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Current Articles & Research Resources, August 30

Aug 30

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

  • Consider election security issues related to the 2018 midterm elections. (Congressional Research Service, August 16, 2018)
  • Explore safe bicycle passing laws by state. (National Conference of State Legislatures, August 2018)
  • Review the updated Certification Revenue Estimate. (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, July 2018)
  • Sign up for the Capitol Complex plan newsletter for updates on construction and parking around the Capitol. (Texas Facilities Commission, accessed August 29, 2018)

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

  • "21st century cures for the opioid crisis: Promise, impact, and missed opportunities." By Leo Beletsky. American Journal of Law & Medicine, 2018, pp. 359-385.
    Analyzes the impact of the opioid crisis response elements of the 21st Century Cures Act. Includes examination of the Opioid State Targeted Response [STR] grant mechanism and its implementation by different states.
  • "How Medicaid work requirements will harm rural residents – and communities." Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, August 22, 2018, pp. 1-2.
    Outlines briefly the potential effect of Medicaid work requirements on rural health coverage and access to rural health care.
  • "Improving customer service in health and human services through technology." By Sonal Ambegaokar, Rachael Podesfinski, and Jennifer Wagner. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, August 23, 2018, pp. 1-29.
    Examines the new phase of "client-facing technology" to streamline state and local government administration of eligibility, enrollment, and case management of programs supporting low-income families. Describes best practices by technology, including web-based tools, mobile-based technology, and call center tools.
  • "Carmaking in America: Rocky road ahead." Economist, August 25th-31st, 2018, pp. 51-52.
    Examines how the automobile industry is coping with the Trump administration's ongoing trade wars and President Trump's threats to impose a 25 percent tariff on all car imports.
  • "Construction technology: A bridge too far." Economist, August 18th-24th, 2018, pp. 67-68.
    Reports concerns that many bridges around the world that use reinforced concrete are deteriorating faster than expected. Report at: https://www.artbabridgereport.org/.
  • "Florida to create new database to stop school shootings." By Benjamin Herold. Education Week, August 22, 2018, p. 13.
    Addresses a new centralized database created by lawmakers in Florida as a means to prevent school shootings. Argues the law, which includes information from social media accounts, is vague and lacks adequate safeguards to protect the privacy and civil liberties of people.
  • "The deportation racket: Con artists are preying on undocumented immigrants in detention." By Micah Hauser. Harper's Magazine, September 2018, pp. 59-65.
    Describes the problem of notario fraud, including a legal scam perpetrated by a couple in Texas and the subsequent investigation by the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Notes Texas has been particularly aggressive in pursuing notario fraudsters under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
  • "Direct primary care: One step forward, two steps back." By Eli Y. Adashi, Ryan P. Clodfelter, and Paul George. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), August 21, 2018, pp. 637-638.
    Explores the pros and cons of direct primary care [DPC], in which patients contract directly with a primary care physician to pay a recurring out-of-pocket fee in exchange for a defined set of primary care benefits. Argues that while the premises of DPC are good, it is not a scalable model to achieve systemic cost savings in health care payment reform.
  • "Senate GOP bill would amend key section of the Clean Water Act." By Nick Snow. Oil and Gas Journal, August 6, 2018, pp. 22-23.
    Describes recently introduced federal legislation, the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2018, that would affect individual states under the Clean Water Act. Related information at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3303.
  • "Shipping, market constraints poised to slow US crude export growth." By Christopher E. Smith. Oil and Gas Journal, August 6, 2018, pp. 53-56.
    Identifies current projects contributing to the accelerated growth of domestic crude exports, such as the expansion of the Port of Corpus Christi.
  • "Water quality: Data tools improve nutrient monitoring." By Karlin Danielsen, et al. Opflow, August 2018, pp. 16-19.
    Argues that real-time nutrient systems offer a way for communities to address algal blooms. Provides a case study of the application of this kind of technology to Lake Erie.
  • "FAA reauthorization: A step toward improving utility drone use." Public Power, July/August 2018, p. 42.
    Summarizes the drone provisions from introduced legislation related to the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would affect how utilities use drones. Related information at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4.
  • "Public health vs. private property in war on lead." By Rebecca Beitsch. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 23, 2018, pp. 1-8.
    Explains that conflicting rules regarding what can be done on public versus private property — and who can pay for it — present challenges for cities seeking to eliminate lead infrastructure within their water systems.

