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Interim Hearings – Week of January 15, 2018

Jan 8

posted by TexasLRL in 85th 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.

 

January 16

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence CANCELED

Charge: Death penalty for defendants with serious mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities

 

January 17

House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs CANCELED

Charge: Impact of Hurricane Harvey related to the Texas Military Department, Emergency Management Council, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management

 

January 18

House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics (Houston) 

Charge:  Oversight of federal, state, local, and charitable funds spent in response to Hurricane Harvey

House Committee on Urban Affairs (Houston)

Topic: Short- and long-term housing needs and related issues resulting from Hurricane Harvey and associated flooding

This entry was posted on January 8, 2018 at 9:37 AM and has received 1024 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles and Research Resources, January 4

Jan 4

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Week in review, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

  • Find resources related to homeowners' associations law. (Library of Congress, December 7, 2017)
  • Consider issues related to face scanning in airports. (Georgetown Law, Center on Privacy & Technology, December 21, 2017)
  • Examine graduation rates by state. (Education Week, December 7, 2017)
  • Explore the Congressional Record from its first issue forward. (U.S. Government Publishing Office, January 3, 2018)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "No way out." By Barbara Bradley Hagerty. Atlantic Monthly, January/February 2018, pp. 54-66.
    Profiles the case of Benjamine Spencer, sentenced to life for the 1987 Dallas murder of Jeffrey Young. Examines the work of Jim McCloskey and Centurion Ministries in trying to prove Spencer's innocence.
    See: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/01/no-way-out/546575/
  • "Shale oil." By Alex Nussbaum and David Wethe. Bloomberg Businessweek, January 8, 2018, p. 72.
    Discusses the future of shale oil producers, particularly those in the Permian Basin. Details anxiety in the oil market regarding the shale oil industry's sustainability.
  • "Insecure ballots." By Warren Richey. Christian Science Monitor, December 11, 2017, pp. 26-32.
    Presents the findings of a Christian Science Monitor study of the vulnerabilities of the American election system.
  • "It's open season." By Dean DeChiaro. CQ Weekly, December 4, 2017, pp. 30-33.
    Discusses changes in immigration policy under the Trump administration — specifically, the removal of prosecutorial discretion when enforcing immigration law. Highlights the case of an undocumented girl with cerebral palsy who was arrested and detained in Texas after seeking medical help.
  • "Business and society: America Inc gets woke." Economist, December 2nd-8th, 2017, pp. 53-55.
    Reports reactions to the Trump administration are reinforcing a longer-term trend for former apolitical businesses to make their voices heard on social issues.
  • "Older Americans were sicker and faced more financial barriers to health care than counterparts in other countries." By Robin Osborn, et al. Health Affairs, December 2017, pp. 2123-2132.
    Surveys elderly adults across eleven countries and finds that seniors in the United States were sicker than their counterparts in other countries and faced more financial barriers to health care.
  • The promises and pitfalls of treating addiction." By Jessica L. Gregg. Health Affairs, December 2017, pp. 2204-2206.
    Relates an addiction medicine physician's personal experience treating opioid addiction. Notes that addressing the epidemic will require involvement from primary care providers, not just specialized treatment facilities.
  • "Houston area law enforcement leaders favor drug policy reform." Internet Resource, 12/08/2017, pp. 1-8.
    Offers informed perspectives on the detrimental effects of the war on drugs as well as a rationale for a new approach to dealing with nonviolent drug offenders. Includes excerpts from interviews with Sylvester Turner, Rodney Ellis, Art Acevedo, and others.
    See: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/research-document/ee3d9e84/bi-brief-120817-drug-policyreform.pdf
  • "Texas ranks higher in oil and gas allure." Oil and Gas Journal, December 4, 2017, pp. 34-35.
    Reports that, according to the Fraser Institute of Canada's annual Global Petroleum Survey, Texas holds the top rank as the "most attractive jurisdiction globally for oil and gas investment."
    Report at: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/global-petroleum-survey-2017.pdf
  • "Public health: lead in drinking water: past, present, and future." By Caroline Russell, Philip Brandhuber, and Darren Lytle. Opflow, December 2017, pp. 10-15.
    Explores the regulation and use of lead in plumbing materials.
  • "The end of free speech." By Katherine Mangu-Ward. Reason, January 2018, pp. 18-26.
    Argues that both the right and the left are willing to abridge free speech rights in the "service of partisan goals." Highlights recent events such as NFL player protests and Charlottesville rallies.
  • "Not so fast." By Jeffrey Mervis. Science, December 15, 2017, pp. 1370-1374.
    Discusses autonomous vehicles and whether they will be a realistic transportation option in the near future.
  • "On record: Dan Patrick, Texas Lieutenant Governor, author." By Gene Rose. State Legislatures, January 2018, pp. 24-25.
    Interviews Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick about Hurricane Harvey and ongoing recovery efforts.
  • "Top 10 in 2018." By Julie Lays. State Legislatures, January 2018, pp. 10-13.
    Highlights the biggest issues that will have a wide impact and presence in almost every state legislature in 2018.
  • "Courthouse security." By Julie Anderson. Texas County Progress, December 2017, pp. 12-14.
    Recounts two high-profile shootings that took place in Texas county courthouses and led the Texas Legislature to enact SB42, 85th Legislature, R.S.
  • "Closing the gap." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, December 2017, pp. 22-28.
    Discusses the value and importance of SB507, 85th Legislature, R.S., which will greatly expand mediation for out-of-network medical bills. Notes additional measures that would help eliminate balance billing.
    See: https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=46160
  • "Difficult situations." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, December 2017, pp. 37-42.
    Examines the Texas Advance Directives Act that was challenged in court in summer 2017. Explores the challenge of reconciling the wishes of a patient or the patient's health care decider with the ethical duties of a physician.
    See: https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=46157
  • "Bordering on an outbreak." By Sophie Novak. Texas Observer, December 2017, pp. 12-16.
    Details Brownsville's battle with the Zika virus. Considers how the South Texas climate and the international border pose challenges to the efforts to address Zika outbreaks.
  • "The silence breakers." By Edward Felsenthal, et al. Time, December 18, 2017, pp. 30-56, 58-62, 64, 66-68, 70-71 (Note Length).
    Presents Time Magazine's Person of the Year — the Silence Breakers — the people who have launched a "revolution of refusal" by speaking publicly about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault.
    See: http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on January 4, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 845 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of January 8, 2018

