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Current Articles & Research Resources, February 13

Feb 13

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 trends in workforce development. (National Conference of State Legislatures, February 4, 2020)
  • Read about identity and community in Black Americans. (Pew Research Center, February 5, 2020)
  • Review President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2021. (The White House, February 10, 2020)
  • Consider ways to prevent children from accessing adults' prescription medication. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 12, 2020)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.02.13  /  "How a fringe idea went mainstream." By Vimal Patel. Chronicle of Higher Education, January 31, 2020, pp. A8-A12.
    Examines the $1.5 trillion student loan debt problem that is increasingly affecting the middle class. Argues the debt is a clear case of exploitation with the investor class making money from students as the debt is repackaged and sold. Predicts a solution will be found since President Trump and many Democrats are seeking a remedy.
  • 20.02.14  /  "Praying for a political payoff?" By Rob Boston. Church & State, February 2020, pp. 4-5.
    Analyzes the Trump administration's guidelines on prayer and other religious activities in public schools, released on January 16, 2020.
  • 20.02.15  /  "America's quiet policing crisis." By Charles Fain Lehman. City Journal (Manhattan Institute), February 5, 2020, pp. 1-3.
    Reports police departments across the United States are confronting a recruitment crisis. Includes the Police Executive Research Forum's recommendations on how to improve recruitment efforts.
  • 20.02.16  /  "Car trouble." By Jessica Wehrman. CQ Weekly, January 21, 2020, pp. 14-21.
    Explores the transitioning auto industry and its struggles to navigate the federal regulatory complexity recently created by policies of the Trump administration.
  • 20.02.17  /  "Testing and college admissions: What's SAT?" Economist, February 8th-14th, 2020, pp. 23-24.
    Examines the debate over the use of college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT, as a requirement for college admissions. Discusses the lawsuit seeking to end the University of California System's use of these tests.
  • 20.02.18  /  "Guns in political advertising over four US election cycles, 2012-18." By Colleen L. Barry, et al. Health Affairs, February 2020, pp. 327-333.
    Observes that gun references have increased substantially in candidate-related ads in recent elections, particularly in communities more attuned to elections or that were near mass shootings.
  • 20.02.19  /  "Implications of the rapid growth of the nurse practitioner workforce in the US." By David I. Auerbach, Peter I. Buerhaus, and Douglas O. Staiger. Health Affairs, February 2020, pp. 273-279.
    Observes that the registered nurse [RN] workforce has been reduced following policy advocating for greater use of nurse practitioners to fill the health care gap left by physician shortages.
  • 20.02.20  /  "State policy recommendations for addressing teacher shortages." By Ana Ramón. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), January 2020, pp. 1-2.
    Identifies various alternative teacher certification programs that have been used in Texas, including the IDRA accelerated teacher certification model designed to prepare teachers for diverse classrooms. Presents seven policy recommendations for the Texas Legislature to consider in the areas of recruiting, preparing, and retaining highly qualified educators.
  • 20.02.21  /  "Caring for tomorrow." By Alisa Chester. Internet Resource, January/February 2020, pp. 1-3.
    Describes Texas hospitals' work to enhance access to pediatric mental health care, curb the outbreak of teen vaping, address the rising uninsured children rate, and use telemedicine to provide access to pediatric specialists in rural areas.
  • 20.02.22  /  "Out-of-network bills for privately insured patients undergoing elective surgery with in-network primary surgeons and facilities." By Karan R. Chhabra, et al. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), February 11, 2020, pp. 538-547.
    Evaluates out-of-network billing across common elective operations — like knee replacements, breast lumpectomies, and others — performed with in-network primary surgeons and facilities. Finds that almost 21 percent of episodes had an out-of-network bill.
  • 20.02.23  /  "How Black Lives Matter is changing Black History Month." By Olivia B. Waxman. Time, February 17, 2020, pp. 18-19.
    Examines how the Black Lives Matter movement is transforming how black history is being taught in public schools.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on February 13, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 932 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, February 6

Feb 6

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 state roles in protecting the electric grids. (National Conference of State Legislatures, January 24, 2020)
  • Review a list of local fire departments that offer smoke alarm programs. (State Fire Marshal, updated January 27, 2020)
  • Consider the mortality consequences of the opioid epidemic. (Cato Institute, January 15, 2020)
  • Find a lot of fact sheets about utilities in Texas. (Public Utility Commission of Texas, accessed February 5, 2020)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.02.01  /  "Online governance: A court of public opinions." Economist, February 1st-7th, 2020, p. 57.
    Discusses Facebook's draft of the bylaws that will govern the company's oversight board, with details on the board's structure and decision-making authority.
  • 20.02.02  /  "The politics of gender: Changing states." Economist, February 1st-7th, 2020, pp. 21-22.
    Explains why blanket bans on medical interventions for transgender children are likely to be counterproductive and suggests a better approach. Mentions Senator Ted Cruz and the James Younger custody case in Dallas County.
  • 20.02.03  /  "2019 county election website review." By League of Women Voters of Texas. Internet Resource, November 2019, pp. 1-26 (Note Length).
    Evaluates Texas county websites for accessibility and security of voting and election information in light of new Texas election laws, HB933 and HB1241, 86th Legislature. Provides best practices for providing accurate election information online.
  • 20.02.04  /  "Malpractice liability and quality of care." By William M. Sage and Kristen Underhill. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), January 28, 2020, pp. 315-317.
    Suggests that greater tort liability was not associated with improved quality of patient care, based on a systematic review of studies published between 1990 and 2019.
  • 20.02.05  /  "Who's paying now? The explicit and implicit costs of the current early care and education system." By Elise Gould and Hunter Blair. Policy Report (Economic Policy Institute), January 15, 2020, pp. 1-12.
    Examines the chronic underfunding and hidden costs of the current early care and education [ECE] system, including forgone parental income and the underpayment of ECE teachers.
  • 20.02.06  /  "Electrify everything? Heat and light in deep decarbonization policies." By Hal Nelson. Public Utilities Fortnightly, January 2020, pp. 62-66.
    Considers two essential questions about decarbonization policies that share the common element of electrification of transport and buildings. Provides various examples.
  • 20.02.07  /  "Grid modernization: State policies." By Kristy Hartman, et al. Public Utilities Fortnightly, January 2020, pp. 68-71.
    Discusses the National Conference of State Legislatures' [NCSL] work and resources relating to utilities. Refers to NCSL's recent report, Modernizing the Electric Grid: State Role and Policy Options.
  • 20.02.08  /  "Sex offender laws are broken. These women are working to fix them." By Hallie Lieberman. Reason, February 2020, pp. 42-48.
    Reviews the history of laws relating to sex offenders and sex offender registries. Highlights the work of various reform groups seeking changes to these laws.
  • 20.02.09  /  "Changes & opportunities in agriculture." By David M. Kohl. Texas Banking, February 2020, pp. 8-11.
    Looks at economic cycles in the agricultural industry, including "green shoots," or positive industry developments, such as value-added agricultural services and the emergence of younger farmers and ranchers.
  • 20.02.10  /  "Employee monitoring: An overview of technologies, treatment, and best practices." By Andrew Milam Jones. Texas Bar Journal, February 2020, pp. 98-100.
    Considers technological and legal developments regarding employee monitoring. Points out circumstances that support the monitoring of employees.
  • 20.02.11  /  "The engineer will see you now." By Jason Heid. Texas Monthly, February 2020, pp. 66-72.
    Profiles the development and inaugural class of EnMed, a collaboration between Houston Methodist and Texas A&M University in which future graduates will earn an M.D. and a master's degree in engineering. Discusses the potential benefits of a multi-discipline medical education.
  • 20.02.12  /  "Feeding a changing world." By Alana Semuels. Time, February 3, 2020, pp. 66-71.
    Explores the future of food tech and the startup companies that are creating new methods of food production to counter the negative impact the current agricultural system is having on the environment. Addresses the benefits of planet-friendly foods and farming, as well as the obstacles to these alternatives.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on February 6, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 905 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, January 30