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 August 30, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1140 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of September 3, 2018

Aug 29

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.

 

For recent posts on Interim Hearings, see Interim Hearing Resources on the LRL homepage. The "Recent Entries" list on the left provides quick access to interim hearings posts from previous weeks.

 

 

September 5

Charge: Sustainability of TRS-Care, funding retired teacher health care in Texas; implementation of HB 3976, 85th Legislature, R.S., and HB 30, 85th Legislature, 1st C.S.

Charge: Appropriations made to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the E-rate Classroom Connectivity project; high-speed broadband and infrastructure in schools

 

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Improving transferability

 

Charge: Environmental safety during emergencies

Charge: Waste disposal regulation, permitting, disposal fees

Charge: Monitoring:

 

September 6

Topic: Recommendations relevant to costs, fees, and any other matters the committee determines are relevant to the compact facility and its oversight

 

House Committee on State Affairs

Charge 6: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature, including SB 11, 85th Legislature, 1st C.S., 2017

 

House Committee on Urban Affairs (Brownsville)

Charge: Affordable housing in urban and rural areas

Charge: Migrant labor housing facilities

This entry was posted on August 29, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1888 views. Print this entry.

Bills Effective, September 1–December 31, 2018

Aug 28

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

On September 1, 2018, 10 bills or sections thereof that were passed by the 85th Legislature will take effect. SB 550, 84R also will take effect on September 1.

 

In addition, sections of SB 1329 and HB 2950, 85th Legislature, will take effect on October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.

This entry was posted on August 28, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 3216 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 23

Aug 23

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

  • See how accessing legislation via smartphones has been on the rise. (In Custodia Legis, August 16, 2018)
  • Chart what's going on so far in 2018. (Recode, August 13, 2018)
  • Learn how to trace emails from the source. (MakeUseOf, August 20, 2018)
  • Read about how teens and parents manage time on smartphones and similar devices. (Pew Research Center, August 22, 2018)

