In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.
- Review the draft State Flood Assessment. (Texas Water Development Board, September 17, 2018)
- Read a multi-state report on the legal challenges of social media for employers. (Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s Social Media Practice Group, 2017-2018 edition)
- Consider the scam call epidemic and the increase in scam calls to consumers' mobile phones. (CNET, September 14, 2018)
- Explore an online edition of the Congressional Research Service's U.S. Constitution Annotated. (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, accessed September 19, 2018)
Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.
- "Occupational perfection: Identifying the careers high in volume and pay." By G. Scott Thomas. Austin Business Journal, September 7, 2018, pp. 4-5.
Points out how Austin compares nationwide in occupations that are highly represented and highly compensated. - "NYU's free medical school has lessons for higher ed." By Beckie Supiano. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 7, 2018, pp. A46-A47.
Examines New York University's decision to offer full-tuition scholarships to all current and future students in the doctor-of-medicine program. Reports the school hopes this will bring more socioeconomic diversity to the school and allow graduates to choose practices in health care in parts of the country that are currently underserved. - "Charter partnerships could bring changes for teachers." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Summer 2018, pp. 20-22.
Discusses benefits and risks of charter partnerships, which allow school districts to partner with charter schools or other approved entities to assist failing campuses. - "America's housing market: Fixer-uppers." Economist, September 15th-21st, 2018, pp. 72-73.
Reports how technology companies such as Opendoor are replacing real estate agents by buying and selling homes directly, speeding up and simplifying the home sales process. - "The financial crisis: Unresolved." Economist, September 8th-14th, 2018, pp. 20-22.
Explains how the financial system has changed since the collapse of Lehman Brothers ten years ago. Questions whether policymakers have learned the right lessons to prevent another financial crisis. - "Safety burden looks at start of new school year." By Evie Blad. Education Week, September 5, 2018, pp. 1, 15.
Discusses school safety challenges and security measures, school violence rates over time, and how school districts are responding. Notes consideration of 261 new school safety bills in state legislatures across the country since the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. - "The US training system for physicians — Need for deeper analysis." By S. Claiborne Johnston. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), September 11, 2018, pp. 982-983.
Calls for increased data collection and analysis efforts on undergraduate and graduate medical education. Suggests topics to be considered such as the physician shortage and the role of osteopathic schools and physicians. - "More immigration, less teen employment." By Steven Camarota. National Review, September 10, 2018, pp. 14-16.
Discusses research on the decline of teen summer employment and suggests immigrants have displaced teens in the labor market. Related information at: https://cis.org/Report/2018-Shaping-Be-Another-Bad-Summer-Teen-Employment. - "Back to the blackboard." By Jill Lepore. New Yorker, September 10, 2018, pp. 86-88, 90-93.
Focuses on the history and legal reasoning of Plyler v. Doe, a case beginning in Tyler, Texas and ending with a 1982 United States Supreme Court opinion, holding the state cannot deny students a free public education, regardless of immigration status. - "What Netflix and Amazon pricing tell us about rate design's future." By Lon Huber and Richard Bachmeier. Public Utilities Fortnightly, September 2018, pp. 60-63.
Explores the possible benefits and criticisms of applying a subscription service business model to energy utilities. Report at: https://www.navigantresearch.com/reports/defining-the-digital-future-of-utilities. - "The evolution of dual credit." By Amy Magee. Texas Lone Star (Texas Association of School Boards), September/October 2018, pp. 26-29, 43.
Presents information on the dual credit program in Texas. Discusses the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's current study of dual credit effectiveness. Related information at: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=D455C380-7BA9-11E8-AE230050560100A9. - "Capitol matters." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, September 2018, pp. 32-35.
Lists the Texas Medical Association's recommendations for addressing Texas' Medicaid managed care problems; offers next steps to take in developing telemedicine programs. - "Coming of age." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, September 2018, pp. 14-21.
Extols the benefits of HJR3 and HB4, 78th Legislature, R.S., the Medical Malpractice and Tort Reform Act. Correlates the legislation's limits on medical liability suits with the record numbers of physicians settling in Texas and specialists filling voids in rural areas.
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.