Jan 30

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.

  • See how states are planning for more extreme weather events and natural disasters. (Stateline, January 29, 2020)
  • Explore the differences among Americans relating to their preferred news sources. (Pew Research Center, January 24, 2020)
  • Read about federal funding for women's health services in Texas. (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, January 24, 2020)
  • Consider how Americans like to spend their spare time. (Gallup, January 24, 2020)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.01.44  /  "IDEA turns 45." By Michelle Healy. American School Board Journal, February 2020, 16-20.
    Reviews the positive impact of the Individuals with Disabilities Act [IDEA] since its passage in 1975 but argues its full potential hasn't been realized due to funding challenges. Discusses the effects of IDEA's funding shortages and what can be done to improve and modernize the law.
  • 20.01.45  /  "General counsel's report." By Jim Allison. County Progress, January 2020, pp. 6, 52-55.
    Provides an overview of the 86th Texas Legislature and the issues assigned to legislative committees to study during the interim. Lists almost two dozen bills as assigned to legislative committees that affect county governments.
  • 20.01.46  /  "California exit: Amid an exodus, Golden State loses its luster." By Mark Calvey. Dallas Business Journal, January 17, 2020, pp. 16-19, 22-23.
    Reports the corporate exodus out of California is showing signs of accelerating, and area businesses are bracing for further departures. Points out the top ten states where Californians are moving.
  • 20.01.47  /  "Housing: No place like home." Economist, January 18th-24th, 2020, pp. 3-12.
    Presents special report highlighting shortcomings in current housing policies. Suggests flexible planning systems, appropriate taxation, and financial regulation can turn housing into a force for social and economic stability.
  • 20.01.48  /  "California ride share contracting legislation is a solution in search of a problem." By Ryan Radia. Internet Resource, December 17, 2019, pp. 1-11.
    Argues California's Assembly Bill 5, 2019-2020 Regular Session, which redefines whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor, will negatively impact ride share companies like Uber and Lyft. Discusses how minimum wage, health insurance, employee expenses, and employee leave will result in reduced pay and flexibility for drivers, higher costs for the companies, and higher fares for customers.
  • 20.01.49  /  "A field guide to the taxes of Texas (2020)." Internet Resource, January 27, 2020, pp. 1-26 (Note Length).
    Provides a graphical overview of major Texas state and local taxes, including sales and use, motor vehicle sales, motor fuel, franchise, oil production, and natural gas production taxes. Describes revenue by source, future revenue growth, historical volatility, and major exemptions for each tax. Includes charts on local property and sales taxes.
  • 20.01.50  /  "Municipalities feel the chill of Knick in the air." By Abigail M. Jones. Natural Resources & Environment, Winter 2020, pp. 57-58.
    Summarizes Knick v. Township of Scott, a case recently decided by the United States Supreme Court, which overturned a precedent barring plaintiffs from bringing actions in federal court under the Fifth Amendment's takings clause unless they had already lost in state court. Discusses how this ruling may effect federal challenges to local zoning ordinances by oil and gas companies and fracking moratoriums by municipal governments.
  • 20.01.51  /  "The Texas Pension Review Board: A model for nationwide reform." By Josh B McGee. Report (Manhattan Institute), January 14, 2020, pp. 1-15.
    Commends the Texas Pension Review Board [PRB] for its positive impact on state pension funding policy and offers model legislation for states who wish to create a PRB-style agency. Mentions Senators Paul Bettencourt, Joan Huffman, and Royce West, as well as SB322, 86th Legislature.
  • 20.01.52  /  "Texas sees job, output gains from 2018 U.S. tax cut." By Anil Kumar. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Fourth Quarter 2019, pp. 10-13.
    Looks at the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on state tax calculations, state-level tax breaks, job growth, and economic activity in Texas.
  • 20.01.53  /  "Filling in for the Feds." By Alan Greenblatt. State Legislatures, January/February 2020, pp. 10-16.
    Reports Congress' lack of legislative productivity is placing the burden on states to address the perennial issues that Washington has either failed to address or refused to fund, including infrastructure funding, Medicaid costs, immigration, and gun rights.
  • 20.01.54  /  "Shell's crude awakening." By Justin Worland. Time, January 27, 2020, pp. 40-46.
    Examines how oil and gas companies are responding to concerns regarding climate change. Profiles the Royal Dutch Shell company and discusses its strategies to remake itself and survive in a time when shifting political and economic tides threaten the future of fossil fuels. Mentions oil firms in Texas.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on January 30, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 924 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, January 23

