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LRL website ranks high in recent survey

A recent report by VisibleThread examined how well Texas state agencies communicate through their websites. Sites were evaluated in terms of their readability, average sentence length, use of passive voice, and use of complex language. Out of 54 Texas government websites, the Legislative Reference Library site ranked 6th overall, and out of all sites used the least amount of passive voice. The report emphasized the importance of clear, concise, well-organized web content to better foster citizen engagement.

 

Cover image by Elena Hruleva via Barnimages.com

 

Interim Hearings - Week of June 13, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of June 13

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

June 13

House Committee on Pensions

Topic: Houston pension funds

Charge 4: Structural reforms to state public pension plans, feasibility of one-time funding increases

June 16

Charge 7: Shared economy growth

Charge 9: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including updates regarding transfer of duties and services from health and human services agencies to the Texas Workforce Commission, and impact of incentive reform legislation

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Charge: Collaborative partnerships between state-owned mental health hospitals and university health science centers

Charge: Diversion of individuals with serious mental illness from criminal justice settings, recidivism prevention

Charge: Tele-monitoring and telemedicine services for adults and children with complex medical needs, correctional facilities, rural areas

 

Week in Review, June 2

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Consider the effects of distracted driving and texting while driving. (Nature.com, May 12, 2016)
  • Explore manufacturing activity in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, May 25, 2016)
  • Read about the financial aspect of the federal Sentencing Reform Act of 2015. (Congressional Budget Office, May 18, 2016)
  • Examine the gap between wages and cost of housing. (National Low Income Housing Coalition, ©2016)
 

Members Not Returning to the 85th Legislature

In January, we compiled a list of members not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature. An updated list that includes the results of the recent primary runoffs is provided below. 22 members of the Texas House and 2 members of the Texas Senate will not return in 2017. To see a full list of members of the 84th Texas Legislature (2015), please go here.
 
Table: Members not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock Retiring
Rep. Myra Crownover Retiring
Sen. Kevin Eltife Retiring
Rep. Joe Farias Resigned effective 8/10/15
Rep. Marsha Farney Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/1/2016
Rep. Allen Fletcher Retiring
Sen. Troy Fraser Retiring
Rep. Patricia Harless Retiring
Rep. Bryan Hughes Won primary runoff for Texas Senate, 5/24/2016
Rep. Jim Keffer Retiring
Rep. Susan King Defeated in Republican primary runoff for Texas Senate, 5/24/2016
Rep. Marisa Márquez Retiring
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer Defeated in Democratic primary for Texas Senate, 3/1/2016
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon Resigned effective 1/31/16
Rep. Doug Miller Defeated in Republican primary runoff, 5/24/2016
Rep. Elliott Naishtat Retiring
Rep. John Otto Retiring
Rep. Debbie Riddle Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/1/2016
Rep. David Simpson Defeated in Republican primary runoff for Texas Senate, 5/24/2016
Rep. Wayne Smith Defeated in Republican primary runoff, 5/24/2016
Rep. Stuart Spitzer Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/1/2016
Rep. Scott Turner Retiring
Rep. Sylvester Turner Resigned effective 1/1/16; sworn in as Mayor of Houston on 1/2/16 
Rep. Molly White Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/1/2016
 

Interim Hearings - Week of June 6, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of June 6

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

June 8 Top

House Committee on Business & Industry

Charge: Shared economy growth

Charge: Property owners associations

June 9 Top

House Committee on Business & Industry

Charge: Business cybersecurity

Charge: Shareholders of Texas corporate forms

House and Senate Select Committees on State Real Property Data Collection, Reporting, & Assessment (Joint Hearing)  

Topic: Potential ways to ensure the state is able to identify, track, and maintain information on the location, condition, and replacement value of all real property owned by the state

Invited testimony: State Office of Risk Management, Legislative Budget Board

June 10 Top

House Committee on County Affairs  

Charge: County cybersecurity policies

Charge: Texas Commission on Jail Standards, resources and structure in oversight, regulation, and enforcement of county jails

Charge: Internet publication of mug shots and criminal history information

Charge: Services provided by sheriffs and constables and whether fee schedules allow cost recovery

Charge: Effect of Proposition 5 (SJR 17, 84th R.S.) on quality of private roadways in counties with population less than 7,500

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including Child Protective Services and 1115 Transformation Waiver

 

Week in Review, May 26

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Map where water crises may develop over the next few decades. (Pacific Standard, May 23, 2016)
  • See which states have the largest number of removal orders granted by immigration judges. (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, April 2016)
  • Read about Americans working beyond retirement age. (Bloomberg, May 13, 2016)
  • Explore what's different on the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods.  (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 20, 2016)
 

The Texas "Killer Bees"

37 years ago, during the 66th Regular Session, a group of 12 state senators nicknamed the "Killer Bees" organized in the Texas Legislature. From May 18 - May 22, 1979, the Killer Bees hid offsite to prevent the 31-member Senate from reaching a quorum on two bills: S.B. 602, which proposed an early date for a Texas presidential primary, and S.B. 1149, which related to filing fees for primary elections. S.B. 1149 was broad enough that it could be amended to include the provisions of S.B. 602.  
 
According to the The Miracle of the Killer Bees (below), the group got its name from Lt. Governor Hobby, who told a reporter he called them that because "you never know where they're going to hit next." The Killer Bees were Senators Carl Parker, Carlos Truan, Chet Brooks, Ron Clower, Lloyd Doggett, Gene Jones, Glenn Kothmann, Raul Longoria, Oscar Mauzy, W.N. 'Bill' Patman, A. R. 'Babe' Schwartz, and Bob Vale.
 
