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New & Noteworthy List for February 2016

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the six titles from our February 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, please contact the library at 512-463-1252.

 

 


1. The Tejano community, 1836-1900. By Arnoldo De Leon
Examines the daily lives of Mexican Americans from 1836-1900. Paints a picture of a vibrant group of people: enterprising, success –oriented, and interested and active in politics. Includes chapters on religion, folklore, education, and entertainment revealing a complex community of people in the process of social change. Defines the life that the Tejanos made for themselves at a time when they were an exploited minority.
The University of New Mexico Press, 1982. 277 pages.
976.4 D34T 1982


 

2. Riding fence. By June Rayfield Welch
Explores the periphery of the state, the outlying communities and people whose stories have often fallen through the cracks of Texas history. Presents a treasure trove of Texana, giving special attention to border counties and towns that have acted as filters for adjoining cultures. Highlights specific geographic areas such as the Louisiana Line, Roy Bean Country, and the Staked Plains to show how specific people and events have created the Texas story.
GLA Press, 1983. 209 pages.
976.4 W444R 1983


 

3. Texas: the dark corner of the confederacy. By Edited by B.P. Galloway
Presents a history of Texas during the Civil War years through firsthand descriptions, dating from the eve of the Civil War to the collapse of the Confederacy, by civilians and soldiers from all over the state. Includes excerpts from diaries, journals, almanacs, official documents, speeches, reminiscences, and memoirs, as well as maps of the counties of Civil War Texas and counties voting for and against secession.
University of Nebraska Press, 1994. 286 pages.
973.7464 G135T 1994


 

 

4. Muleshoe & more: the remarkable stories behind the naming of Texas towns. By Bill Bradfield and Clare Bradfield
Lists over 700 Texas towns, alphabetically from Abilene to Zephyr, and how they received their monikers. Offers a variety of interesting backstories and little known facts for Texas towns from the Rio Grande to the Pan Handle. Illustrates the eclectic cities that help define Texas' uniqueness.
Gulf Publishing Company, 1999. 218 pages.
917.64003 B727M 1999


 

 

5. Dining at the Governor's Mansion. By Carl. R. McQueary
Presents the culinary and social history of the Texas Governor’s Mansion from the mid-nineteenth century forward. Focuses on food, food preparation, and entertainment at the mansion and their place in the lives of the first ladies and their families. Includes brief biographical sketches of the first ladies, highlighting the imprint each woman left on the Governor’s Mansion and on the history of Texas. Contains over 200 historic recipes.
Texas A&M University Press, 2003. 317 pages.
641.59764 M879D 2003
 


 

6. The Texas League, 1888-1987: a century of baseball. By Bill O'Neal
Examines the then-100 year history of The Texas League, which was officially formed in 1888, and recognized as a minor-league within the National Association system in 1901. Details all aspects of the league, from its pre-1888 history as an amateur/semi-pro league, through the ebb-and-flow of baseball's popularity throughout the 20th century, and to its centennial season in 1987. Includes information on the cities of the league, their ballparks, and both team and player statistics.
Eakin Press, 1987. 389 pages.
796.357 ON2T 1987
 


 

 

 

Week in Review, February 11

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Track the economic recovery from the Great Recession by state. (Pew Charitable Trusts, February 3, 2016)
  • Review litigation between the states and the federal government related to the enforcement of immigration law. (Congressional Research Service, January 27, 2016)
  • Read about the gig economy and on-demand services. (Congressional Research Service, February 5, 2016)
  • Find the 2016 March primary election candidate filings by county. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed February 10, 2016)
 
 

Interim Hearings - Week of February 15, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of February 15

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.
 

February 17

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: First Amendment religious liberty protections

 

February 18

House Select Committee on Mental Health

Invited testimony

 

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services   

Charge: Healthy aging

 

Charge: Long-term care

 

Charge: "Wrongful birth" cause of action

 

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Judicial salaries, legislators' retirement annuities, straight-ticket voting

 

 

 

Week in Review, February 4

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Explore what local health agencies across the U.S. are doing to address the Zika virus. (Governing, February 4, 2016)
  • Read about the new lower passing score for the GED Testing Service. (Education Week, Curriculum Matters, January 20, 2016)
  • Consider the federal corrections system and recent recommendations for improving it. (Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections, January 2016)
  • Review developing policy and regulations related to unmanned aircraft systems. (Congressional Research Service, January 27, 2016)
  • Examine the effect of the removal of Planned Parenthood from the Texas Women's Health Program. (The New England Journal of Medicine, February 3, 2016)
 

Interim Hearings - Week of February 8, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of February 8

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.

