United States, American Immigration Council, July 8, 2015
Debunking the Myth of "Sanctuary Cities": Community Policing Policies Protect American Communities, Immigration Policy Center, March 2009
Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. GA-0669 (2009), Local government policies that hinder enforcement of federal immigration laws (RQ-0733-GA), Attorney General of Texas, March 19, 2009
"Sanctuary Cities": Legal Issues, Congressional Research Service, January 15, 2009
Enforcing Immigration Law: The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement, Congressional Research Service, Updated May 4, 2006
Tribpedia: Sanctuary Cities, Texas Tribune

This entry was posted on November 23, 2015 at 10:46 AM and has received 1334 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, November 19th

Nov 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.

Consider insurer participation in health insurance marketplaces. (Kaiser Family Foundation, November 3, 2015)
Examine the current State of Texas Annual Cash Report. (Texas Transparency, November 2, 2015)
Read about regional differences in the perception of climate change. (Pew Research Center, November 5, 2015)
Review information related to the November 13th terrorist attacks in Paris. (Congressional Research Service, November 16, 2015)

Week in Review will return on Thursday, December 3rd.

This entry was posted on November 19, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 579 views. Print this entry.

New Reports of Legislative Interest

Nov 19

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process

The Texas Legislative Council has published two reports of legislative interest:

Summary of Enactments for the 84th Legislature

This publication provides a summary of each bill that passed during the 2015 session, and categorizes each measure by subject. For Summary of Enactments reports for previous sessions, please see the library's session summaries page.

New, Renamed, and Abolished State Governmental Entities: 84th Legislature

This publication provides information about statutory state agencies, interagency panels, advisory committees, and other state government entities that were created, restructured, or eliminated by the Legislature. The report provides the following information for each entity:

Name
Legislation
Effective/Abolished
Function
Composition
Expiration Date

The report also provides, in the appendix, a list of the entities affected by Tex. S.B. 219, 84th Leg., R.S., relating to the provision of health and human services in the state.

This entry was posted on November 19, 2015 at 10:52 AM and has received 922 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, November 12th

Nov 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.

Examine exclusionary discipline practices for pre-K and elementary school students in Texas. (Texas Appleseed, ©2015)
Review New, Renamed, and Abolished State Governmental Entities 84th Legislature. (Texas Legislative Council, 2015)
Read about the Mexico Supreme Court granting four individuals the right to grow and smoke marijuana. (Jurist, November 5, 2015)
Explore a national search engine on corporate misconduct. (Good Jobs First, ©2015)

This entry was posted on November 12, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 620 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of November 16, 2015

Nov 9

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of November 16th

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.

November 18th

House Committee on County Affairs

Topic: How Texas Department of Public Safety codes race during traffic stops

"Texas Troopers Ticketing Hispanic Drivers as White," KXAN Investigation, updated November 9, 2015
Interim Report to the 78th Legislature (Charge 5, Implementation of SB 1074, 77th Legislature, relating to the prevention of racial profiling by certain peace officers), Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, November 2002

Topic: Texas Commission on Jail Standards inmate intake screening form and recent jail suicides

"State Unveils Measures Aimed at Reducing Jail Suicides," Houston Chronicle, updated September 16, 2015
Invited and Public Testimony on Jail Standards, House Committee on County Affairs, September 15, 2015
37 Texas Administrative Code § 273.5, Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, Texas Commission on Jail Standards, amended April 10, 2013

November 20th

Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations

Charge: Veteran benefits only offered to residents of the state of Texas — whether by being born here or by entering the service in Texas — and the state's liability

State Argues We Must Preserve Hazlewood Act for Texas Veterans (Recent News), Attorney General of Texas, November 4, 2015, and Oral Argument Recordings (Docket No. 15-20105, Keith Harris v. Eliseo Cantu, Jr., et al., November 4, 2015), U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
Keith Harris v. Eliseo 'Al' Cantu of the Texas Veterans Commission, et al., Memorandum and order (Civil action no. H-14-1312; Texas Hazlewood Act), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, January 26, 2015, and Keith Harris v. Eliseo 'Al' Cantu of the Texas Veterans Commission, et al., Plaintiff's original complaint and application for preliminary injunction and permanent injunction (Civil action no. H-14-1312; Texas Hazlewood Act), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, May 12, 2014
Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. KP-0015 (2015), Constitutionality of section 54.341 of the Education Code, the Hazlewood Act (RQ-0009-KP), and Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. DM-468 (1998), Whether Education Code section 54.203 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution by exempting from dues, fees, and charges at an institution of higher education only those veterans who were Texas citizens at the time they entered the service, and related questions (RQ-937), Attorney General of Texas
Report on the Hazlewood Exemption: Legislative Policy Report, Legislative Budget Board, December 2014
Report and Recommendations to the 79th Texas Legislature (Charge 2, Inventory of state veterans' benefits), Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations, December 2004
Benefits for Veterans, Texas Veterans Portal
Texas State Veteran's Benefits, Military.com Benefits
State/Territory Benefits - Texas, MyArmyBenefits.com, U.S. Army
Texas State Veterans Benefits, NOLO.com

This entry was posted on November 9, 2015 at 8:46 AM and has received 1502 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, November 5th

Nov 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.