 

The Texas House receives a message from a Senate "Bee Man." Image courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
 
 
 

Interim Hearings - Week of May 30, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of May 30

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

June 1 Top

House Committee on Insurance

Charge 2: Transparency and adequacy of health care networks, consumer protection relating to out-of-network services

Organizational meeting

 

House Committee on Natural Resources

Charge 1: Regional and state water planning processes

Charge 6: Joint groundwater planning, including HB 200, 84th Legislature, R.S.; groundwater ownership, access, and management

Charge 9: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including review of surface water permitting in Texas

June 2 Top

House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Topic 1: Maintaining military value of defense installations and communities

Charge 1: Encroachment on military bases

Charge 2: Real Estate property disclosures of proximity to military installations

Charge 4: Minimize negative consequences of a potential forthcoming BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) round

Charge 5: Impact of sequestration and federal defense spending on Texas military

Topic 2: Education and employment barriers for veterans

Charge 6: Education/employment barriers for veterans; college credit for service-related training in the armed forces

Topic 3: Oversight of legislation passed by committee

Charge 7: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies

 

House Select Committee on Mental Health

Topic: Mental/behavioral health care services in Texas, including health insurance plans and law enforcement/criminal justice

 

Week in Review, May 19

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Consider state funded pre-K programs by state. (National Institute for Early Education Research, ©2016)
  • See how Texas government websites rate based on clarity of written content. (VisibleThread Clarity Index, 2016)
  • Explore the performance of virtual schools. (National Education Policy Center, April 2016)
  • Read about earthquakes in Texas. (Southern Methodist University, May 17, 2016)
  • Examine recent economic trends in the American middle class. (Pew Research Center, May 11, 2016)
 

New & Noteworthy List for May 2016

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the six titles from our May 2016 New & Noteworthy list.

 

Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website, or contact the library at 512-463-1252.

 

 


1. Lost Causes: Blended Sentencing, Second Chances, and the Texas Youth Commission By Chad R. Trulson, et al.
Presents an in-depth study of determinate (blended) sentencing outcomes in Texas. Delves into the social and delinquent histories, Texas Youth Commission incarceration experiences, and release and recidivism outcomes of close to 3,500 juvenile offenders who received blended sentences between 1987 and 2011. Seeks to understand the impact of this unique sentencing structure, which blends parts of the juvenile and adult justice systems, and gives some of the most violent youthful offenders a second chance to remain in the juvenile justice system instead of transferring to the Texas Prison system.
University of Texas Press, 2016. 204 pages.
364.3609764 T769L 2016
 


 

2. LBJ and Grassroots Federalism: Congressman Bob Poage, Race, and Change in Texas By Robert Harold Duke
Explores the expansion of collaboration between local communities in Texas and the federal government through the careers of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Texas Congressman William R. Poage, of Waco. Examines projects ranging from the New Deal era through the 1960's, including the Waco Dam project, and how the growth of political engagement in minority communities impacted the implementation of federal programs.
Texas A&M University Press, 2014. 248 pages.
320.6 D885L 2014
 

 


 

3. America Ascendant: A Revolutionary Nation's Path to Addressing its Deepest Problems and Leading the 21st Century By Stanley B. Greenberg
Provides a unique and very hopeful look into how America is poised to address all the problems the 21st century has brought – widening inequality, poverty, racism and general dark side of progress. Articulates a vision of how America will come through these crises, as it did at the turn of the 20th century with radical and progressive reforms. Argues that today’s growing anger will reach a tipping point that compels the nation’s leaders to work to address America’s deepest problems.
Thomas Dunne Books, 2015. 406 pages.
320.973 G829A 2015


 

 

4. The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials are Leading America (and How Republicans Can Keep Up) By Kristen Soltis Anderson
Examines how cultural factors are changing the way a new generation of voters considers issues. Analyzes demographic shifts, lifestyle, and consumer choices through the use of data mining and social media to emphasize what is important to youth, women and minorities. Offers insights and advice from a leading Republican pollster about how to best appeal to these voters.
Broadside Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2015. 262 pages.
324.973 AN23S 2015



 

 

5. Thirst for Power: Energy, Water and Human Survival By Michael E. Webber
Examines the interrelation between water and energy and their importance to people. Details the critical role that water plays in energy production, highlighting its use in the operation of hydro-electric plants, nuclear reactors, and bio-fuels. Suggests ways energy can alleviate water shortages by fueling desalination plants, long-haul transfers, and drilling deeper wells. Points out the human race's growing need for both precious resources and possible solutions to long-term needs, both in technical and non-technical approaches.
Yale University Press, 2016. 235.
333.7915 W387T 2016
 

 


 

6. Texas Women: Their Histories, Their Lives By Elizabeth Hayes Turner, Stephanie Cole, and Rebecca Sharpless, editors
Presents a collection of biographies and essays of Texas women showing the racial, class, and religious diversity of the Lone Star State, beginning with the Spanish colonial era. Includes fascinating stories of Spanish law and women in colonial Texas, women in slavery, women's higher education in antebellum Texas, women's fight for equal rights, African American and Hispanic women, and ranch women and rodeo performers in post-World War II West Texas. Profiles Oveta Culp Hobby and Barbara Jordan - two prominent women in the history of the Texas Legislature.
The University of Georgia Press, 2015. 526 pages.
305.409764 T852T 2015
 

 

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