Jan 3

posted by TexasLRL in 85th 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.

 

January 12

Charge: Use of federal funds in response to Hurricane Harvey, federal funds and investment in infrastructure projects to reduce impact of future natural disasters

This entry was posted on January 3, 2018 at 1:29 PM and has received 1040 views. Print this entry.

Texas Recognition Months

Jan 3

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

Most people know of a few recognition months, like Black History Month in February and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. However, Texas observes many more recognition and awareness months. Some are codified in Government Code § 662, Subchapter D. In addition, senators and representatives pass resolutions in each session to commemorate even more recognition months. 

 

Recognition months call attention to health issues, industries, groups of people, and more. Click here to see a list of all of the recognition months observed with resolutions by the 85th Legislature. There also are a plethora of recognition weeks and days that are codified in the Government Code and honored by the legislature. Below is a sampling of some of the lesser-known recognition months:

 

January

Human Trafficking Prevention Month (Government Code § 662.107)

National Glaucoma Awareness Month (HR 2682, 85R)

 

February

Self-Care Awareness Month (HR 592, 85R)

 

March

Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (HR 177, 85R, SR 58, 85R)

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (SR 446, 85R)

 

April

Texas Fruit and Vegetable Month (Government Code § 662.103)

Distracted Driving Awareness Month (HR 2686, 85R)

 

May

Postpartum Depression Awareness Month (Government Code § 662.110)

Fallen First Responder Awareness Month (HCR 86, 85R)

 

June

Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month (HR 2647, 85R)

National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month (HR 2687, 85R)

 

July

Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month (Government Code § 662.101)

Train Safety Awareness Month (HCR 49, 85R)

 

August

National Immunization Awareness Month (HR 182, 85-1)

 

September

Hydrocephalus Awareness Month (Government Code § 662.106)

Hunger Action Month (HR 283, 85-1)

 

October

Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness Month (Government Code § 662.109)

Texas Pecan Month (HR 371 and HR 372, 85-1)

 

November

American Diabetes Month (HR 2692, 85R)

 
(None in December!)

This entry was posted on January 3, 2018 at 9:00 AM and has received 1244 views. Print this entry.

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