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Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research

Week in Review, September 6th

Sep 6

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 racial, ethnic, and gender gaps in post-secondary educational participation and attainment. (National Center for Education Statistics, August 2012)
  • Read about metropolitan labor markets. (Brookings, August 29, 2012)
  • Consider the shrinking middle class. (Pew Research Center, August 22, 2012)
  • Take a look at requirements for replacement windows' energy savings claims. (Federal Trade Commission, August 29, 2012)
  • Find out how much food is wasted throughout its journey from farm to table. (National Resources Defense Council, August 2012)
  • Explore data from cities all over the country in one place. (Cities.Data.Gov, 2012)

This entry was posted on September 6, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1448 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 30th

Aug 30

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 whether retaining elementary students in the same grade for another year for remedial purposes is helpful to the students. (Center on Children and Families at Brookings, August 2012)
  • Review a study about the effects of school vouchers on college enrollment. (The Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings / Harvard's Program on Education Policy and Governance, August 2012)
  • Explore how new models for offering online college courses are changing college education. (Smithsonian.com, August 27, 2012)
  • Pinpoint metro areas where college students live. (The Atlantic, Cities, August 27, 2012)
  • Check out a graphic on Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (The Journal of the American Medical Association, August 22/29, 2012)
  • Read about health insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Congressional Research Service, August 15, 2012)

This entry was posted on August 30, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1616 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Weeks of September 3 and 10, 2012

Aug 28

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 82nd 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, and a list of upcoming Budget Hearings.

 

September 4th

Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

Charge: Administrative segregation

 

Charge: Female inmates

September 5th

  • Commission Decisions on the Texas Criminal Justice Agencies
    • Texas Department of Criminal Justice
    • Correctional Managed Health Care Committee
    • Windham School District
    • Board of Pardons and Paroles
  • Staff Presentation and Public Testimony
    • State Pension Review Board
    • Office of Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner
    • Port of Houston Authority
    • State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committee
    • Texas Commission on the Arts
    • Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

 

September 6th

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Interim Charge #9

Charge: Efficiency of Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard

 

September 10th

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Cost-effective funding of financial aid, incentives, student debt

 

Charge: Returned value funding model for Texas State Technical College

 

Charge: Monitor the implementation and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation of the following bills (82nd Regular):

  • SB 5, Relating to the administration and business affairs of public institutions of higher education
  • SB 28, Relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant and to administration of the TEXAS grant program
  • HB 9, Relating to student success-based funding
  • HB 33, Relating to measures to increase the affordability of textbooks used for courses at public or private institutions of higher education
  • SB 1107, Relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of entering students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education
  • HB 1000, Relating to the distribution of money appropriated from the National Research University Fund

 

September 11th

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Charge: Seafood consumption

 

Charge: Use of Texas agricultural products in healthy foods

 

Topic: Texas drought conditions and wildfires

 

September 12th

Charge: Local retirement systems

 

Charge: Payday lending under HB2592 and HB2594

 

Charge: Federal consumer protection laws

 

Charge: Viability of defined benefit pension plans; feasibility of alternative plans

 

Joint Committee on Seacoast Territory Insurance

Charge: Windstorm and Hail Insurance pursuant to HB 3 (82nd 1st C.S.)

 

September 13th

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

Charge:  Cedar eradication as a means to enhance resource conservation

 

House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services (continuation of previous day's hearing)

 

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Extended learning time and student success, after-school programs

 
Upcoming Budget Hearings

Listed below are budget hearings of state agencies, listed by agency name or date on the Legislative Budget Board website along with the time and location.

 

September 4th

Bond Review Board

Optometry Board

 

September 5th

Judiciary Section, Comptroller's Department

Prairie View A&M University

Risk Management, State Office of

Tarleton State University

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University at Galveston

Texas A&M University System Health Science Center

Texas A&M University System: Administrative and General Offices

West Texas A&M University

 

September 6th

Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas

Emergency Communications, Commission on State

Ethics Commission, Texas

Texas A&M International University

Texas Transportation Institute

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Commerce, San Antonio, Central Texas, Texarkana

Texas Engineering Experiment Station

Texas Engineering Extension Service

 

September 7th

Adjutant General's Department

AgriLife Extension Service and AgriLife Research, Texas

Racing Commission

Texas Forest Service

Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Veterans Commission

 