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

  • "Threatening words." By David L. Hudson. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, August 2018, pp. 56-61.
    Reviews United States Supreme Court opinions that illustrate how the court has struggled to develop clear guidelines for determining when rants and raves — "true threats" — exceed the boundaries of protected speech.
  • "How ICE went rogue." By Franklin Foer. Atlantic Monthly, September 2018, pp. 56-70.
    Examines the growth of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] as immigration has become one of the highest priorities of federal law enforcement. Explores the heavy reliance on private contractors, with ICE employing more outside contractors than federal employees.
  • "Push to kill sick-leave mandate continues." By Daniel Salazar. Austin Business Journal, August 17, 2018, p. 4.
    Reviews the Texas Public Policy Foundation's lawsuit challenging Austin's sick-leave ordinance. Mentions an amicus brief filed on behalf of 29 state lawmakers who are part of the Texas Conservative Coalition. Related information at: https://www.texaspolicy.com/library/docLib/Sick-Leave-Amicus-Appellate-Brief.pdf
  • "Robin Steinberg is disrupting the bail system that keeps poor defendants in jail before trial." By Simon Montlake. Christian Science Monitor, July 30, 2018, pp. 39-40.
    Highlights the work of Robin Steinberg and her Bronx Freedom Fund, a revolving nonprofit fund paying bail for poor people. Explains the concept has expanded into the Bail Project that will operate in over 40 locations and has received funding as a TED Audacious Project. Includes a discussion of "bail disrupters," project assistants who track and assist low-income defendants to ensure they can appear for their court dates.
  • "Baylor used football program as scapegoat, says ex-director." By Sarah Brown. Chronicle of Higher Education, August 3, 2018, p. A21.
    Presents the views of Ian McCaw, former Baylor University athletics director, regarding the high-profile sexual-assault scandal that led to his resignation. Reports on a deposition in which McCaw claims board members and university administrators ensured the focus was on the football program in order to deflect from the more widespread failure to adequately address problems at their administrative level.
  • "Sick of confusing medical bills?" By Penelope Wang. Consumer Reports, September 2018, pp. 44, 46-52.
    Discusses the medical billing process. Points out how people can protect their finances before, during, and after a medical procedure.
  • "Land-value tax: On firmer ground." Economist, August 11th-17th, 2018, pp. 18-20.
    Considers the appeal of land-value taxes. Notes critics' concerns about their fairness, viability, and effectiveness.
  • "Voter purges: On election day, stay away." Economist, August 11th-17th, 2018, pp. 22-23.
    Discusses the dramatic increase in state voter purges in recent years. Report at: https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/Purges_Growing_Threat_2018.pdf
  • "Impact of Medicaid expansion on coverage and treatment of low-income adults with substance use disorders." By Mark Olfson. Health Affairs, August 2018, pp. 1208-1215.
    Assesses the impact of expanded Medicaid eligibility on insurance and treatment rates for people with substance use disorders. Finds that while insurance rates increased in expansion and nonexpansion states, there was no corresponding increase in overall substance use disorder treatment in either category.
  • "Increasing fatality rates from preventable deaths in teenagers and young adults." By Lois K. Lee and Rebekah Mannix. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), August 14, 2018, pp. 543-544.
    Highlights recent trends of increasing numbers of teenagers and young adults dying from potentially preventable causes, such as drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, and firearms. Advocates for policies to prevent and treat opioid addiction, build safer motor vehicles and roadways, increase mental health services, and restrict access to firearms.
  • "Sharing is caring?" By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, August 2018, pp. 30-32.
    Discusses health care sharing ministries, an increasingly popular health insurance alternative. Calls for greater transparency from these ministries to help physicians and patients better understand how their health coverage works.

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 August 23, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1180 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 27, 2018

Aug 22

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.

 

 

August 27

Senate Committee on Transportation

Charge: Unified Transportation Program (UTP)

Charge: Toll road penalties

 

August 28

Senate Committee on Administration

Charge: Programmatic budget structure for legislative agencies

 

Charge: Legislative agency report review, fiscal note and government efficiency report process

 

Joint Legislative Committee on Aging

Charge: Access to care and veterans

 

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

Charge: Implementation of legislation to deregulate occupational licensing

Charge: Occupational licensing and fees

Charge: Social media access – digital assets of decedents, social media privacy laws 

 

August 29

House Committees on Corrections and Criminal Jurisprudence (Joint Hearing) 

Charge: Texas state jail system, including its original intent, sentencing guidelines, effectiveness, and recidivism rates

 

House Committee on Corrections (after adjournment of 10:30 AM joint hearing) 

Charge 3: Current Texas criminal justice system policies and practices regarding 17- to 25- year-olds, specific to probation, parole, state jail confinement, and discharge from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or county jail; causes of recidivism

Charge 6: Texas Department of Criminal Justice policies and protocols to prevent the spread of infectious diseases

Charge 7: Board of Pardons and Paroles and parole panel determination of an inmate's risk of recidivism; GPS technology to monitor offenders

Charge 8: Texas prison system heat-related litigation; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance within Texas state and county criminal justice facilities

Charge 9: Monitor agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature

 

 

House Committee on Human Services (Edinburg) 

Charge 2: History and any future roll-out of Medicaid managed care in Texas

 

Charge: Border security - law enforcement, public safety partnerships  

Charge: Border - invasive species 

Charge: Monitoring

  • SB 27 by Campbell, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to the mental health program for veterans;
  • SB 277 by Campbell, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to ad valorem tax incentives for wind-powered energy devices near military aviation facilities; and
  • SB 389 by Rodriguez, 84th Legislature, R.S., relating to the addition of military occupational specialty codes on state agency employment listings.

