In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.
- Read about opting out of face recognition at airports. (Electronic Frontier Foundation, April 24, 2019)
- Consider what some states are doing to help mental health professionals maintain a license. (National Conference of State Legislatures, May 2019)
- Explore an interactive online experience related to D-Day. (Library of Congress, May 10, 2019)
- Examine statistics related to the birth rate in the United States. (National Vital Statistics System, May 2019)
Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.
- "Selling a home may soon require more disclosures." By Kimberly Reeves. Austin Business Journal, May 10, 2019, p. A12.
Highlights SB339, 86th Legislature, which proposes new disclosure rules when selling a home, such as more information about flooding risks. Includes comment by Senator Joan Huffman. - "Micro-brew, macro-fees: Texas law favors beer distributors while curbing growth and investment in the nation's third largest craft beer market." By Daniel P. Pellegrin, Jr. Baylor Law Review, Winter 2019, pp. 190-212. (Note length)
Surveys the history of the three tier system within the alcohol industry and Texas laws and regulations specifically related to the manufacture and distribution of beer. Discusses how the growth of the craft beer market has changed the industry and how recent legislation, including SB518, 83rd Regular Session, is affecting growth. - "Arriving at the Supreme Court: Census controversy." By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, April 22 & 29, 2019, p. 15.
Presents a question and answer discussion of Department of Commerce, et al. v. New York, et al., the case currently before the United States Supreme Court dealing with including a citizenship question on the census. - "Everyone agrees the U.S. needs to fix the border. But how?" By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, May 6, 2019, pp. 8-9.
Discusses the areas of immigration law the Trump administration is seeking to change. Explores other ideas for improving the border and immigration situation such as viewing the border as an ecosystem affected by a number of variables and improving the dysfunctional immigration court system. - "'It's an aristocracy': What the admissions-bribery scandal has exposed about class on campus." By Jack Stripling. Chronicle of Higher Education, April 26, 2019, pp. A22-A23.
Analyzes the college admissions-bribery scandal in terms of the codependent relationship between top-tier colleges and the "power elite" who provide endowments, buildings, and pay full tuition for their children. Presents a sidebar displaying students from the bottom 40 percent in income level, and those at the top 20 percent and top 10 percent income levels at eight universities, including the University of Texas at Austin. - "Education Dept. deal ends a medical school's use of race in admissions." By Nell Gluckman. Chronicle of Higher Education, April 26, 2019, p. A35.
Highlights a recent agreement between the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the United States Department of Education that prohibits the school from considering race when making admissions decisions. - "Presidential power: The chief-executive branch." Economist, May 11th-17th, 2019, pp. 21-22.
Discusses how President Trump's refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas is reshaping the relationship between Congress and the presidency and how Congress exercises its oversight powers to check the executive branch. - "Graduate education: Is it worth it?" By Gustavo A. Mellander. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, April/May 2019, pp. 6-7.
Points out the fastest growing jobs through 2036: health care, computers, and clean energy professionals. Suggests graduate education will be necessary for the best jobs. - "Resisting the allure of gross receipt taxes: An assessment of their costs and consequences." By Garrett Watson. Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives May 2019, pp. 6-17, 48.
Discusses the history of gross receipts taxes and their negative economic effects. Discusses the Texas Margin Tax. - "Prisoners of profit: Prisons are at the center of a privatization bonanza — and private equity companies are playing an outsize role." By Tim Requarth. Nation, May 13, 2019, pp. 12-19, 25.
Details the expansion of privatized services in publicly-operated jails and prisons in the United States, including prison phone calls, inmate transportation, medical and mental health care, and commissary and food services. Mentions a Texas lawsuit on medical treatment and exploding prison populations (Estelle v. Gamble) and notes the highest cost of a 15-minute phone call from a local jail in Texas is $17.25. - "Wanted: Digital whizzes to work in agriculture." By April Simpson. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), May 9, 2019, pp. 1-6.
Discusses the future of agricultural education. Points out too few college graduates have the technical precision agriculture skills that agribusiness employers need. - "The new Texans." By Luis B. Torres and Wesley Miller. Tierra Grande, April 2019, pp. 6-8.
Discusses the makeup of foreign-born residents in Texas. Examines how this group is changing along with the skills of its workforce.
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.
