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your partner in legislative research
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research

Week in Review, September 15th

Sep 15

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

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

This entry was posted on September 15, 2011 at 3:15 PM and has received 1060 views. Print this entry.

Legislative Wrap-Ups

Sep 14

posted by Admin in Legislation, 82nd Session

Following each legislative session in Texas, organizations, state agencies, and other entities publish "wrap-ups" summarizing new laws and key legislative developments on various issues such as education, the environment and criminal justice. Wrap-ups can range from a simple list of bills to a detailed report that includes background information and expert analyses. 

 

Below is a short selection of legislative wrap-ups for the 2011 Legislative Session. More are available, and some are still being written. To find one on a topic that interests you, check the websites of state or national organizations that focus on the issue, or of state agencies, or visit  the library and search the Current Articles database.
 
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Legislative Update: Focus on 2011 Legislation
http://window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx96_237_3_11.pdf


Texas Public Employees Association

TPEA Legislative Update - June 2011

 

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Summary of Selected Legislation enacted by the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session 6/13/2011

 

Texas Department of Public Safety

New Texas traffic, criminal laws set to go into effect Sept. 1

 

Texas Department of State Health Services

82nd Legislative Session Summary

 

Texas Medical Association

TMA’s 2011 Legislative Report Card

 

Texas Education Agency

Texas Education Today - Bill Summaries from the 2011 Legislative Session

 

Texas Classroom Teachers Association

The 82nd Legislative Sessions: Game over, reset

 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Legislative Wrap-Up Report - 82nd Texas Legislature

 

Texas Transportation Institute

Summary of the 82nd Legislative Session

 

League of Women Voters

Wrap-Up of 82nd Texas Legislature—Regular & Special Sessions


 
 

This entry was posted on September 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM and has received 1841 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, September 8th

Sep 8

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research toolsn
  • Keep up with the wildfires burning throughout Texas. (Texas Forest Service, September 2011)
  • Read about potential effects on water resources from new oil shale development. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, August 24, 2011)
  • Review a report on the preservation of historical Texas state court records. (Texas Court Records Preservation Task Force, August 31, 2011)
  • Get a state-by-state map of recent state budget actions for early care and education. (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011)
  • Explore recent statistics related to sugary drinks consumption in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2011)
  • Consider Amazon's lobbying efforts to suspend a California sales tax law. (Stateline, September 1, 2011)

This entry was posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:08 PM and has received 1171 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Weeks of September 5, 12, and 19, 2011

Sep 6

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 82nd Session

INTERIM HEARINGS

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. The following may be helpful resources for upcoming hearings.

Thursday, September 08, 2011
Joint Committee on Environmental Flows
Topic: Recommendations and work plans for major Texas rivers and bays

Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Topic: Environmental Protection Agency's rules, including the Cross State Air Pollution Rule

Joint Committee on Oversight of the Edwards Aquifer

Topic: Updates on the status and funding of the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program

Thursday, September 15, 2011
House Committee on County Affairs
Topic: Texas Healthcare on Transformation and Quality Improvement Program Medicaid 1115 Waiver
  Thursday, September 22, 2011

House Committee on State Affairs

Topic: Environmental Protection Agency's rules, including the Cross State Air Pollution Rule

This entry was posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:28 PM and has received 1356 views. Print this entry.

Database of Legislators Now Goes Back To The 1st Session

Sep 5

posted by TexasLRL in Members of the Legislature

Texas Legislators: Past & Present now includes members of the Texas Legislature who served from the first state legislature in 1846 through the present day.
 
You can search by name, session, chamber, leadership role, committee membership, and home city and county.
 
The database includes biographical information, terms of service, and committee information.
 
If you have biographical information or photographs you would like to share with the library, please e-mail or call us at 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on September 5, 2011 at 8:00 AM and has received 1097 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, September 1st

Sep 1

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools. 
  • See how Hispanics are narrowing gaps in college enrollment. (Pew Hispanic Center, August 25, 2011)
  • Consider the Texas congressional redistricting plan, its supporters and opponents, and the impending trial the plan faces. (National Journal, August 19, 2011)
  • Read about the development, uses, and consequences of Tasers. (LLRX, August 18, 2011)
  • Map child food insecurity in America. (Feeding America, August 2011)
  • Note that the New Jersey Supreme Court has created new guidelines for how eyewitness-based evidence should be treated by New Jersey courts. (Jurist, August 25, 2011)

This entry was posted on September 1, 2011 at 3:05 PM and has received 1409 views. Print this entry.

LRL Director Named Chair of Legislative Librarians Group

Aug 30

posted by Admin in LRL news

We're pleased to announce that Mary Camp, director of the Texas Legislative Reference Library, was recently elected chair of the Research Librarians Section of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Composed primarily of librarians and information specialists in legislative agencies nationwide, the group provides a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to legislative research and library management. The section sponsors an extensive schedule of programs at the NCSL Legislative Summit each year as well as an annual professional development seminar.  Both focus on current developments in information management, technology and legislative information. In addition, the group each year presents Notable Documents awards to recognize excellence in publications that explore topics of interest to legislators and staff and that use innovative techniques in formatting and presentation.  The Texas Legislative Reference Library was recently honored with two Notable Document awards for its Texas Water Law Timeline and Texas Legislators: Past & Present database.

Mary replaces Shelley Day of the Utah Legislative Research Library.  The new chair-elect is Eddie Weeks of the Tennessee Legislative Library and the new secretary is Sabah Eltareb of the California Research Bureau.  Congratulations to all.

This entry was posted on August 30, 2011 at 2:26 PM and has received 1908 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 25th

Aug 25

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools. 
  • Consider the state of America's children. (Children's Defense Fund, 2011)
  • Note the effects of recession on public transportation. (American Public Transportation Association, August 2011)
  • See how much financial aid makes postsecondary education accessible. (Council of State Governments, August 16, 2011)
  • Check out 2010 Census data related to schools. (The New York Times, August 19, 2011)
  • Find government assets for sale in one place. (Federal Assets Sales Program, 2011)

This entry was posted on August 25, 2011 at 3:13 PM and has received 1143 views. Print this entry.

New Laws Effective September 1, 2011

Aug 22

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On September 1, 2011 provisions of more than 700 bills passed during the regular session of the 82nd Legislature will take effect.
 
Additionally, sections of eight bills passed during the 81st Legislature in 2009 , including changes to vehicle registration fees, will take effect on September 1.
 
To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.

This entry was posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:18 AM and has received 14075 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 18th

Aug 18

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • See how individual health insurance premiums vary around the nation. (Kaiser Family Foundation, August 9, 2011)
  • Consider the health risks of bicycling in urban environs, when compared to car use. (British Medical Journal, August 4, 2011)
  • Read about sustaining economic growth after a recession. (Congressional Research Service, July 18, 2011)
  • Note that Congress may face a deadlock over transportation funding. (Stateline, August 17, 2011)
  • Review the inequities of school funding. (Center for American Progress, August 2011)

This entry was posted on August 18, 2011 at 3:15 PM and has received 1158 views. Print this entry.

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