Jan 23

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 trends in criminal justice reforms by state. (The Sentencing Project, January 2020)
  • See maps of where Americans are least active. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 16, 2020)
  • Find out if you are registered to vote before the deadline for registering to vote in the March primary election. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed January 22, 2020)
  • Review the Administrative Law Handbook 2020. (Texas Attorney General, 2020)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.01.33  /  "Preventing tragedy: Learning from one another, states take steps to make schools safer." By Joel Sams. Capitol Ideas, Issue 5 2019, pp. 22-25.
    Discusses school safety provisions of Florida Senate Bill 7026 (2018), and school safety policies adopted in several states relating to building security, extreme risk protection orders, and threat assessment programs.
  • 20.01.34  /  "Attrition rate down to 21%, but Texas high schools lost over 88,000 students last year." By Roy L. Johnson. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), November-December 2019, pp. 5-6.
    Presents the results of the 34th annual report on trends in dropout and attrition rates in Texas public schools. Explains latest data shows continued, gradual improvement, but Latino and Black students were two times more likely to leave school without graduating than White students.
  • 20.01.35  /  "Large-capacity magazine bans linked with fewer mass shootings, deaths." By Jennifer Abbasi. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), January 14, 2020, pp. 108-109.
    Considers a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health that found a correlation between large-capacity magazine bans and lower rates of high-fatality mass shooting deaths.
  • 20.01.36  /  "Rurality and risk of perinatal depression among women in the United States." By Nichole Nidey, et al. Journal of Rural Health, Winter 2020, pp. 9-16.
    Reports that the odds of perinatal depression risk were higher by 21 percent among rural versus urban women, adjusted for race, ethnicity, and maternal age. Notes that the risk difference is not significant when adding maternal education, health insurance coverage, and WIC participation.
  • 20.01.37  /  "Observations from the trenches — Wayfair, a year and a half later." Journal of State Taxation, Winter 2019, pp. 29-34.
    Describes the effects of economic nexus changes in South Dakota v. Wayfair from a business compliance perspective. Addresses sales and use tax compliance software and the role of state governments in regulating sales tax sourcing and e-filing and online registration.
  • 20.01.38  /  "The border of business." By Jessica Corso. San Antonio Business Journal, January 10, 2020, pp. 11-14.
    Examines how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement [USMCA] may impact the Texas economy. Highlights the value of exports from Texas to Mexico, estimated at $260 billion per year, and how the USMCA might affect this value.
  • 20.01.39  /  "Gentrification transforming neighborhoods in big Texas cities." By Yichen Su. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Fourth Quarter 2019, pp. 3-7.
    Analyzes gentrification and neighborhood transition trends in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. Includes statistics on college graduates, income, racial and ethnic groups, housing construction, and home values in these cities, and discusses the implication of displacing at-risk, vulnerable populations to suburban areas.
  • 20.01.40  /  "Body cameras may not be the easy answer everyone was looking for." By Lindsey Van Ness. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), January 14, 2020, pp. 1-7.
    Highlights studies showing mixed results on body cameras leading to reductions in use of force by police or how people view the police.
  • 20.01.41  /  "Texas Legislature to study, focus on interim charges in 2020." By Julie Tomascik. Texas Agriculture, January 3, 2020, p. 9.
    Reports on some of the issues the Texas Legislature will examine in interim studies. Lists topics important to rural Texans and farmers, including eminent domain, rural broadband, personal property tax, groundwater regulation, hemp, food labels, and pesticide application.
  • 20.01.42  /  "Breaking down barriers." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, January 2020, pp. 42-44.
    Describes the benefits of long-acting reversible contraceptives [LARCs] and the regulatory barriers to prescribing them for women and their physicians. Notes the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's plans to study ways to improve access to LARCs by decreasing financial and administrative burdens.
  • 20.01.43  /  "Something in the air." By Christopher Collins. Texas Observer, January/February 2020, pp. 24-29.
    Investigates the effect of fecal dust pollution generated by cattle feedlots on Texans living in the Panhandle. Reports communities in feedlot hot spots have some of the highest levels of asthma in Texas and have little recourse but to move due to the lack of state regulation.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on January 23, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1121 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, January 16