 

Commission decisions:

Staff presentation and public testimony:

 

August 30

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

Charge 1: Impact of Hurricane Harvey on the Texas criminal justice system

Charge 7: Office of Court Administration work on pre-trial risk assessment tools for the Texas judiciary; implementation of legislation regarding imposition of fines, fees, and court costs in criminal courts

 

Staff presentation and public testimony:

This entry was posted on August 22, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1359 views. Print this entry.

New & Noteworthy: August 2018

Aug 21

posted by TexasLRL in New & Noteworthy

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the six titles from our August 2018 New & Noteworthy list. 

Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website, contact the library at 512-463-1252, or use our PDF request form.

 

1. A Thirsty Land: The Making of an American Water Crisis
By Seamus McGraw
Examines Texas water policy alongside contemporary water concerns facing Texas and the rest of the nation. Addresses the experiences of a diverse group of Texans, to demonstrate how human nature, geography, and politics have contributed to convoluted water laws that have rendered Texas unprepared for the next significant drought or catastrophic flood.
University of Texas Press, 2018. 256 pages.
333.91009764 M178T 2018


 

 

2. Between Hope and Fear: A History of Vaccines and Human Immunity
By Michael Kinch
Presents a clear discussion of the science of immunity, the implications of vaccine denial, and real world outcomes of the failure to vaccinate. Addresses the complex reality that even seemingly small numbers of unvaccinated children and adults have the potential to allow some of the long since eradicated diseases to stage comebacks and pose serious threats to future generations.
Pegasus Books, 2018. 279 pages.
614.47 K574B 2018


 

 

3. Insane: America's Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness
By Alisa Roth
Contends that people with mental illness have been hurt by the American criminal justice system more than any other group. Points out that jails and prisons are ill-equipped and lack training to help people with mental illness, often leading to disastrous outcomes for the prisons and the imprisoned. Encourages coordinated and thoughtful reform by practitioners of law and medicine.
Basic Books, 2018. 280 pages.
364.38 R742IN 2018


 

 

4. Overcharged: Why Americans Pay Too Much for Health Care
By Charles Silver, David A. Hyman
Examines the current American health care system and advocates for a more consumer- and market-driven system that would lower costs. Proposes that Americans should select the health insurance plans and medical services that they use and pay for them directly as they would with other types of goods and services. Concludes that if consumers take charge of the health care payment system, providers will deliver more while charging less.
Cato Institute, 2018. 435 pages.
368.382 SI38O 2018


 

 

5. The Vanishing Middle Class: Prejudice and Power in a Dual Economy
By Peter Temin
Explores the decline of the middle class in the context of growing income inequality. Employs a dual economy model to examine the different experiences of the rich and poor in the criminal justice system, education, housing, and debt.
MIT Press, 2017. 166 pages.
339.2 T24V 2017


 

 

6. Texas Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival
By Mike Cox
Chronicles 21 Texas natural and man-made disasters, beginning with the sinking of three Spanish ships in 1554 and ending with the West fertilizer plant explosion in 2013. Details the events and people affected and describes the historical context within which the disasters unfolded.
Globe Pequot, 2015. 263 pages.
976.4 C839T 2015

This entry was posted on August 21, 2018 at 11:30 AM and has received 1066 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 16

Aug 16

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

  • Read about the leading causes of death in rural areas. (National Conference of State Legislatures, July 30, 2018)
  • Explore the economic outlook for the United States. (Congressional Budget Office, August 13, 2018)
  • Track hate and extremism throughout the country. (Anti-Defamation League, ©2018)
  • Consider how Americans feel about getting news from major internet companies. (The Knight Foundation, ©2018)