Compare workers' compensation benefits of various companies in Texas. (ProPublica, October 14, 2015)
Read a progress update on the Child Protective Services Transformation. (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, October 2015)
Review construction reports by legislative district, by TxDOT district, or by contractor name. (Texas Department of Transportation, last updated on October 12, 2015)
Consider efforts of top law enforcement officials seeking to reduce both crime and mass incarceration. (Brennan Center for Justice, October 21, 2015)

This entry was posted on November 5, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 454 views. Print this entry.

New & Noteworthy List for November 2015

Nov 4

posted by TexasLRL in New & Noteworthy

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the six titles from our November 2015 New & Noteworthy list.

1. Reimagining Courts: A Design for the Twenty-First Century By Victor E. Flango and Thomas M. Clarke
Calls for a re-examination of courts’ essential functions to determine if they are meeting the needs of litigants and to clarify the mismatch between how individuals perceive courts and their actual workloads. Outlines proposals for reform and barriers to their implementation. Offers a comprehensive and integrated redesign of state and local courts to realign and reconcile court duties with different methods of case processing that increase access to justice, improve customer service, and maximize financial resources. Provides examples of courts that are successfully using recommended practices.
Temple University Press, 2015. 215 pages.
347.01 F614R 2015

2. Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America By William H. Frey
Explores the transformational demographic change in the United States as a pivotal period for race in America. Discusses the growth of "new minorities," particularly Hispanics, Asians, and multiracial Americans, and their impact on regional shifts, generational change, neighborhood segregation, interracial marriage, and presidential politics. Charts the economic advances of the black population and the reverse migration of blacks back into the South. Includes discussion of various demographic and voter groups in Texas.
Brookings Institution Press, 2015. 301 pages.
305.8 F898D 2015

3. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt By Edmond Morris
Profiles the pre-presidential life of Theodore Roosevelt, from his birth in New York City through his service as William McKinley's Vice-President. Includes a deeply researched examination of all aspects of Roosevelt's early life, including his time as a precocious child, a Harvard student, a New York State Assemblyman, a rancher & cowboy, New York City Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel and leader of the "Rough Riders," New York Governor, and Vice President of the United States. Explores Roosevelt's personal life through his relationship with his family, wives, and children, along with the personal and political friendships developed throughout his life and political career.
Random House, 2010. 920 pages.
973.911 R677M

4. Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom By Ryan T. Anderson
Presents the arguments of a Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation who believes the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage ruling, was "pure judicial activism." Examines the idea of marriage and consequences of its legal redefinition, the idea of religious liberty as an inherent right, and the perception of "defenders of marriage" as bigots. Explains his arguments are based on philosophy, jurisprudence, political science, and social science and that the book provides those who disagree a better understanding of his arguments, and provides those who agree a better understanding of the nature of the debate.
Regnery Publishing, 2015. 256 pages.
306.81 AN24T 2015

5. Picturing Texas Politics: A Photographic History from Sam Houston to Rick Perry By Chuck Bailey
Presents the military, social, and political history of Texas through a kaleidoscope of iconic images and rare photographs that in some cases have never been published. Captures influential and colorful politicians at work, campaigning, or at home to tell the story of Texas politics from the Republic of Texas to modern day. Compliments this unique collection of photographs with chapter introductions and captions written by historian Patrick Cox.
University of Texas Press, 2015. 230 pages.
320.09764 B151P 2015

6. Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America By Ari Berman
Chronicles the events preceding and following the adoption of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. Explores the journey America has endured in its search for voting equality for its citizens; from the Martin Luther King, Jr. lead marches in Selma to recent efforts to thwart minorities from voting. Proposes that tactics such as gerrymandering and voter ID laws, passed under the guise of "combating voter fraud," are motivated by politics, meant to suppress minority voter turnout. Suggests that although the VRA was passed 50 years ago, there are still battles to be fought in the quest for voting rights for all Americans.
Farrar, Straus and Girous, 2015. 372 pages.
324.620973 B456G 2015

This entry was posted on November 4, 2015 at 1:03 PM and has received 950 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Weeks of November 2 and November 9, 2015

Nov 3

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Weeks of November 2nd and November 9th

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.

November 6th

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development

Charge 2: Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP)