In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Get legal analysis of the Cyber Crime Protection Security Act, and track the bill. (Congressional Research Service, March 12, 2012 / THOMAS, April 2012)
• Check out a survey on the growing popularity of mobile banking. (Federal Reserve Board, March 14, 2012)
• Explore recommendations on consumer privacy practices for business and policymakers. (Federal Trade Commission, March 26, 2012)
• Track the recession and recovery in major metropolitan areas. (Brookings Institution, March 2012)
• Observe National Poetry Month with a poem a day. (Academy of American Poets, April 2012)

This entry was posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 902 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on April 3, 2012 at 11:03 AM and has received 1652 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Consider how high school graduation rates have been improving in the last decade. (Alliance for Excellent Education, March 2012)
• Read why college attainment is important to the future strength of the nation's economy. (Lumina Foundation, March 2012)
• Explore financial accountability in Texas K-12 public education. (Texas Education Accountability Project, March 2012)
• See how tax breaks add up. (Congressional Research Service, March 22, 2012)
• Find arguments and analysis related to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. (SCOTUSBlog, March 2012)

This entry was posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1021 views. Print this entry.

 Last week, the Legislative Reference Library was pleased to host a group of interns participating in this year's internship program with the Library of Parliament of Canada.

The Texas visit focused on legislative research services, and included discussions of how the Texas Legislature works, the role of the library, the uses of social media, and how our resources and research assist members, committees, and agencies of the Texas legislative community.

 

This entry was posted on March 26, 2012 at 8:47 AM and has received 1748 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Find state budget information for 2012 and note that Texas ranks first in transparency of state government spending. (Council of State Governments, March 15, 2012 / TexPIRG, March 2012)
• See how metropolitan areas have led U.S. growth in exports. (Brookings Institution, March 8, 2012)
• Examine the geographic distribution of Latinos across the country. (Pew Hispanic Center, March 16, 2012)
• Compare Texas' graduation rate and high school drop-out rate to other states. (America's Promise Alliance, March 19, 2012)
• Consider the growing student debt load. (New York Times, March 5, 2012)
• Read about improving America's water infrastructure and its cost. (American Water Works Association, February 27, 2012)
• Explore health care extremes in Massachusetts and Texas. (National Public Radio, March 19, 2012)

This entry was posted on March 22, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 985 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on March 19, 2012 at 3:39 PM and has received 849 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Find historical voting data for a variety of demographics. (U.S. Census Bureau, February 15, 2012)
• Explore whether rising consumer debt reflects a strong or weak economy. (CNBC, March 7, 2012)
• Consider the benefits and drawbacks of the millennial generation's hyper-connectivity. (Pew Research Center, February 29, 2012)
• Check out this free GAO app, available from iTunes. (Government Accountability Office, March 6, 2012)
• Read about rising gasoline prices in 2012. (Congressional Research Service, March 1, 2012)

This entry was posted on March 15, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1193 views. Print this entry.

Tuesday, March 20th 

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services  

Charge 4: Prior authorization and medical necessity review across the Medicaid Program, including nursing homes and orthodontic services, improving policies to reduce unnecessary utilization and fraud

• Moving Ahead Amid Fiscal Challenges: A Look at Medicaid Spending, Coverage and Policy Trends, Results from a 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012, Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates, October 2011
• Performing Under Pressure: Annual Findings of a 50-State Survey of Eligibility, Enrollment, Renewal, and Cost-Sharing Policies in Medicaid and CHIP, 2011-2012, Kaiser Family Foundation, January 2012  

Charge 7: Delivery and financing of public health services in Texas, including federal funds distribution to local health departments and role of Regional Health Departments operated by the Department of State Health Services

• America's Health Rankings, 2011 Edition: Texas, United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association, December 2011
• "Regional and Local Health Services Hold State's Public Health System Together" and Health Service Regions, Texas Department of State Health Services, April 22, 2011
• Key Health Data About Texas: Key Health Indicators, Public Health Preparedness and Funding Indicators, Trust for America's Health
• "The Price of Health: Keeping Texas Healthy is Costly," Crystal Conde, Texas Medical Association, Texas Medicine, February 2012 [discusses local public health infrastructure, Current Article 12.02.75, contact Library] 

Wednesday, March 21st  

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services    

Charge 6: Management structure and supervision of Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers, especially in rural areas, including efficiency, quality casework and supervision, and caseworker retention; quality of care of children in CPS, including improving permanency outcomes

• "Judging Parents, Judging Place: Poverty, Rurality, and Termination of Parental Rights," Janet L. Wallace and Lisa R. Pruitt, University of California at Davis, Missouri Law Review, 2011
• "Rural Families With a Child Abuse Report are More Likely Headed by a Single Parent and Endure Economic and Family Stress," Marybeth J. Mattingly and Wendy A. Walsh, Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire, Issue Brief, No. 10, Winter 2010  

Charge 9, Bullet 3: Implementation of initiative to redesign foster care system

• Foster Care Redesign, including Improving Child and Youth Placement Outcomes: A System Redesign Report, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, January 2011  

Thursday, March 22nd 

House Committees on Environmental Regulation and Transportation (Joint Hearing)

Environmental Regulation Charge 5 and Transportation Charge 4: Study the environmental review process for transportation projects and monitor implementation of reforms newly passed by the 82nd Legislature

• Environmental Review Process for Transportation Projects: Preamble, Explanation of Repeals and New Sections, Comments to TxDOT and Responses, Adopted Rules, Texas Department of Transportation, approved by Texas Transportation Commission, February 23, 2012; published in Texas Register, March 9, 2012
• "Hays and Williamson Counties Urge State to Hasten Environmental Reviews Tied to Road Projects,"  Austin American-Statesman, January 24, 2012
• "State Streamlines Transportation Project Approval Process with Adoption of New Rules," Texas Department of Transportation, February 23, 2012

House Committee on Transportation

Charge 1: Current transportation infrastructure, including roadway, bridge, and waterway quality, future needs for the next decade and long-range sufficiency.

• It's About Time: Investing in Transportation to Keep Texas Economically Competitive; Report and Appendices, 2030 Committee, Texas Transportation Commission, March 2011
• Measuring Transportation Investments: The Road to Results, Pew Center on the States, May 2011

Joint Committee on Aging

Topic: Innovative approaches to long-term care for elders in Texas

• "Will the Nation Go Broke Paying for Senior Housing and Long-Term Care?" and "Using Home Health Care to Help Senior Housing Residents Age in Place," Senior Housing News, February 2012
• Transforming the Culture of Long-Term Care in Texas and Culture Change in Texas, Texas Culture Change Coalition, November 2011
• A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance, Texas Department of Insurance, April 2011
• "What is Nursing Home Quality and How is it Measured?", The Gerontologist, June 2010  

House Committee on Natural Resources

Charge 1: The performance of state and local entities in addressing the ongoing drought; the impact of the drought on the state water plan, including the need for additional water plan funding; the effectiveness of current drought management policies; strategies to help the state cope with drought and obstacles to implementation of these strategies

• Texas Water Conditions Report, Texas Water Development Board, March 7, 2012
• "Texas Farm Bureau Official Says Doing Nothing on Water Issues Will Cost Texas", Brownwood Bulletin, February 18, 2012
• Statewide Drought Situation Report, Texas Drought Preparedness Council, February 13, 2012
• 2012 State Water Plan, Texas Water Development Board, January 5, 2012

Charge 3: The status of desalination projects in Texas and an evaluation of the regulation of brackish groundwater

• "Desalination: The Next Step for Drought-Proofing Water Supplies in Texas", Texas Water News, March 2012
• "Aquifer May be Key to Water Needs in Area", Houston Chronicle, February 28, 2012
• Desalination of Brackish Groundwater, Texas Water Development Board, January 27, 2012
• "Pass the Saltwater: Desalination and the Future of Water in Texas", National Public Radio, January 4, 2012

Charge 4: Improving water conservation in agricultural irrigation

• "Texas' Water Rights System Gets Tested in Drought", Texas Tribune, January 19, 2012
• "Bad Harvests Might Get Even Worse", San Antonio Express-News, November 11, 2011
• Evaluation of Irrigation Efficiency Strategies for Far West Texas: Feasibility, Water Savings and Cost Considerations, Texas AgriLife Research Center, June 2009

This entry was posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:46 AM and has received 1048 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Check out four decades of data on health insurance coverage for low-wage workers. (Center for Economic and Policy Research, February 2012)
• Read about the need for more access and coverage for dental services. (Chairman Bernard Sanders, Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, February 29, 2012)
• Consider the changing housing landscape and how households are handling increasing rental costs and shrinking incomes. (Center for Housing Policy, February 2012)
• Envision America's suburban future. (Per Square Mile, February 15, 2012)
• Explore the rise of financial fraud. (Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, February 2012)

This entry was posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 903 views. Print this entry.

• Economic Development in Texas: Programs and Incentives, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, September 2011
• An Analysis of Texas Economic Development Incentives 2010, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 2010, last updated April 19, 2011
• Slashing Subsidies, Bolstering Budgets: How States Can Save Money by Targeting Ineffective Economic Development Programs, Good Jobs First, March 2011
• Public-Private Power Grab: The Risks in Privatizing State Economic Development Agencies, Good Jobs First, January 2011

• Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Improving Practice, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2010 (see especially pp. 83-104 of the PDF)
• Texas Family Violence Benchbook, Texas Office of Court Administration, September 2011 (see especially pp. 46-47 and 336-342 of the PDF)

• Child Protective Services Handbook, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, last updated March 1, 2012
• "Judge's Adoption Express Had One Final Run," Houston Chronicle, January 4, 2011
• Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children: Summary of State Laws, Child Welfare Information Gateway, July 2009
• "Yours, Mine, Ours? Why the Texas Legislature Should Simplify Caretaker Consent Capabilities for Minor Children and the Implications of the Addition of Chapter 34 to the Texas Family Code," Texas Tech Law Review, 2010

This entry was posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:05 AM and has received 813 views. Print this entry.