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Interim Hearings – Week of October 12, 2020

Oct 7

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 86th Session

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.

 

 

October 12

Senate Committee on Higher Education  

Charge: Adult Learner Students: Examine existing innovative programs in higher education institutions that assist non-traditional students in completing a degree or credential, including first-time adult learners, re-enrolling students, first generation students, working adults, and at-risk students. Provide recommendations on methods the state can use to partner with higher education institutions to expand successful programs throughout the state.

 

Charge: Data Transparency: Explore methods to improve data sharing and transparency among state agencies, school districts and charter schools, and higher education institutions. Consider best practices to increase the ability of high schools and higher education institutions to support student post-secondary access and degree completion and how to provide policymakers with data on each. Recommend methods of integrating existing data systems at the K-12 and higher education levels to provide real-time support and direction for students.

 

Charge: Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Higher Education passed by the 86th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:

 

October 14

Senate Committee on Education  

Charge: Teacher Workforce: Examine best practice models to recruit, prepare, and retain highly effective teachers. In particular, focus on methods to train and prepare educators for teaching through virtual, in-person, or a blend of methods.

 

Charge: Adult Education: Identify and evaluate current innovative programs that assist non-traditional students (first-time adult learners, re-enrolling students, working adults, and educationally disadvantaged students) in completing a high school diploma, GED, post-secondary degree, or workforce credential, including a review of adult education charter schools and their performance framework. Make recommendations to help successful expansion with partnered business and education entities.

This entry was posted on October 7, 2020 at 9:30 AM and has received 1413 views. Print this entry.

Dates of Interest for the 87th Regular Session

Oct 2

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Legislative process

What are the key deadlines for the 87th Regular Session? Official deadlines will be set when the House and Senate adopt rules after session begins, but until then, related provisions in the Texas Constitution and Statutes and the Texas Legislative Council Drafting Manual perpetual calendar (shown below) can be useful.

 

November 3, 2020: General election for federal, state, and county officers (Texas Election Code, Section 41.001(a)(3))

 

November 9, 2020: Bill prefiling begins (House Rule 8, Section 7 and Senate Rule 7.04(a))

 

January 12, 2021: 87th Legislature convenes at noon (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 5(a); Texas Government Code, Section 301.001)

 

March 12, 2021: 60-day bill filing deadline (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 5(b))

 

May 31, 2021: Adjournment sine die (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 24(b))

 

June 20, 2021: Post-session 20-day deadline for Governor to sign or veto (Texas Constitution, Article IV, Section 14)

 

August 30, 2021: Effective date (91st day after adjournment) (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 39)

 

 

  Table can be viewed in the Texas Legislative Council Drafting Manual.

 

This entry was posted on October 2, 2020 at 10:15 AM and has received 20233 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, October 1

Oct 1

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

  • Explore how the electoral college process will progress for the 2020 presidential election. (Congressional Research Service, September 3, 2020)
  • Read about older women's retirement security. (U.S. Governmental Accountability Office, September 24, 2020)
  • Check park status before visiting one of Texas' state parks. (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, accessed September 30, 2020)
  • Learn about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for agricultural producers. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, September 17, 2020)

 

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

 

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

 

This entry was posted on October 1, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 785 views. Print this entry.

2020 General Election: Voting Resources

Sep 29

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, Election

This year the general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Texas Secretary of State's website, VoteTexas.gov, has a listing of other important 2020 elections dates, including the last day to register to vote, the last day to apply for a ballot by mail, and the dates for early voting.

 

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published recommendations for election officials, poll workers, and voters on their webpage, Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters (updated June 10, 2020).

 

Below we've also compiled a list of resources from Texas state officials and other organizations related to the upcoming election, voting by mail, and voting and holding elections during a pandemic. Please use the contact information on the respective agencies' websites for any questions specific to their purposes.

 

Texas state resources:

  • Office of the Governor
    • General Proclamation (Ordering a general election on November 3, 2020), August 26, 2020
    • General Proclamation (Related to early voting by personal appearance and delivery of a marked mail ballot), June 27, 2020

Additional resources related to voting by mail and elections during a pandemic:

 

The tile image, "I Voted" by Ian Aberle, is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 / Resized from original.

