• "Do states adjust Medicaid enrollment in response to capitation rates? Evidence from the Medicare Part D clawback." By Laura Quinby and Gal Wettstein. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, June 2019, pp. 1-32.
  Examines to what extent more generous capitated federal subsidies would likely cause states to increase Medicaid enrollment. Includes state table of Modified FMAP [Federal Medical Assistance Percentage] Accounting for State and Federal Spending on Prescription Drugs for Dual-Eligibles, 2012.
• "Rethinking mental health for cops: When 'good intentions' aren't enough." By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, June 17, 2019, pp. 12-13.
  Highlights programs such as the critical incident stress management program [CISM] of the Fort Worth Police Department that assist officers who have been involved in traumatic incidents. Suggests an array of options for psychological first aid should be available to first responders.
• "Teacher appreciation days." CQ Weekly, June 3, 2019, pp. 35-37.
  Examines other states' legislative efforts to raise teacher pay or create a minimum salary. Highlights legislation in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
• "Religion and freedom: I can do no other." Economist, June 15th-21st, 2019, pp. 21-22.
  Reports on the case of Scott Warren, who is facing felony charges for conspiring to harbor and transport illegal immigrants. Examines whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 can protect Mr. Warren from prosecution, as he claims a spiritual motive lay behind the actions he took to reduce the number of migrants who perish in the Arizona desert.
• "The financial benefits and burdens of performance funding in higher education." By Lori Prince Hagood. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, June 2019, pp. 189-213.
  Investigates the effects of performance funding policies on state appropriations for four-year, public universities. Establishes state funding patterns associated with performance funding and determines to what extent performance funding favors some institutions over others.
• "Home health care providers struggle with state laws and Medicare rules as demand rises." By Susan Jaffe. Health Affairs, June 2019, pp. 981-986.
  Considers how Medicare rules and state laws restricting nurse practitioners' scope-of-practice have raised obstacles to patients' access to home health care.
• "The rural hospital problem." By Austin B. Frakt. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), June 18, 2019, pp. 2271-2272.
  Examines reasons for increased numbers of rural hospital closures, and considers the consequences for cost, quality, and access.
• "Free speech, if we can keep it." By Charles C.W. Cooke. National Review, June 24, 2019, pp. 34-36.
  Contrasts strong support for free speech doctrines in the courts with a shrinking "meaningful culture of free speech" due to concerns about hate speech and intolerant speech.
• "Injunction dysfunction." By David French. National Review, June 24, 2019, pp. 33-34.
  Examines the increasing use of nationwide injunctions by activists across the political spectrum. Argues that the proper legal mechanism for action affecting all similarly situated individuals would be a class-action lawsuit.
• "Economic benefits of the Texas energy sector." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 1-3, 6.
  Quantifies the stimulus the energy sector provides across the economy. Points out the varied industries required to meet the needs of the growing Texas oil and gas industry.
• "Lessons from California on carbon risk: First climate-change bankruptcy." By Priti Patel, et al. Public Utilities Fortnightly, June 1, 2019, pp. 80-83, 87.
  Examines how the takings clause of California's state constitution is applied to hold public utilities liable for any damages caused by their systems.
• "What constitutes 'discrimination' in college admissions?" By Dennis L. Weisman. Regulation (CATO Institute), Summer 2019, pp. 24-27.
  Contends that defining discrimination exclusively in terms of a departure from merit-based admissions may be too narrow. Points out this definition fails to account for the value conferred on the university by other types of admissions, such as those based on legacy and athletic preferences.
• "Teens of 'anti-vaxxers' can get their own vaccines, some states say." By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), June 24, 2019, pp. 1-5.
  Examines the rights of adolescents to make certain health care decisions. Points out recent state legislative efforts to narrow school vaccination exemptions and to give minors the right to get vaccinated without their parents' permission.
• "The vaccine battlegrounds." By Jefferey Kluger. Time, June 24, 2019, pp. 38-43.
  Discusses vaccine-related legislation recently addressed in state legislatures. Considers oppositional efforts against state legislation requiring vaccinations, despite a record number of measles cases in the United States.

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.