Jan 16

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 to file your taxes for free. (ProPublica, January 10, 2020)
  • Consider how the political climate in Texas may change as more people move here from out of state. (Stateline, January 13, 2020)
  • Consider a recent Fifth Circuit ruling related to the Affordable Care Act. (Health Affairs, January 13, 2020)
  • Review toll increases. (Texas Department of Transportation, December 23, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.01.17  /  "To be better citizens, students sue for the right to learn civics." By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo. Christian Science Monitor, December 30, 2019, pp. 6-7.
    Discusses a class-action lawsuit currently before a United States District Court in Rhode Island in which students argue they have a constitutional right to an adequate civics education to prepare them for successful participation in a democracy.
  • 20.01.18  /  "Project Blitz 2.0." By Rob Boston. Church & State, January 2020, pp. 4-5.
    Provides an example of state legislation promoted by the Project Blitz campaign to weaken church-state separation, the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2019.
  • 20.01.19  /  "New law news: House Bill 2820 eliminates TRS's 403(b) registry." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Fall 2019, p. 5.
    Discusses why HB2820, 86th Legislature, which removed the Teacher Retirement System's regulatory authority over 403(b) investment products, was enacted. Addresses potential problems with the new law.
  • 20.01.20  /  "Sex education in Texas schools: TexEd." Economist, January 4th-10th, 2020, pp. 18-19.
    Discusses the Austin Independent School District's [AISD] revised Human Sexuality & Responsibility Curriculum. Notes the controversy surrounding AISD's decision may foreshadow a larger battle when the State Board of Education considers revising state health and sex education standards in 2020.
  • 20.01.21  /  "Sexual assault: Her word against his." Economist, January 4th-10th, 2020, pp. 42-44.
    Explains why few rapists are convicted. Uses a fictional case study to illustrate the difficulty of weighing "he-said-she-said" evidence.
  • 20.01.22  /  "Tax trends at the dawn of 2020." By Jared Walczak. Fiscal Fact (Tax Foundation), January 6, 2020, pp. 1-21.
    Looks at trends in state tax policy in 2020, including sales taxes on e-commerce after Wayfair v. South Dakota, legalization and taxation of marijuana, and taxation of sports betting.
  • 20.01.23  /  "California sets off privacy scramble." By Jeff John Roberts. Fortune, January 2020, pp. 18-19.
    Discusses national implications of the new California Consumer Privacy Act on businesses and consumers. Notes over twenty other states are copying the California law.
  • 20.01.24  /  "Out-of-network billing and negotiated payments for hospital-based physicians." By Zack Cooper, et al. Health Affairs, January 2020, pp. 24-32.
    Estimates that specialists' ability to bill out of network raises total health care costs for people with employee-sponsored insurance by approximately 3.4 percent ($40 billion). Proposes that hospitals be required to sell a package of facility and physician services to protect patients and provide a competitively determined price.
  • 20.01.25  /  "Structural urbanism contributes to poorer health outcomes for rural America." By Janice C. Probst, Jan Marie Eberth, and Elizabeth Crouch. Health Affairs, December 2019, pp. 1976-1984.
    Argues that biases in current models of health care funding treat health care as a service for an individual, rather than as infrastructure for a population. Suggests conceptualizing rural health care as infrastructure — similar to roads, telecommunications, and electricity — and adopting funding models accordingly.
  • 20.01.26  /  "Texas higher education law aims to improve outcomes for students in developmental education." By Bricio Vasquez. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), November-December 2019, pp. 1-2, 6.
    Explains that too many community college students are placed in non-credit remedial classes due to reliance on a single measure of college readiness with the unintended consequence of hindering progress and raising student attrition. Cites HB2223, 85th Legislature, R.S.; presents alternative approaches to college placement.
  • 20.01.27  /  "Marijuana update for practitioners: There is a bright line, a grey one." By Janel Greiman. Journal of MultiState Taxation and Incentives, January 2020, pp. 10-34.
    Analyzes the changing landscape of state laws legalizing recreational and medical marijuana and the tax implications. Includes a state-by-state list of marijuana or cannabis statutes, regulations, and voter-approved ballot initiatives, as well as a table of marijuana cultivation application and license fees across the states.
  • 20.01.28  /  "State and local government spending on public employee retirement systems." National Association of State Retirement Administrators, Updated December 2019, pp. 1-6.
    Describes nationwide spending on public pensions and trends in pension costs and financing. Notes Texas' pension contribution was 3.07 percent of all state and local government direct general spending in fiscal year 2017, compared to the United States average of 4.71 percent.
  • 20.01.29  /  "Scoot over: How electric scooters violate the ADA and what cities can do to maintain Title II compliance." By Jo Ann Mazoch. SMU Law Review, Fall 2019, pp. 871-893.
    Highlights the ways in which electric scooters violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and the problems that electric scooters create for cities. Introduces solutions that allow cities to keep sidewalks accessible for people with disabilities.
  • 20.01.30  /  "Neighborhood Centers, Inc. v. Walker: The curious outcomes of new charter school legislation in Texas." By Brittny Mandarino. South Texas Law Review, Summer 2019, pp. 639-645.
    Discusses Texas legislation related to open enrollment charter schools and efforts to provide increasing protection for students and employees. Examines Neighborhood Centers, Inc. v. Walker and how a recent change in the applicability of laws to charter schools, HB1170, 84th Legislature, has affected the protection of employees under the Texas Whistleblower Act.
  • 20.01.31  /  "Electric cars will challenge state power grids." By Alex Brown. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), January 9, 2020, pp. 1-6.
    Examines whether states will be able to sufficiently boost power production to meet the increase in consumption from electric vehicles.
  • 20.01.32  /  "Taking privacy to a new level." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, January 2020, pp. 28-29.
    Outlines the new privacy protections set out by HB4390, 86th Legislature, which dropped the threshold for breach reporting from 500 patients to 250, requires medical entities to report breaches to the Texas attorney general's office within 60 days, and established the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on January 16, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 985 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, January 9