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

  • "Hard hitting." By Julianne Hill. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, August 2018, pp. 16-18.
    Reports on litigation related to youth tackle football injuries. Notes several states have pulled or killed legislation proposing to ban the sport or prohibiting certain youth from participating in youth tackle football.
  • "Partial Medicaid expansions fall short of full Medicaid expansion with respect to coverage and access to care." By Jessica Schubel. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, August 13, 2018, pp. 1-10.
    Discusses recent proposals for partial Medicaid expansion in Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Utah, using section 1115 demonstration waiver authority.
  • "One school's fight to keep racial equity." By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo. Christian Science Monitor, August 6, 2018, pp. 18-20.
    Highlights City Garden Montessori, a charter school in St. Louis, and its mission to offer racial and economic diversity and an anti-bias, antiracist education. States it is one of 125 charter schools identified as "diverse by design" by the Century Foundation. Related information at: https://tcf.org/content/report/diverse-design-charter-schools/?agreed=1
  • "Academic-freedom statement alarms U. of Texas professors and sets off debate on campus." By Lindsay Ellis. Chronicle of Higher Education, August 3, 2018, p. A27.
    Highlights the argument over academic freedom carried out in court documents as part of the campus carry lawsuit brought by three University of Texas at Austin professors.
  • "Can a huge online college solve California's work-force problems?" By Karin Fischer. Chronicle of Higher Education, August 3, 2018, pp. A12-A15.
    Discusses the new California initiative to provide a wholly online community college, aimed at working adults, with the potential to become the largest provider of distance education in the nation. Explains the entity will only offer certificates or credentials, and not degrees. Highlights other online programs, such as Western Governors University.
  • "Commercialising autonomous vehicles: Gently does it." Economist, August 4th-10th, 2018, pp. 57-58.
    Highlights a six-month trial of self-driving minivans that began in Frisco, Texas this summer. Explains how startup Drive.ai, recognizing the limitations of today's technology, is making things simpler and safer by focusing on a limited area of the city and operating during daylight hours.
  • "Private equity: Healthy returns." Economist, July 28th-August 3rd, 2018, pp. 54-55.
    Explains why private equity and institutional investors are expanding into the health care market. Notes budget constraints are making governments more open to private capital and public-private partnerships.
  • "Texas landowners subsidize pipelines and powerlines." By Isaac Perez. Houston Business Journal, August 16, 2018, p. 42.
    Examines the efforts of several Texas organizations interested in reforming the eminent domain process.
  • "The health innovation we need." By Dave A. Chokshi. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), August 7, 2018, pp. 427-429.
    Provides a broad view of health and health care innovation, with examples of possible innovations in the domains of care delivery, public health priorities, and the role of government.
  • "Why early childhood education matters and why we should pay for it." By Elizabeth U. Cascio. Milken Institute Review, Third Quarter 2018, pp. 13-23.
    Identifies roadblocks to government support of early childhood education and care [ECEC]. Discusses the need to create more incentives for state and local funding of ECEC.
  • "The border at work." By Jerry Kammer. National Review, August 13, 2018, pp. 31-33.
    Argues the immigration system will not improve until there is a commitment to worksite enforcement and creation of a worker-verification system impervious to fraud.
  • "Examining the costs of paid sick leave besides wages." By Tony Quesada. San Antonio Business Journal, August 10, 2018, p. 3.
    Discusses the effects a mandatory city-wide sick leave ordinance would have on employers.
  • "FEMA to play long-term role in recovery from Harvey." By Rachel Brasier and Jesse Thompson. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Second Quarter 2018, pp. 15-17, 20.
    Provides an overview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's [FEMA] role in Hurricane Harvey recovery thus far, through public assistance and hazard mitigation grants. Notes future FEMA involvement will shift to long-term flood infrastructure improvements, including the "coastal spine."
  • "Hurricane Harvey: One year later." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, August 2018, pp. 18-23.
    Describes the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the ensuing public health issues and mental health challenges. Notes that Harvey's full impact will not be known soon due to the lack of resources dedicated to evaluation.
  • "Hurricane Harvey: The way back." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, August 2018, pp. 24-29.
    Identifies lessons learned by physicians as they work to recover from Hurricane Harvey, such as the importance of removing computer equipment when evacuating, backing up patient medical records, and investing in supplemental flood insurance.
  • "Port of no return." By Michael Barajas and Sophie Novak. Texas Observer, August/September 2018, pp. 22-29.
    Examines how Port Arthur and its residents are recovering one year after the destruction of Hurricane Harvey. Argues that the recovery process is flawed and provides unequal recovery assistance to poor residents.

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 August 16, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 993 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 20, 2018

Aug 15

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.

 

House Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation & Infrastructure (San Antonio)

Charge: Benefits and needs of Texas' Inland/Dry Ports

 

House Committee on Urban Affairs (Houston)

Charge: Housing needs in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey and related flooding, including local, state and federal governments' responses, and changes in affordable and low-income housing needs

Charge: Recommendations to improve and accelerate the response to existing and future housing needs related to Hurricane Harvey and future natural disasters, including set-asides and how best to rebuild and revitalize

 

August 22

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Mandate reduction

Charge: Monitoring; specifically, updates on construction of facilities as a result of tuition revenue bonds and development and implementation of the Texas OnCourse program, and monitor the following:

  1. SB 2118, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs.
  2. HB 2205, 84th Legislature, R.S., relating to the State Board for Educator Certification, educator preparation programs, educator certification, issuance of certain teaching permits, and certain procedures for investigating educator misconduct.
  3. SB 887, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to a requirement that certain participating institutions under the student loan program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provide loan debt information to certain students.
  4. SB 802, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to a study and report regarding best practices in the transfer of course credit between public institutions of higher education.
  5. SB 810, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to open educational resources.
  6. HB 2223, 85th Legislature, R.S., relating to developmental coursework offered by public institutions of higher education under the Texas Success Initiative.

 

August 23

House Committee on County Affairs (Dallas) 

Charge 1: Emergency response activities, impact of natural disasters on county finances; Charge 2: County ordinance-making and enforcement authority to deal with flood risk in unincorporated rural and suburban areas

Charge 3: Defendants' and inmates' behavioral health needs, mental health services upon release from the criminal justice system

Charge 5: Monitor agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature

 

This entry was posted on August 15, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 944 views. Print this entry.

Resource Highlight: State Budget Timeline

Aug 14

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, Legislative process

The LRL's state budget timeline has been updated to reflect the budget process for the 2020–2021 biennium. Currently, state agencies are in the process of developing strategic plans and Legislative Appropriation Requests (LARs). The LARs documents will be available in the Legislative Budget Board's database here.

 

You can click through the timeline to see what is scheduled to happen in each date range. The LRL will add links to budget bills and related documents as they are released.

 

Past budget timelines are available in PDF form just below the timeline, as well as a variety of other budget resources. Be sure to check back for updates as budget planning progresses for the upcoming biennium.

This entry was posted on August 14, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1514 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 9

Aug 9

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

  • Explore sunset reviews of occupational licensing in Texas and other states. (National Conference of State Legislatures, July 2018)
  • Consider the quality and safety of tap water in the U.S. (NPR, July 27, 2018)
  • Note the deadline to apply for an emergency grant to repair Hurricane Harvey damage to historic sites is August 15. (Texas Historical Commission, accessed August 8, 2018)
  • Look up at the night sky this weekend to see the Perseid meteor shower. (Mashable, August 8, 2018)