 

This entry was posted on September 29, 2020 at 9:15 AM and has received 2518 views. Print this entry.

House Committee Resources: Aggregate Production Operations

Sep 28

posted by TexasLRL in Committee Resources, 86th Session

Committee Resources

The committee has requested written submissions on the following topic. Below are resources related to that topic.

 

House Interim Study Committee on Aggregate Production Operations

Topic: The impact of aggregate production operations (APOs), including, but not limited to, rock-crushing facilities, concrete batch plants, and hot-mix asphalt plants, across the state.

 

Examples of issues impacted by APOs include, but are not limited to:

 

(1) general enforcement of regulations;

(2) nuisance issues relating to dust, noise, and light;

(3) transportation safety and transportation integrity;

(4) air quality;

(5) blasting enforcement;

(6) reclamation efforts;

(7) distance of facilities from adjoining property lines;

(8) disruption of groundwater; and

(9) the impact of municipal ordinances;

 

 

This entry was posted on September 28, 2020 at 9:30 AM and has received 1046 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, September 24

Sep 24

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

  • Read about the role of the President and the Senate Judiciary Committee in the appointment process of a U.S. Supreme Court justice. (Congressional Research Service, updated September 21 & 22, 2020)
  • Review the latest version of the Texas Legislative Council's Drafting Manual. (Texas Legislative Council, September 2020)
  • Register to vote before the October 5 voter registration deadline. (Texas Secretary of State, September 22, 2020)
  • Find information about the flu vaccine and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated September 21, 2020)

 

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

 

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

 

This entry was posted on September 24, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 996 views. Print this entry.

House Committee Resources: Driver's License Issuance and Renewal

Sep 21

posted by TexasLRL in Committee Resources, 86th Session

Committee Resources

The committee has requested written submissions on the following topics. Below are resources related to those topics.

 

House Select Committee on Driver's License Issuance & Renewal  

Charge 1: Examining opportunities to expedite the driver's license renewal processes, with a focus on long wait times, physician waivers for eye exams, redundant fingerprinting, and opportunities to complete the renewal online; Reviewing the feasibility of permanently transferring the licensing program from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) over to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

 

Charge 2: Monitoring the use of additional funds that were devoted to the Department of Public Safety in the 86th Legislature for the purposes of improving the driver's license renewal process, along with the construction of new driver's license service centers.

 

Charge 3: Monitoring the implementation of House Bill 1078 -- which waives driver's license and handgun license fees for individuals with certificates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- and determining whether the legislation is being implemented as intended.

 

Charge 4: Monitoring the implementation of Senate Bill 616 -- the DPS sunset bill -- which provides for the conditional transfer of licensing programs from DPS to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and reviewing the new workgroup's adoption of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of programs.

 

This entry was posted on September 21, 2020 at 9:15 AM and has received 1512 views. Print this entry.

** UPDATED ** COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Texas Informational Resources

Sep 18

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, COVID-19

This post is an update of blog posts dated March 17, 2020, and April 7, 2020.

 

Below is an updated list of resources from Texas leadership and Texas state agencies on the response to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Please use contact information on the respective agencies' websites for any questions specific to their purposes.

 

From Texas leadership:

 

Texas state agency resources:

 

Information on this page is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

 

This entry was posted on September 18, 2020 at 8:30 AM and has received 1627 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, September 17

Sep 17

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

  • Read about how diet can affect hearing ability. (Consumer Reports, September 14, 2020)
  • Consider the current climate related to state legislation about internet gambling. (National Conference of State Legislatures, September 2020)
  • Review some of the federal and state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Law Library of Congress, September 2020)
  • Track wildfires and how far wildfire smoke travels. (AirNow.gov, home of the U.S. Air Quality Index, accessed September 16, 2020)

 

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

 

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

 

This entry was posted on September 17, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1039 views. Print this entry.

Sunset Commission Meeting, September 23, 2020

Sep 16

posted by TexasLRL in Sunset review

 

This entry was posted on September 16, 2020 at 11:15 AM and has received 837 views. Print this entry.

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