Jan 9

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 state legislation related to maternal and child health. (National Conference of State Legislatures, December 20, 2019)
  • Consider the legal status of smokable hemp. (Stateline, January 6, 2020)
  • Examine campaign and election security policy. (Congressional Research Service, January 2, 2020)
  • Read about which diet tops the list of best diets overall. (U.S. News and World Report, accessed January 8, 2020)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • 20.01.01  /  "A full count." By Michelle Healy. American School Board Journal, December 2019, pp. 26-29.
    Discusses the efforts of school districts across the United States to help ensure students are accurately counted in the 2020 Census. Reports 36 states lost $550 million in federal funding each year due to an undercount of children in the 2010 Census.
  • 20.01.02  /  "Cannabis: Green rolls in — slowly — under bigger state program." By Paul Thompson. Austin Business Journal, December 13, 2019, p. A4.
    Considers how legalization of hemp production and expansion of the state's Compassionate Use Program will affect the cannabis industry and the medical cannabis market. Mentions HB3703 and HB1325, 86th Legislature.
  • 20.01.03  /  "HB 3 and assessment: Comprehensive bill bringing changes to classrooms across Texas." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Fall 2019, pp. 9-11.
    Addresses the programmatic changes of HB3, 86th Legislature, relating to teacher incentive allotment/local teacher designation systems, additional school year days, literacy achievement academies, and assessment. Includes discussion of HB3906, 86th Legislature, another key bill on assessment.
  • 20.01.04  /  "Thanks for the support." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Fall 2019, pp. 14-15.
    Highlights members of the 86th Legislature who stood out for supporting teachers. Presents education-related issues and legislation backed by these lawmakers.
  • 20.01.05  /  "The shocking rise of Rx drug prices." By Lisa L. Gill. Consumer Reports, January 2020, pp. 38-48.
    Examines the factors that contribute to ballooning drug costs and how people can pay less for their medications.
  • 20.01.06  /  "At the heart of the crisis." By Sandhya Raman. CQ Weekly, December 9, 2019, pp. 14-19, 21.
    Examines how officials in Dayton, Ohio, have been able to significantly reduce opioid overdose deaths in their community. Attributes their progress to a variety of factors, including increased access to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, interagency teams sharing resources and data, and the involvement of community outreach groups.
  • 20.01.07  /  "Adoption: Fostering enmity." Economist, December 7th-13th, 2019, pp. 28-29.
    Discusses a proposed rule by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that would allow recipients of federal grants from the agency, including faith-based adoption agencies and foster care providers, to exclude same-sex couples on religious grounds.
  • 20.01.08  /  "Rural-urban differences in severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the US, 2007-15." By Katy Backes Kozhimannil, et al. Health Affairs, December 2019, pp. 2077-2085.
    Finds that while severe maternal morbidity and mortality increased among both rural and urban residents from 2007-2015, rural residents had a nine percent greater probability of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Considers clinical factors, such as the opioid epidemic and workforce shortages, as well as social factors, such as housing, racism, food security, and more.
  • 20.01.09  /  "Using incentives within the market for prosperity: What every community needs to know to optimize economic development [Part Two]." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 10, pp. 1-7.
    Focuses on the use of incentives, pointing out some of the key components of the appropriate use of this type of economic development tool.
  • 20.01.10  /  "Net neutrality is back once again: Questions remain." By Steve Goodman. Public Utilities Fortnightly, December 2019, p. 64.
    Provides an update on the state of net neutrality. Refers to a recent decision in a case challenging the Federal Communication Commission's most recent rulemaking order on net neutrality.
  • 20.01.11  /  "Expert views on gun laws." By Arthur Z. Berg, John R. Lott, Jr., and Gary A. Mauser. Regulation (CATO Institute), Winter 2019-2020, pp. 40-47.
    Compares the views of public health researchers with those of criminologists and economists on a wide range of gun control policies. Finds that academics from different fields vary widely in their views on the effectiveness of gun control.
  • 20.01.12  /  "Is the sky really falling? A closer look at the current pension "crisis" and the constitutionality of retroactive pension reform." By Aaron Wallace. South Texas Law Review, Summer 2019, pp. 597-638 (Note Length).
    Argues that there is not a pension crisis, and if there is credible risk, retroactive pension reform is not the only viable solution. Describes the Contracts Clause, the history of its application by the United States Supreme Court, and how it could be used to challenge pension reform. Highlights changes to the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund, SB2190, 85th Legislature, R.S., and Texas' failure to recognize pensions as contractual obligations.
  • 20.01.13  /  "The persecution of Alfred Brown." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, January/February 2020, p. 14-15.
    Examines the role of the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in proceedings required under the Tim Cole Act to determine whether victims of wrongful incarceration are entitled to state compensation.
  • 20.01.14  /  "Far-reaching implications." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, December 2019, pp. 26-28.
    Points out that Texas' high uninsured rate impacts not only uninsured people but also shapes the healthcare industry, influences public health conditions, affects school and work attendance, and produces other ripple effects.
  • 20.01.15  /  "Shot in the dark." By Laura Beil. Texas Monthly, January 2020, pp. 76-87.
    Profiles Dorothy O'Connell (a Brazoria County resident), her use of stem cell therapy to cure arthritis, and the resulting medical complications that almost killed her. Discusses the stem cell industry and its lack of regulation, including the Food and Drug Administration's role, the history of the clinic and companies that supplied her treatment, and related legislation, HB810, 85th Legislature, R.S. Mentions Representatives Tan Parker and Drew Springer.
  • 20.01.16  /  "The prison inside prison." By Michael Barajas. Texas Observer, January/February 2020, pp. 12-22.
    Details the harmful psychological effects of long-term solitary confinement on inmates in prisons operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Provides a history of the use and abuse of the controversial punishment in the United States and efforts to reform the practice. Mentions legislation filed in 2019 that, had it passed, would have provided oversight of offenders' conditions of confinement. Quotes Representative Carl Sherman.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on January 9, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 876 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, December 19

Dec 19

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.