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

  • "Tear gas to tweets." By Jessica Mendoza. Christian Science Monitor, July 30, 2018, pp. 24-30.
    Examines how protest movements have evolved since 1968, from attempts to raise public awareness to promoting change within government through increased representation. Comments that despite well-intentioned laws and changes in public opinion, these movements still tend to coalesce around race, gender, and inequality.
  • "The Dallas tech surge: Demand is climbing — and so are paychecks." By Brian Womack. Dallas Business Journal, July 27, 2018, pp. 12-14.
    Discusses the rising cost of business for tech firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
  • "Pollution and the law: Prosecuting Flint." Economist, July 28th-August 3rd, 2018, pp. 21-22.
    Explains the types of lawsuits that have been filed in response to the Flint, Michigan water contamination crisis. Considers the extent to which government officials can be held accountable for their actions on the job.
  • "Electronic health records associated with lower hospital mortality after systems have time to mature." By Sunny C. Lin, Ashish K. Jha, and Julia Adler-Milstein. Health Affairs, July 2018, pp. 1128-1135.
    Suggests that national implementation of electronic health records [EHRs] in hospitals should yield improvements in mortality rates, but the investment will take time to be realized. Notes that small and nonteaching hospitals appear to have the most to gain.
  • "The role of community health centers in addressing the opioid epidemic." By Julia Zur, et al. Internet Resource, July 2018, pp. 1-12.
    Examines findings from a 2018 survey of community health centers on activities related to the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder [OUD]. Reports that most community health centers have seen an increase in the number of patients with OUD in the past three years, but they face many treatment capacity challenges in responding to the opioid epidemic.
  • "COST's principles of state business tax conformity with federal tax reform." By Douglas L. Lindholm, Karla Frieden, and Ferdinand Hogroian. Journal of MultiState Taxation and Incentives, August 2018, pp. 14-19.
    Summarizes the Council on State Taxation's [COST] principles of state business tax conformity with federal tax reform. Argues states should carefully analyze potential revenue changes and tax policy implications.
  • "Polysubstance abuse among adolescents in a low income, rural community: Latent classes for middle- and high-school students." By Roderick A. Rose, et al. Journal of Rural Health, Summer 2018, pp. 227-245.
    Examines rural adolescent substance use, noting that opioid misuse is associated with initiation of illicit drugs prior to age thirteen. Observes patterns of younger adolescents in certain groups turning to prescription drugs and inhalants.
  • "Fixing the hole when the rains come in: How to narrow the gap between coverage and damage in catastrophe insurance." Milken Institute Review, Third Quarter 2018, pp. 46-53.
    Discusses risk management in catastrophe insurance. Considers costs of natural disasters and the role of public policy to incentivize private financial institutions to manage risk.
  • "School district crisis preparedness, response, and recovery plans — United States, 2006, 2012, and 2016." By Judy Kruger, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), August 3, 2018, pp. 809-814.
    Examines school districts' implementation of policies to improve school crisis preparedness, response, and recovery plans. Notes that large districts (greater than or equal to 10,000 students) were significantly more likely than were small districts (less than or equal to 4,999 students) to provide funding for or offer crisis preparedness training for school faculty, staff members, and students' families.
  • "Harvey highlights Houston MUD bond development funding." By Laila Assanie and Michael Weiss. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Second Quarter 2018, pp. 3-7.
    Considers the possibility of funding new housing infrastructure with municipal utility district [MUD] bonds after the historic flooding from Hurricane Harvey. Discusses MUD creation, taxing powers, and the growing reach and influence of MUDs in the Houston housing market.
  • "Another use for drones: Investigating car wrecks." By Jenni Bergal. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 6, 2018, pp. 1-5.
    Reports more police agencies are using drones to reconstruct vehicle accidents, reducing staff time and the time roads are closed. Notes some states that require police to get a search warrant to use drones for surveillance are adding exemptions for crash reconstruction.
  • "Bordering on empty." By Naveena Sadasivam. Texas Observer, August/September, 2018, pp. 12-21.
    Argues climate change is having a significant toll on the Rio Grande and the water infrastructure of the Rio Grande Valley. Discusses how hotter, dryer weather affects cities and towns, irrigation districts, and the agriculture industry in the area.
  • "Price-formation studies." Texas Public Power, July-August 2018, pp. 5, 7.
    Summarizes two recent reports from the Energy Regulatory Commission of Texas [ERCOT] that address the Public Utility Commission's Project to Assess Price-Formation Rules in ERCOT's Energy-Only Market. Related information at: http://interchange.puc.texas.gov/Search/Filings?UtilityType=A&ControlNumber=47199&ItemMatch=Equal&DocumentType=ALL&SortOrder=Ascending.  Reports at: http://www.ercot.com/content/wcm/lists/144930/Study_of_the_Benefits_of_Marginal_Losses_FINAL.pdf  and http://www.ercot.com/content/wcm/lists/144930/Study_of_the_Benefits_of_Real-Time_Co-optimization_FINAL.pdf

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.

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