September 10th

Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of

Court of Criminal Appeals

State Law Library

Utility Commission of Texas, Public

               

September 11th

Aging and Disability Services, Department of

Historical Commission

               

September 12th

Attorney General, Office of the

Blind and Visually Impaired, School for the

Deaf, School for the

Injured Employee Counsel, Office of

Lamar Institute of Technology

Lamar State College- Port Arthur, Orange

Lamar University

Sam Houston State University

Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College

Texas State University - San Marcos

Texas State University System

 

September 13th

Family and Protective Services, Department of

Texas State Technical College - Harlingen, West Texas, System Administration, Marshall, Waco

 

September 14th

Preservation Board

 

This entry was posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:22 PM and has received 3075 views. Print this entry.

New Laws Take Effect September 1, 2012

Aug 27

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On September 1, 2012, provisions of five bills passed by the regular session of the 82nd Legislature in 2011 will take effect, as will parts of SB 1, passed during the first called session.
 
The new laws cover a wide range of topics, including health information, trademarks, food safety, child care, and child support.
 
To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.

This entry was posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:30 AM and has received 3324 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 23rd

Aug 23

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.
  • Explore comparative performance measurement data from all 50 states. (Council of State Governments, August 2012)
  • Read about the most recent developments in gun control legislation. (Congressional Research Service, August 3, 2012)
  • Examine recent data related to the lives of older Americans. (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, August 16, 2012)
  • Find out how much college costs, by state and by college. (CNNMoney, 2012)
 

This entry was posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1480 views. Print this entry.

Changes are Coming to the Texas Trademark Act

Aug 20

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On September 1, 2012, an overhauled and expanded version of the Texas Trademark Act will take effect. Passed during the 82nd Legislature as House Bill 3141, the revised Act is meant to more closely track model trademark procedures and reduce the potential for conflict with federal trademark laws. Notable changes include:
  • Additional and expanded penalties for trademark infringement;
  • More specific definitions of trademark dilution and new limitations on which marks qualify for protection under the dilution rules;
  • Enhanced filing requirements for both new applications and trademark renewals;
  • An expanded likelihood of confusion review that includes federal as well as Texas trademarks;
  • A reduction of the registration term from ten to five years.
The Texas Secretary of State has posted an updated trademark application form and guidance on some of the new trademark provisions. Interested parties may also want to review the Texas Administrative Code's new trademark regulations, also effective on September 1.
 

This entry was posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:03 AM and has received 2705 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 16th

Aug 16

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 how diversity on campus affects the experiences of minority college students. (Education Week, August 14, 2012)
  • Consider how state laws about food in schools can affect students' weights. (HealthDay, August 13, 2012)
  • See how obesity has been on the rise for decades. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 13, 2012)
  • Explore the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 13, 2012)

This entry was posted on August 16, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1888 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Weeks of August 20 and 27, 2012

Aug 14

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 82nd Session

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.

 

August 22nd

House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Charge: Federal military installations and civilian encroachment

Charge: Texas military installations and recent reductions in federal defense spending

Charge: Texas Military Preparedness Commission, HB 2546 (81R), and military preparedness

August 24th

House Committees on Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V and Homeland Security & Public Safety (Joint Hearing, 10:00 AM)

Charge: Driver's license improvement plan, feasibility of privatization to minimize wait times

House Committee on Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V - on adjournment of 10:00 AM hearing

Charge: Correctional health care system

House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety - on adjournment of 10:00 AM hearing  

Charge: Digital emergency public service messaging network on evacuation routes

 

Charge: Law enforcement personnel at school district and post-secondary campuses

 

Senate Committee on Education

Charge: Charter schools

Charge: School choice, education tax credits

August 27th

House Committee on Business & Industry

Charge: Existing lien laws

 

Charge: Impact of property tax liens on title and Texas real estate market

August 28th

Charge: Texas veterans employment

 

Charge: Veterans in higher education

 

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation

August 29th

Senate Committee on Finance   

Charge: State spending limits

Charge: Funding for law enforcement training and retention

Charge: Monitor implementation of legislation, especially regarding state tax equity and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces

 
August 30th

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Allowing purchase of health insurance across state lines

Charge: Statute of limitations on a cause of action relating to consumer debt

Charge: Liability protection for private companies and individuals when commissioned by the Texas Forest Service to assist in fighting a fire; volunteer firefighter termination by employer

 

This entry was posted on August 14, 2012 at 9:20 AM and has received 2958 views. Print this entry.