  • Consider how many homeowners are interested in having solar panels installed on their homes. (Pew Research Center, December 17, 2019)
  • Review a map of recent flu activity. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2019)
  • Read the Natural Resources newsletter, new from the Texas Comptroller's office. (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 12, 2019)
  • Explore current and archived economic indicators. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Why it feels like everything is going haywire." By Jonathan Haidt and Tobias Rose-Stockwell. Atlantic Monthly, December 2019, pp. 57-60.
    Explores the evolution of social media to explain how it has changed political discourse. Suggests reforms that would make social media more constructive and less destructive.
  • "Warning: Our schools contain vaping." By Sarah Gray. ATPE News (Association of Texas Professional Educators), Winter 2019, pp. 22-25.
    Discusses the problem of vaping in Texas schools. Provides statistics on e-cigarette usage in schools and mentions SB21, 86th Legislature, which raised the age for using tobacco products to 21.
  • "Threat to booze startups' profits emerges in D.C." By Paul Thompson. Austin Business Journal, December 6, 2019, p. 16.
    Reports on a federal excise tax break for craft distilleries that is set to expire on December 31, 2019. Notes that without this tax break, a significant number of "mom and pop" distilleries will go out of business. Related information at: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr1175/BILLS-116hr1175ih.pdf.
  • "What happens after misconduct on campus?" By Emma Pettit. Chronicle of Higher Education, November 29, 2019, pp. A22, A24.
    Considers what actions should be taken by the professor, department, and institution after sexual misconduct has occurred. Highlights the case of University of Texas at Austin professor Coleman Hutchison and the steps the university is taking in response to student protests.
  • "Abuzz over new crop." By Ellyn Ferguson. CQ Weekly, December 2, 2019, pp. 32-34.
    Discusses intent of recent federal hemp regulation. Addresses the challenges of encouraging the fledgling hemp industry and deterring marijuana growers. Mentions hemp production legislation in Texas and Ohio.
  • "Energy storage: To have and to hold." Economist, November 30th-December 6th, 2019, pp. 60-61.
    Reports the battery industry faces several barriers to broader energy storage deployment, as well as a patchwork of rules and regulations.
  • "For many young people, H.S. diploma enough for success." By Catherine Gewertz. Education Week, November 27, 2019, p. 5.
    Summarizes results of two surveys conducted on the value of a college degree. Discusses why a number of Americans believe a high school diploma is sufficient for achieving success.
  • "Declines in pediatric mortality fall short for rural US children." By Janice C. Probst, Whitney Zahnd, and Charity Breneman. Health Affairs, December 2019, pp. 2069-2076.
    Reports that rural children experienced higher mortality rates than urban children, with non-Hispanic black infants and American Indian/Alaska Native children being particularly at risk. Recommends ongoing surveillance of rural children's health, and policies targeting the leading causes of death in rural populations, unintentional injury and suicide.
  • "Rural hospitals: Here today, gone tomorrow." By Nick Bowman. Internet Resource, November 2019, pp.1-24.
    Discusses the recent struggles of rural hospitals and federal efforts to support them through loans, grants, and Medicare reimbursement. Reviews legislation by the fifteen Southern Legislative Conference member states that addresses rural health and rural hospitals.
  • "Surprise bills vary by diagnosis and type of admission." By Karen Pollitz, et al. Internet Resource, December 9, 2019, pp. 1-5.
    Analyzes surprise medical bills and finds that certain groups of patients — patients with surgical and mental health admissions, heart attack patients, and women undergoing mastectomies — may have a higher risk of surprise bills.
  • "What can the United States learn from pharmaceutical spending controls in France?" By Marc A. Rodwin. Internet Resource, November 2019, pp. 1-11.
    Examines France's system of pharmaceutical price and spending controls as a case study. Identifies potential approaches that private and public payers in the United States could use to reduce drug spending without restricting access to new drugs.
  • "Risk sharing: How to hold colleges accountable for the education they provide." By Beth Akers. Issue Brief (Manhattan Institute), December 10, 2019, pp. 1-7.
    Analyzes how the federal government can better measure college quality in order to police access to its student aid.
  • "Cannabidiol products are everywhere, but should people be using them?" By Rita Rubin. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), December 10, 2019, pp. 2156-2158.
    Observes the recent explosion of the CBD [cannabidiol] market, with products ranging from seizure medication and dietary supplements to bath salts and dog biscuits. Considers the problem of determining which CBD products are legal and calls for more research studies to ensure CBD's safe usage.
  • "The opioid crisis, corporate responsibility, and lessons from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement." By Cheryl Healton, Robert Pack, and Sandro Galea. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), December 3, 2019, pp. 2071-2072.
    Considers how to frame a potential opioid Master Settlement Agreement [MSA], using lessons learned from the tobacco MSA. Proposes that the opioid settlement should create funds dedicated exclusively to proven public health approaches to directly address the opioid epidemic.
  • "Medicaid use among older low-income Medicare enrollees in California and Texas: A tale of two states." By Jacqueline L. Angel, Ronald J. Angel, and Phillip Cantu. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law, December 2019, pp. 885-909.
    Examines Medicaid participation data among Medicare recipients 65 and older in California and Texas, with a particular focus on the older Mexican-origin population. Reports that Texans were more likely than Californians to report coverage at some point in the 17-year follow-up.
  • "The public pension slow burn: When is the flash point?" By Thomas J. Healey. Milken Institute Review, Fourth Quarter 2019, pp. 63-66, 68-70.
    Explores the public pension funding gap in five states — New Jersey, Kentucky, Illinois, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania — that comprises more than a third of the total unfunded pension liabilities in all 50 states combined.
  • "Renewable natural gas: What can we do to move ahead?" By Andreas Thanos, et al. Public Utilities Fortnightly, December 2019, pp. 28-31, 63.
    Discusses recent efforts by states to address renewable natural gas [RNG].
  • "Tiny homes for Austin's homeless." By Chris Moody. Reason, January 2020, pp. 35-40.
    Profiles Austin's Mobile Loaves and Fishes and its Community First! Village providing housing and community for some of Austin's homeless population.
  • "The Texas attorney discipline system." By Seana Willing. Texas Bar Journal, December 2019, pp. 844-845.
    Examines the initial impact of the Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations to improve the efficiency of the attorney disciplinary system, following the State Bar's sunset review process and legislative changes enacted by SB302, 85th Legislature, R.S.
  • "Q&A: Food allergies in children." By David Doolittle. Texas Medicine, December 2019, pp. 6-7.
    Interviews Austin allergist Allen Lieberman, who asserts that there is a food-allergy epidemic right now. Notes SB66, 84th Legislature, which allowed schools to have undesignated epinephrine that can be used for any child experiencing an allergic reaction.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on December 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 1275 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, December 12

