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Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research

Interim Hearings - Week of August 22, 2016

Aug 12

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of August 22 

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 August 22

August 22 Top

House Committee on Land & Resource Management

Charge: Coastal erosion

Charge: Natural disaster preparedness and response 

August 23 Top

House Committee on Special Purpose Districts

Charge 1: Municipal Management Districts and/or Improvement Districts 

 

Charge 2: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including opportunities to streamline the purpose of multiple districts created within the same area, while maintaining the mission of special purpose districts

Charge: Occupational licensing

Charge: Regulatory functions across agencies and departments

Charge: Powdered alcohol and impact on underage drinking

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies

 

Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

Charge 7: Civil asset forfeiture laws

Topic: Bullying in Texas schools, cyberbullying in the digital age

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Tuition and fee waivers and exemptions, tuition set-asides, financial aid

August 24 Top

Charge 13: Review of current public education programs administered by the Texas Education Agency that are funded outside of the Foundation School Program

House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Topic 1: Maintaining military value of defense installations and communities

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

Charge 1: GPS monitoring in protective orders, family violence prevention

August 25 Top

Joint Interim Committee to Study Development of a Cruise Industry

Topic: Development and potential economic impact of a cruise industry on the Texas coast between Calhoun and Cameron counties

 

 

 

This entry was posted on August 12, 2016 at 3:47 PM and has received 1725 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 11

Aug 11

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.
  • Examine the state of national and domestic security. (The Atlantic, September 2016)
  • Consider the regulatory shortcomings related to raw materials that can be used to make a dirty bomb. (The Center for Public Integrity, August 4, 2016)
  • Review legal challenges from states related to federal immigration laws and enforcement. (Congressional Research Service, August 1, 2016)
  • Read about how immigrants have contributed to Texas' robust economy. (New American Economy, August 2016)
  • See the latest figures on household debt and credit. (Federal Reserve Bank of New York, August 2016)
  • Explore Shakespeare's references to the natural world. (OUP Blog, August 6, 2016)
 
 

This entry was posted on August 11, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 667 views. Print this entry.

Voter ID Court Rulings

Aug 5

posted by TexasLRL in Voter ID

In the past two weeks, voter ID laws (laws requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls) have been the subject of five separate court rulings. One of the cases, Veasey v. Abbott, pertained to Texas' voter ID law, SB 14, 82nd R.S. (2011). For your convenience, we have listed the five opinions below.

August 1, 2016 - North Dakota
Richard Brakebill et al. vs. Alvin Jaeger; Order granting plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction (Case 1:16-cv-00008-DLH-CSM) [view document]
U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
 
July 29, 2016 - Kansas
Court orders immediate halt to Kansas dual voter registration system. [view press release]
Marvin L. Brown, et al. v. Kris Kobach; Petition pursuant to K.S.A. chapter 60 for declaratory and injunctive relief  [view document]
Shawnee County District Court, Third Judicial District
 
July 29, 2016 - North Carolina
North Carolina State Conference of the NAAPC et al. v. Patrick L. McCrory; Opinion (Appeal No. 16-1468) [view document]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
 
July 29, 2016 - Wisconsin
One Wisconsin Institute, Inc. et al. v. Mark L. Thomsen et al.; Findings of fact and conclusions of law (No. 15-cv-324-jdp) [view document]
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
 
July 20, 2016 - Texas
Marc Veasey, et al. v. Greg Abbott; Opinion (No. 14-41127) [view document]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
 

This entry was posted on August 5, 2016 at 3:27 PM and has received 1391 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of August 15, 2016

Aug 5

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of August 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.

August 15 Top

House Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Contracting monitoring, compliance, performance evaluation and notification requirements for contracting procedures

Charge: Administrative process used to determine utility rates

Charge: How Public Utility Commission of Texas and utility providers can ensure consumer protection regarding metering devices for water, gas, and electricity service

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations

Charge 2: Home rule municipalities, adoption of ordinances

Charge 4: Municipal management districts (MMDs)

Charge 5: Statutes and Rules that govern Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs et al. v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc., et al.