February 9 Top

House Committee on Corrections

Charge: Incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses, alternatives to incarceration including community supervision

Charge: Inmate release policies of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including direct release from administrative segregation

House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Private Property Rights in Water

Topic: How to supply water while respecting private property rights of individual owners

House Committee on Public Education  

Charge: Middle grades

Charge: High performing students

February 10 Top

House Committee on Corrections

Charge: Recidivism & Reentry

House Committee on Public Health

Charge: Preparedness for public health threats and emergencies, including natural disasters and infectious diseases

Charge: Telemedicine in Texas

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation, specifically:

Topic: Local briefing on English Language Learning

February 11 Top

Topic: Select committee budgets

 

House Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Community college system

Charge: Community colleges offering affordable baccalaureate degree programs, student pathways

Senate Select Committee Property Tax Reform & Relief  

Charge: Property tax process, including appraisal system

Charge: Reducing tax burden

 

 

Week in Review, January 28

  • Find investigation information and related reports about the West fertilizer explosion and fire. (U.S. Chemical Safety Board, accessed January 28, 2016)
  • Read about the gender wage gap and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. (Economic Policy Institute, January 26, 2016)
  • View the grand jury indictments related to the Planned Parenthood investigation. (District Court of Harris County, Texas, January 25, 2016)
  • Map abortion coverage through Affordable Care Act Marketplace health insurance plans. (Kaiser Family Foundation, January 20, 2016)
 

Members Not Returning, 85th Legislature

Below is a list of members (as of January 27, 2016) not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature.

  • A complete list of candidates in the Texas House 2016 Primary can be seen here.
  • A list of candidates in the Texas Senate 2016 Primary can be seen here.

Information about candidates by county is available on the Texas Secretary of State's website, filings by county page.

 

 

Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock Retiring
Rep. Myra Crownover Retiring
Sen. Kevin Eltife Retiring
Rep. Joe Farias Resigned effective 8/10/15
Rep. Allen Fletcher Retiring
Sen. Troy Fraser Retiring
Rep. Patricia Harless Retiring
Rep. Bryan Hughes Seeking another office
Rep. Jim Keffer Retiring
Rep. Susan King Seeking another office
Rep. Marisa Márquez Retiring
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer Seeking another office
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon Resigned effective 1/31/16
Rep. Elliott Naishtat Retiring
Rep. John Otto Retiring
Rep. David Simpson Seeking another office
Rep. Scott Turner Retiring
Rep. Sylvester Turner Resigned effective 1/1/16; sworn in as Mayor of Houston on 1/2/16 

 

Interim Hearings - Week of February 1, 2016

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.

 

Week of February 1

February 2

House Committee on Natural Resources

Charge: Water markets in Texas

 

Charge: Regional and state water planning processes, with emphasis on integration of HB 4, 83rd Legislature, R.S., regional planning groups, groundwater management, drought of record, and related issues

 

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

 

February 3

House Committee on Energy Resources

Charge 1: Impacts of declining oil prices, energy development strategies

 

Charge 2: Oilfield theft

 

Charge 7: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations 

Charge 3: Natural disaster preparedness planning, as it pertains to Hurricane Dolly disaster recovery efforts

Week in Review, January 21

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Read about students who transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions. (Community College Research Center, January 2016)
  • Consider the Texas AG opinion and related documents about playing daily fantasy sports for a fee. (Legal Sports Report, January 19, 2016)
  • Track recent and past crime statistics. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed January 2016)
  • Review documents related to the drinking water issues in Flint, MI. (Flint Water Study, accessed January 2016)
 
 

Interim Hearings - Week of January 25, 2016

Interim Hearings - Week of January 25

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.