Dec 12

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 recent examples of after school programs funded by state and federal dollars. (National Conference of State Legislatures, December 6, 2019)
  • Consider ways to prevent high-risk impaired drivers from repeatedly driving impaired. (Governors Highway Safety Association, December 2019)
  • Explore interactive data related to Texas' most congested roadways. (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, December 10, 2019)
  • Review the most recent report from the Ombudsman for Children and Youth in Foster Care. (Texas Health and Human Services, December 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Mind the gap: Antitrust, health disparities and telemedicine." By Theodosia Stavroulaki. American Journal of Law & Medicine, 2019, pp. 171-187.
    Questions whether telemedicine is as effective as purported in improving health outcomes, increasing access, and reducing costs. Considers the Teladoc, Inc. v. Texas Medical Board antitrust case and emphasizes the imperative to balance the benefits of technology-driven tools with the need to protect public safety and health.
  • "The secessionist." By Graeme Wood. Atlantic Monthly, December 2019, pp. 18-20.
    Profiles Daniel Miller, leader of the Texas Nationalist Movement, a group seeking Texas' secession from the United States. Highlights the history of Texas secession movements and independence movements involving other countries.
  • "Changes in purchasing-related statutes of special interest to counties." By Narita Holmes. County Progress, December 2019, pp. 12-13.
    Reviews bills passed during the 86th Legislature that require counties to comply with new changes to purchasing-related statutes.
  • "Drug-trafficking: Changing gear." Economist, November 23rd-29th, 2019, pp. 55-56.
    Discusses how drug-trafficking is evolving and diversifying, keeping police one step behind the traffickers.
  • "Public pensions: State of denial." Economist, November 16th-22nd, 2019, pp. 63-64.
    Reports several states with severely underfunded pensions are spiraling towards disaster, as future returns on investments are expected to be lower than normal.
  • "Screen time up as reading scores drop. Is there a link?" By Sarah D. Sparks. Education Week, November 13, 2019, pp. 1, 12.
    Discusses results of the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP], which indicate reading scores for students in the United States have declined significantly. Investigates how digital reading platforms affect students' reading skills.
  • "The decline in rural medical students: A growing gap in geographic diversity threatens the rural physician workforce." By Scott A. Shipman, et al. Health Affairs, December 2019, pp. 2011-2018.
    Points out that rural background is strongly associated with service to rural and underserved populations, as well as entry into primary care. Urges policy makers and other stakeholders to include rural background in consideration of medical student diversity.
  • "Higher US rural mortality rates linked to socioeconomic status, physician shortages, and lack of health insurance." By Gordon Gong, et al. Health Affairs, December 2019, pp. 2003-2010.
    Considers all-cause mortality rates in rural versus urban areas, noting that the rural rates have been higher in the United States since 1980 and that the gap has been widening. Argues that state efforts to address disparities in health care access could alleviate the higher rates faced by rural residents.
  • "Association of receipt of a housing voucher with subsequent hospital utilization and spending." By Craig Evan Pollack, et al. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), December 3, 2019, pp. 2115-2124.
    Finds that receipt of a housing voucher during childhood was significantly associated with lower rates of hospitalization and less inpatient spending during follow-up. Notes that adults who received vouchers did not experience significant differences in hospital use or spending.
  • "The tragedy of the 'trans' child." By Madeleine Kearns. National Review, December 9, 2019, pp. 29-32, 34-36.
    Examines gender dysphoria in young children and criticizes the work of some medical practitioners working with transgender issues. Focuses on a Texas custody case between the parents of James Younger, in which the mother claims the child is transgender and the father claims the child is not.
  • "The market for prosperity: What every community needs to know to optimize economic development [Part One]." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 9, pp. 1-7.
    Presents the first installment of a two-part series on a framework for local community leaders to embrace the process of economic development.
  • "Militias, patriots, and border vigilantes in the age of Trump." By Jesse Walker. Reason, December 2019, pp. 20-21.
    Compares and contrasts the various "patriot" movement or militia groups that have organized from the Clinton presidency to the current day. Explains the groups represent a wide spectrum of ideas and priorities, not all of which are compatible.
  • "How to win Texas in 2020." By R.G. Ratcliffe. Texas Monthly, December 2019, pp. 64-70.
    Discusses briefly the effect Texas, as a battleground state, could have on federal and state elections. Compares opinions on whether Democrats can become the majority party in Texas and Democratic and Republican strategies for 2020.
  • "The impact of Winkler County." By Cindy Zolnierek. Texas Nursing, Fall 2019, p. 10.
    Describes the legislative impact of the 2009 Winkler County whistleblowing case. Highlights SB192, 82nd Legislature, R.S., which strengthened legal protections for nurses speaking out for patient safety, and HB581, 83rd Legislature, R.S., which allowed publicly employed nurses to participate in civil lawsuits for patient advocacy.
  • "Legal Q&A." By Scott Houston. Texas Town & City, December 2019, pp. 20-24.
    Reviews requirements imposed by the Texas Legislature on municipalities' building codes. Analyzes several pieces of legislation that affect licensing, permits, construction materials, and limitations of city building ordinances.
  • "Fear of mass shootings fuels a thriving bulletproof business." By Melissa Chan. Time, December 16, 2019, pp. 24-25.
    Discusses the recent sales boom of bulletproof backpacks and clothing geared toward students as a measure of protection against school shootings. Questions the effectiveness of such products and whether they are a distraction from focusing on long-term solutions to gun violence.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on December 12, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 925 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, December 5

Dec 5

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 the effects of privatizing state parks. (Stateline, December 3, 2019)
  • Consider how census counts affect transportation infrastructure funding. (U.S. Census Bureau, December 4, 2019)
  • Read the recent Alternatives to Abortion report. (Texas Health and Human Services, December 2019)
  • See which sidewalks are pedestrian-safe in the Capitol Complex Project area. (Texas Facilities Commission, November 8, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "State lawmakers plan to push bills letting athletes profit from fame." By Wesley Jenkins. Chronicle of Higher Education, November 15, 2019, p. A23.
    Considers the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] policy change that allows student athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Highlights legislative proposals at the federal level and in various states, including a law passed by California ensuring athletes' rights to compensation.
  • "Sealing criminal records: Clean slates, rich states." Economist, November 16th-22nd, 2019, pp. 26-27.
    Discusses the bipartisan movement underway in several states to expunge tens of millions of old criminal records, partly to boost the supply of local labor but also to remove other barriers placed on people with records.
  • "Most school shooters gave many warning signs, report says." By Stephen Sawchuck. Education Week, November 13, 2019, pp. 1, 13.
    Summarizes a study conducted by the United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center [NATC] on incidents of school violence that occurred from 2008–2017. Highlights key findings and suggests many of the school shootings could have been prevented.
  • "Occupational licensing in Texas: How much is too much?" By Shannon Halbrook and Bruce Wright. Fiscal Notes, November 2019, pp. 1, 3-6.
    Provides an overview of occupational licensing in the United States and discusses increasing concerns over the restrictions of extensive occupational licensing in Texas, including economic costs and labor market consequences. Summarizes recent legislation to deregulate and simplify occupational licensing: SB2065, 85th Legislature, R.S., and SB37 and HB1342, 86th Legislature.
  • "Open government data: The economic benefits of transparency." By Jackie Benton. Fiscal Notes, November 2019, pp. 7-10.
    Looks at the history of the concept of government transparency and the importance of publicly available government data.
  • "Frequent emergency department users: Focusing solely on medical utilization misses the whole person." By Hemal K. Kanzaria, et al. Health Affairs, November 2019, pp. 1866-1875.
    Integrates medical, behavioral health, and social services data to study the wide-ranging needs of frequent emergency department [ED] users. Argues that policy makers should prioritize improvements in data sharing across sectors to avoid duplicative efforts and provide coordinated, more efficient care.
  • "Access to care: Addressing Texas’ physician-to-population ratio." By Rachel Cross. Internet Resource, September/October 2019, pp. 1-2.
    Probes the problem of the Texas physician shortage from the viewpoint of hospital administrators. Notes recent legislation supporting physician education and training.
  • "Energy security and the energy transition: A classic framework for a new challenge." By Mark Finley. Issue Brief (Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy), November 25, 2019, pp. 1-10.
    Suggests the framework used to assess energy security and mitigate risks to oil supplies can be relevant for assessing the vulnerabilities and risks of alternative energy forms in an evolving energy system.
  • "Colorado End-of-Life Options Act: A clash of organizational and individual conscience." By Matthew Wynia. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), November 26, 2019, pp. 1953-1954.
    Presents the 2016 Colorado End-of-Life Options Act as a case study on aid-in-dying legislation at the state level.
  • "The American K-12 decline." By Chester E. Finn, Jr. National Review, November 25, 2019, pp. 44-46.
    Considers current problems with the United States K-12 education system and argues that school choice and tinkering with standards and testing are not enough. Recommends giving students clear incentives and expectations for achievement.
  • "GAO: Government could get higher returns from offshore oil, gas leasing." By Nick Snow. Oil and Gas Journal, November 4, 2019, pp. 26-27.
    Summarizes a report from the Government Accountability Office [GAO] that addresses offshore oil and gas leasing.
  • "What is a 'well regulated militia,' anyway?" By Brian Doherty. Reason, December 2019, pp. 39-41.
    Discusses the two clauses comprising the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and explains them in a historical context and as interpreted by various United States Supreme Court cases.
  • "GPS down." By Paul Tullis. Scientific American, December 2019, pp. 38-45.
    Discusses the vulnerability of systems that rely on GPS [Global Positioning System] to hacking and spoofing attacks. Explains the United States has no backups in place if GPS is compromised.
  • "On shaky ground." By Douglas Shinkle, et al. State Legislatures, November/December 2019, pp. 10-19.
    Presents a series of articles on state policies to improve infrastructure in transportation, energy transmission facilities, water and wastewater plants, and disaster-related mitigation.
  • "More kids on Medicaid to get health care in school." By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), November 27, 2019, pp. 1-5.
    Reports more than a dozen states are taking advantage of a five-year-old federal policy change that allows public schools to bill Medicaid for health services provided to children enrolled in Medicaid.
  • "Regulatory impediments disproportionately affect voting rights in communities of color in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana." By Reginal D. Harris and Brian M. King. Thurgood Marshall Law Review, Spring 2019, pp. 611-646 (Note Length).
    Examines the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and how subsequent amendments and court precedents have affected the original legislation, including Shelby County v. Holder, which effectively ended preclearance. Surveys the impact of laws within Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, on minority voters. Includes discussion of online voter registration, voter ID laws (SB14, 82nd Legislature, R.S. and SB5, 85th Legislature, R.S.), the disenfranchisement of felons, and the availability of polling locations.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on December 5, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 1041 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, November 21