Charge 6: Government accountability in elections - improve transparency regarding public debt

August 16 Top

 

House Select Committee on Mental Health

Invited testimony on Mental/behavioral health care services in Texas, including, but not limited to substance abuse, homelessness,  veterans, gaps in programs, and improving delivery of services

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: School board governance policies and practices, school board training requirements, suggestions for better student outcomes, particularly within the framework set for low-performing schools in HB 1842, 84th Legislature, R.S.

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation, specifically initiatives to build a high-quality pre-kindergarten grant program; and legislation to raise standards of teacher preparation programs and establish a more consistent, high-quality accountability system

August 17 Top

House Select Committee on Mental Health

Public testimony on mental health/behavioral health care services in Texas

 

August 18 Top

Joint Interim Committee on Advertising Public Notices

Topic: Rules and organizational business

Topic: Use of technology in posting and advertising to the public of legally required notices

 

This entry was posted on August 5, 2016 at 8:20 AM and has received 1607 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 4

Aug 4

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 medical marijuana's effects on prescription medication use. (Health Affairs, July 2016)
  • Examine reports related to people who have died in custody in Texas between 2005 and 2015. (Texas Justice Initiative, ©2016)
  • Explore how the Affordable Care Act has affected high risk pools. (Kaiser Family Foundation, August 1, 2016)
  • Read about public pension funding practices. (The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, June 2016)
 

This entry was posted on August 4, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 480 views. Print this entry.

Senate Presidents Pro Tempore

Aug 1

posted by TexasLRL in Members of the Legislature

A newly revised and expanded list of Senate Presidents Pro Tempore is now available on the library website. The page provides a list of legislators who have held this position, as well as a narrative history highlighting the changing nature of the position through the years.
 
As outlined in the Texas Constitution, the Senate President Pro Tem performs the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in his or her absence. Senate tradition also calls for the President Pro Tempore to be sworn in as "Governor for a Day", a 60+-year tradition that includes ceremonies and celebrations honoring the President Pro Tem and showcasing his or her district. 
 
During the 84th Texas Legislature in 2015, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa served as  Senate President Pro Tem for the Regular Session, and Sen. Kevin Eltife was elected at the close of the Regular Session for the legislative interim.
 
 
Did you know?
 
Before 1876, there was no constitutional requirement for electing a Senate President Pro Tem at the beginning and close of each session. Instead, Art. V, Sec. 13 of the 1845 Texas Constitution provided that:
 
"Whenever the If the lieutenant governor shall...die, resign, or be absent from the State during the recess of the legislature, it shall be the duty of the secretary of State to convene the Senate for the purpose of choosing a president for the time being."
Sen. Robert Guinn, Senate President
Pro Tem for the 9th - 11th Legislatures
(1861-1866)
Sen. Judith Zaffirini. First Latina President
Pro Tempore and first Latina
Governor of the Day (75th Legislature, 1997).
 

This entry was posted on August 1, 2016 at 9:15 AM and has received 2952 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, July 28

Jul 28

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 policy recommendations related to full-time virtual charter schools. (National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, June 16, 2016)
  • Read a study related to seismic activity in North Texas. (Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, July 17, 2016)
  • Examine why lead levels in some schools' drinking water can get so high. (Governing, July 26, 2016)
  • Explore public input on school assessment and accountability. (Texas Education Agency, July 2016)
 

This entry was posted on July 28, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 582 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of August 1, 2016

Jul 25

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings - Week of August 1

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.

August 2 Top

House Research Organization Steering Committee

Topic: House Research Organization budget for fiscal 2017

 

August 3 Top

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Comprehensive performance review of all public schools in Texas

 

Charge: Structure and performance of Harris County Department of Education and Dallas County Schools

  • Texas Education Code § 11.301, Application of Former Law
  • Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, Texas Education Code, Volume 2, Title 2 - Appendix - Former Chapters with Continued Application (Former Education Code Chapter 17, County Administration and Chapter 18, Countywide Equalization Fund or County Unit System of Equalization Taxation), Library Call Number: LAW-TEX

 

 

 

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation, specifically legislation to require a minimum number of minutes of instruction for each school year