 

January 25

Joint Legislative Committee on Health & Human Services Transition, Oversight

Invited testimony only

 

January 26

Invited testimony on all interim charges

 

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

Charge: Elder financial abuse

·         Financial Crimes Against the Elderly, 2015 Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures, November 20, 2015

·         "Lies, Secrets, and Scams: How to Prevent Elder Abuse," Consumer Reports, November 3, 2015

·         "Why Elder Financial Abuse Is Such A Slippery Crime," Forbes, February 13, 2015

·         Cumulative 2015 Elder Financial Abuse Legislation, American Bankers Association, updated as of January 26, 2015

·         The True Link Report on Elder Financial Abuse 2015, True Link Financial, January 2015

·         Georgia Akers, Associate Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 3, "Elder Abuse, Exploitation and Consumer Scams: Ethical Duties," 2014 CPE by the Sea, Houston TSCPA Foundation and TSCPA CPE Foundation, Inc., Galveston, Texas, June 11-13, 2014

 

Charge: Collection process of delinquent ad valorem property taxes, role of tax lien transfers

·         Interim Report to the 84th Legislature (Charge 3 - Property tax liens), House Committee on Business and Industry, January 2015

·         Texas Property Tax Law Changes 2015 (Tax Code, Chapter 31, Collections, and Chapter 33, Delinquency), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, August 2015

·         Property Tax Lending Consolidated Volume Report Calendar Year 2014, Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, June 23, 2015

·         Property Tax Lending Study, Finance Commission of Texas, prepared by Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, August 2012

·         Property Tax Bills (delinquent tax bill contents, delinquency dates, penalty and interest by type of property tax bill), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Senate Committee on Finance

Topic: Testimony from Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Legislative Budget Board on impact of oil prices and production on state revenue and the budget

·         "Falling Oil Prices Leading to Drop in Texas Road Funding," Texas Tribune, January 20, 2016

·         2016 Texas Economic Outlook: Riding the Energy Roller Coaster, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, January 12, 2016

·         Monthly State Revenue Watch, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Updated January 2016

·         The 2016-2017 Certification Revenue Estimate, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, October 13, 2015

 

Charge: Behavioral/mental health services and expenditures across state government

·         A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas, 2nd Edition, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014

·         Texas Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, Texas Department of State Health Services, June 2012

·         Comprehensive Analysis of Public Behavioral Health System (Rider 71 report background), Texas Department of State Health Services

 

Senate Committee on State Affairs  

Charge: Implementation of open carry (HB 910) and campus carry (SB 11)

 

January 27

Senate Committee on Transportation

Charge: State's Vehicle Inspection Program

·         Texas "Two Steps, One Sticker" Program Starts as a 'Square Dance', Texas Association of Counties, April 2, 2015

·         Vehicle Inspection and Two Steps One Sticker, Texas Department of Public Safety

 

Charge: Necessity of Driver Responsibility Program

·         Interim Report to the 84th Legislature (Charge 4), House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, January 2015

·         An Audit Report on Selected Contracts at the Department of Public Safety (Chapter 3 - Driver Responsibility Program), State Auditor's Office, June 2013

·         Driver Responsibility Program (Issue Brief), Legislative Budget Board, January 2013

·         Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency: Selected Issues and Recommendations (Driver Responsibility Program), Legislative Budget Board, January 2007

·         Driver Responsibility Program, Texas Department of Public Safety

 

Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief   

Charge: Property tax process

·         Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency: Selected Issues and Recommendations (Property Appraisals), Legislative Budget Board, January 2015

·         Appraising the Appraisals: Local Values and Property Taxes, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, July 2014

·         Interim Charge Recommendations to the 82nd Legislature (Property Tax System), Senate Committee on Finance, January 2011

·         Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature (Property Tax Appraisals), House Committee on Ways & Means, January 2011

·         Interim Report (Property Tax Appraisal System), Senate Finance Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps, January 2009

·         Interim Report to the 81st Legislature, House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, December 2008

·         Interim Report to the 81st Legislature (Charge 4), House Committee on Local Government Ways and Means, December 2008

·         Findings and Recommendations: a Report from the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, January 2007

·         Texas Property Tax System, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Charge: Tax burden

·         "Lopsided Election Puts Political Target on Property Taxes," Austin American Statesman, November 9, 2015

·         "Property Tax Relief Comes With Big Cost to State," Texas Tribune, October 4, 2015

·         A Brief History of Texas Property Tax Relief Initiatives (Presentation), Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, May 20, 2008

 

 

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