Nov 21

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 local governments are addressing flood risk. (Pew Charitable Trusts, November 19, 2019)
  • Read about the women who have served in Congress throughout history to today. (Congressional Research Service, November 13, 2019)
  • Find trustworthy sources of election information. (Texas Secretary of State, November 12, 2019)
  • Review the text of the General Appropriations Act for the 2020-21 biennium. (Legislative Budget Board, released November 20, 2019)

 

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Uncaring: Will you be denied medical assistance because of someone else's religion?" By Liz Hayes. Church & State, November 2019, pp. 9-11.
    Discusses the possible effects of the Trump administration's proposed Denial of Care rule on patients and health care providers.
  • "California utilities: Sparks fly." Economist, November 9th-15th, 2019, p. 58.
    Reports on the three-way battle for control of California's Pacific Gas & Electric, which declared bankruptcy due to potential liabilities from huge fire-related expenses. Notes the utility risks a state takeover if it is not restructured by a June 30 deadline.
  • "The splinternet: Net loss." Economist, November 9th-15th, 2019, pp. 53-54.
    Reports big tech firms are facing an increase in new international laws controlling what they can host on their online platforms.
  • "The effects of full-day prekindergarten: Experimental evidence of impacts on children's school readiness." By Allison Atteberry. Educational Evaulation and Policy Analysis, December 2019, pp. 537-563. (Note length)
    Presents results from a randomized controlled trial [RCT] study conducted on the effects of full- versus half-day prekindergarten in Colorado. Claims this is the first rigorous evidence of the positive impact of full-day prekindergarten on the school readiness skills of children.
  • "Texas driver's licenses: A customer service challenge." By Lisa Minton. Fiscal Notes, October 2019, pp. 7-10.
    Discusses the lengthy wait times in the state driver's license offices administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Driver License Improvement Plan established by the Legislature in 2011, and the methods employed in other states to reduce driver's license wait times.
  • "Measles, mumps, and communion: A vision for vaccine policy." By Joshua T.B. Williams. Health Affairs, November 2019, pp. 1944-1947.
    Proposes using the Beloved Community concept of love and justice to craft inclusive policies that protect public health and respect religious belief.
  • "Medicaid expansion associated with reductions in preventable hospitalizations." By Hefei Wen, et al. Health Affairs, November 2019, pp. 1845-1849.
    Analyzes hospital inpatient discharge data and finds that Medicaid expansions were associated with meaningful downstream reductions in hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, such as COPD, diabetes-related complications, and bacterial pneumonia.
  • "The number of uninsured children is on the rise." By Joan Alker and Lauren Roygardner. Internet Resource, October 2019, pp. 1-19.
    Reports that the number of uninsured children in the United States increased by more than 400,000. Includes Texas on lists on 15 states showing statistically significant increases in the number and rate of uninsured children. Notes demographic characteristics of uninsured children.
  • "The long-term economic forecast for Texas metropolitan areas." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No, 8, pp. 1-3, 6.
    Highlights results from the most recent long-term forecast for Texas' metropolitan statistical areas [MSAs], the major drivers of economic activity across the state. Notes the largest MSAs account for 75.7 percent of wages and salary employment in the state and 77.6 percent of output.
  • "5G is the future." By Eric Boehm. Reason, November 2019, pp. 21-27.
    Explains the significance of the developing 5G cellular network technology infrastructure. Identifies federal and local proposals and philosophies for regulating its formation and growth.
  • "The politics of Medicaid expansion have changed." By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), November 13, 2019, pp. 1-7.
    Examines factors making Medicaid expansion more favorable for Republican lawmakers.
  • "Texas outlaws 'deepfakes' — but can they be stopped?" By Kenneth Artz. Texas Lawyer, December 2019, pp. 16-17.
    Discusses SB751, 86th Legislature, which amended the state's Election Code to criminalize deceptive videos created with the intent to influence the outcome of an election. Questions the new law's constitutionality, noting political speech is one of the highest forms of protected speech.
  • "Big noises, big issues." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, November 2019, pp. 18-23.
    Identifies and discusses some of the major health care issues in the 2020 election cycle, including health coverage, Medicaid, suprise medical bills, prescription drugs, and opioids.
  • "Special report — Texas pension funds achieve milestone in 2018-19." TEXPERS News Update, November 13, 2019, pp. 1-4.
    Reports on amortization period trends, a measure of Texas public retirement systems' health. (Related charts at: https://www.texpers.org/2019_am_period_charts)

 

 

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

 

This entry was posted on November 21, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 1437 views. Print this entry.

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