August 4 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: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies, including Child Protective Services and 1115 Transformation Waiver

 

This entry was posted on July 25, 2016 at 8:32 AM and has received 1556 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, July 21

Jul 21

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.
  • Read about active-duty servicemembers using food assistance. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 2016)
  • Track executive compensation at public and private colleges. (The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 17, 2016)
  • Consider that younger seniors account for the largest end-of-life medical bills. (Kaiser Health News, July 14, 2016)
  • Explore how the presidential campaigns for the 2016 election handle information and news. (Pew Research Center, July 18, 2016)
 

This entry was posted on July 21, 2016 at 3:15 PM and has received 534 views. Print this entry.

New & Noteworthy List for July 2016

Jul 20

posted by TexasLRL in New & Noteworthy

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the six titles from our July 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. Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Time of Jim Crow By Thad Sitton and James H. Conrad
Chronicles the development of the African American communities, known as freedom colonies, created by ex-slaves after the Civil War in rural Texas. Provides insight into the lives of these freedmen land owners - their accomplishments and struggles to create an independent way of life away from an exploitive sharecropping system and despite the lingering effects of the "Black Codes" enacted by the Texas Legislature. Discusses the forces that eventually led to the decline of the freedom colonies and highlights the few communities that have managed to endure into the 21st century.
University of Texas Press, 2005. 248.
333.335 SI88F 2005


 

2. Texas Through Women's Eyes: The Twentieth-Century Experience By Judith N. McArthur and Harold L. Smith
Presents a historical overview of women's achievements in Texas through four eras of the twentieth century with an inclusive focus on rural, working-class, and minority women. Highlights women's leadership roles in working for social reform, the right to vote, better opportunities in education and the workforce, civil rights, feminist issues, and political reform. Provides a selection of primary documents including letters, memoirs, and oral histories, which are meant to allow the reader to experience up close, the efforts and struggles of women in shaping the state of Texas.
University of Texas Press, 2010. 295.
305.4209764 M127T 2010
 


 

3. The Captured: A True Story of Abduction by Indians on the Texas Frontier By Scott Zesch
Documents the stories of several Texas children who were abducted by Native American tribes during the 1860's and 1870's. Examines how the children frequently became attached to the Native American families they lived with, and illustrates their struggles to reintegrate with their families after being recovered. Highlights the life of Adolph Korn, an ancestor of the author, who was abducted in 1870 and spent three years training as a warrior with the Comanche's tribe before being returned to his family, where he never fully reintegrated into white society.
St. Martin's Press, 2004. 362.
976.4404 Z56C 2004


 

 

4. The Red River Bridge War: A Texas-Oklahoma Border Battle By Rusty Williams
Examines the two-week conflict between Texas and Oklahoma during the summer of 1931, at the start of the Great Depression, over a private toll bridge that connected the two states over the Red River. Chronicles the tense day-to-day stand off and clashes between these two sovereign states. Provides a historical context to today's current popularity of toll roads and privatized highways.
Texas A&M University Press, 2016. 275.
976.4062 W675R 2016
 


 

5. The Road Taken: The History and Future of America's Infrastructure By Henry Petroski
Highlights the previous decisions (good and bad) that have led to the development of our roads, bridges, and traffic habits. Emphasizes how important infrastructure is to our economic health and suggests tight economic times, partisan politics, and public skepticism make it difficult to find the resources to fix current problems. Discusses funding and financing of projects, including public-private partnerships.
Bloomsbury, 2016. 322.
388.10973 P448R 2016



 

6. The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act By Charles S. Bullock III, Ronald Keith Gaddie, and Justin J. Wert
Analyzes changing legislation and the future of voting rights in the United States, tracing the Voting Rights Act from its inception in 1965 through the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Discusses redistricting, preclearance review, voter identification laws, and voter participation and registration in Texas. Explores potential next steps after the Shelby County ruling, including proposals to restore the preclearance process.
University of Oklahoma Press, 2016. 240.
342.73072 B876R 2016

 

 

 

This entry was posted on July 20, 2016 at 2:58 PM and has received 950 views. Print this entry.

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