Legislative Statistics and Trends

Aug 13

posted by TexasLRL in Members of the Legislature

The library frequently fields questions about the history of the Legislature and the often-colorful individuals who have held office. 
 
Percentage of freshmen in the House and Senate on the first day of each regular sessionSince statehood, 5,451 people have served in the Texas Legislature.  Most didn't serve for very long, particularly during the 19th century. The average length of consecutive service by House members is slightly under four years; Senators' average tenure is closer to five years.
 
The difficulty of travel may have contributed to high turnover.  Consider Henry Warren, elected to the 11th Legislature from El Paso, who took so long to make the journey to Austin that he arrived after the Legislature had adjourned. (The Texas Senate: Volume II, Civil War to the Eve of Reform, 1861-1889)
 
It's not clear if Henry Warren would have been eligible to serve if he had arrived on time; the roster of members in the Senate Journal notes that he was "In'igible, too young."  At the time, Senators were required to be at least 30 years old. (Constitution of 1866, Article III, § 10, Texas Constitutions Digitization Project)
 
Temple HoustonThe youngest senator ever was Temple Houston, son of Sam Houston.  As a young man, he built a reputation as a brilliant speaker, a talented lawyer, and a quick draw with a pistol. Temple Houston took the oath of office on January 13, 1885, when he was only 24 years old.  
 
No one challenged his qualifications, although Article III § 6 of the Texas Constitution required senators to be at least 26 years of age. (Constitution of 1876, Article III, § 6, Texas Constitutions Digitization Project)
 
Homer Hendricks, sworn in eight days shy of his 21st birthday, is the youngest person to have served in the House of Representatives.
 
Tom Craddick
Doyle Willis retired from the Legislature after 42 years at the age of 89, making him the oldest person to have served in the Legislature. 
 
The record for longest service belongs to A.M. Aikin, Jr., who served more than 45 years in the House and Senate. 
 
Tom Craddick, who has served since 1969, holds the record for longest service in the House of Representatives.
 
Walter P. Acker, Sr. during the 18th LegislatureWalter P. Acker, Sr. during the 41st LegislatureIt is not uncommon for Legislators to serve non-consecutive terms, but Walter P. Acker, Sr., stands out for the length of time between his terms.  His first term, during the 18th Legislature, ended in 1885; 40 years later, he became a member of the 39th Legislature.  
 
Much had changed in Texas during Acker's time away from the Legislature, but the partisan makeup of the Legislature had hardly budged. 
 
In the middle of the 19th century, legislators claimed a wide range of political affiliations, including such unfamiliar labels as Loco Foco, Nullifiers, Tyler man, Polk man, and Tariff man.
 
From the end of Reconstruction in 1876 until the middle of the 20th century, the Democratic Party monopolized the Legislature. In the 1960s, the Republican Party began a rapid rise, gaining a majority in the Senate in 1997 and the House in 2003.: 
 
Party affiliation in the House of Representates at the beginning of the regular session, 12th through 82nd LegislaturesParty affiliation in the Senate at the beginning of the regular session, 12th through 82nd Legislatures
 
 
If you are interested in broad trends, like the shifting partisan makeup, or facts about an individual, the answers can often be found in the Texas Legislators: Past & Present database, which documents the service of all members back to 1846.
 
 

This entry was posted on August 13, 2012 at 8:00 AM and has received 7800 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 9th

Aug 9

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 local infrastructure spending. (The Washington Post, July 16, 2012)
  • Examine current oil and gas reserves. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, August 2012)
  • See where the money goes for low-income, middle-class, and wealthy households. (National Public Radio, August 1, 2012)
  • Explore the effects of suspending and expelling children from the classroom. (Center for Civil Rights Remedies, August 2012)
  • Read about California's SB1476, which would allow a child to have more than two legal parents in certain circumstances. (California Legislative Information, accessed August 8, 2012 / The Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2012)
  • Review recently released juvenile court statistics. (National Center for juvenile Justice, May 2012)

This entry was posted on August 9, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 1385 views. Print this entry.

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