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 30, 2022
Joint Oversight Committee on Investment in Information Technology Improvement and Modernization Projects
Invited testimony on the following:

• Projects to improve or modernize state agency information resources technologies; and
• Strategies for the state to ensure long-term investment solutions for projects to improve or modernize state agency information resources technologies.

• Agency-Wide Information Technology Plan: Modernization Template (pursuant to HB 4018, 87th Legislature, R.S.), Texas Department of Information Resources, July 6, 2022
• Can Texas Reinforce Its Cybersecurity Through IT Modernization?, Texas 2036, June 21, 2022
• Investing in Texas: Cybersecurity and IT Modernization, Center for Public Finance at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and Texas 2036, June 21, 2022
• Texas' IT Systems Need an Upgrade, Texas 2036, August 24, 2021
• Texas Legacy Systems to See $900M in Modernization Funds, Government Technology, July 20, 2021
• Modernizing State Information Systems, Texas 2036, March 24, 2021
• Prioritized Cybersecurity and Legacy Systems (PCLS) Study: Report to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), Texas Department of Information Resources, October 30, 2020
• Legacy Modernization Strategy (pursuant to HB 1890, 84th Legislature, R.S.), Texas Department of Information Resources

This entry was posted on August 25, 2022 at 2:10 PM and has received 556 views. Print this entry.

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

• Review laws, rules, and procedures related to the protection of classified information. (Congressional Research Service, updated August 12, 2022)
• Explore flood, fire, and heat risk factors by address or zip code. (First Street Foundation, accessed August 16, 2022)
• Read about the new rule which provides for access to over-the-counter hearing aids. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, August 16, 2022)
• Nominate Texas State Artists before the October 15, 2022 deadline. (Texas Commission on the Arts, accessed August 17, 2022)
• Track changes in the Consumer Price Index. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 10, 2022)

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

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

This entry was posted on August 18, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 563 views. Print this entry.

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 22, 2022
  • Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Community-Based Care Transition
• August 23, 2022
  • House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
  • House Committee on Natural Resources
  • Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
• August 24, 2022
  • House Committee on Natural Resources
  • House Interim Study Committee on Criminal Justice Reform
• August 25, 2022
  • House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

August 22, 2022
Joint Oversight Committee on Community-Based Care Transition
Invited testimony only

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August 23, 2022
House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Charge: Study potential solutions to improve the judicial efficiency of the state courts of appeals by analyzing caseloads and making appropriate recommendations.

• The Use of Remote Hearings in Texas State Courts: The Impact on the Judicial Workload, National Center for State Courts, December 2021
• Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary (Court-Level Trends: Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts of Appeals), Office of Court Administration, Fiscal Year 2021
• Intermediate Appellate Courts in Texas: A System Needing Structural Repair, Texans for Lawsuit Reform Foundation, 2020
• Annual Statistical Reports (Includes Annual Statistical Supplements), Office of Court Administration

Charge: Study the operations of specialty courts. Determine whether additional specialty courts should be considered to address needs within specific populations. Review specialty court methods and best practices that have been implemented for specialty courts in other states, including their impact on judicial efficiency.

• Specialty Courts (Includes List of active Specialty Courts in Texas), Texas Judicial Branch, updated April 7, 2022
• Problem-Solving Courts Annual Report | FY 2021, The Michigan Supreme Court, April 2022
• Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards (Vol. I, Vol. II), National Association of Drug Court Professionals, revised 2018
• Study on Outcomes of Participants in Specialty Courts Who Have a Mental Illness, As Directed by SB 1326, 85th Legislature, Office of Court Administration
• Office of Problem-Solving Courts, Florida Office of State Courts Administration
• Problem-Solving Courts, National Center for State Courts
• Texas Special Courts: Overview, Specialty Court Resource Center

House Committee on Natural Resources
Charge: Monitor the implementation of SB 1160, relating to the creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District, and explore ways in which the state can further support the construction of a coastal barrier system.

• Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study: Final Report, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas General Land Office, August 2021
• Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study: Final Environmental Impact Statement, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas General Land Office, August 2021
• Gulf Coast Protection District (GDPD) Programs (Coastal Texas Study and S2G Program), Documents (Meetings), Gulf Coast Protection District
• Coastal Texas Study: 2021 Final Feasibility Report, Fact Sheets, Coastal Texas Story Map, and Frequently Asked Questions, Texas General Land Office

Charge: Review the adequacy and efficiency of current mechanisms used to compensate water right holders when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality temporarily transfers a water right under an emergency authorization. Make appropriate recommendations for the protection of private property rights of water right holders.

• Surface Water Rights and Availability, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, last modified June 28, 2022
• Water Rights During Drought, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, last modified May 27, 2022
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission: Sunset Staff Report (TCEQ's Oversight of Water Could Better Protect the State's Scarce Resources), Sunset Advisory Commission, May 2022
• Water Rights Viewer, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, last modified March 3, 2022
• 30 Texas Administrative Code §§ 36.1-36.8, Suspension or Adjustment of Water Rights During Drought or Emergency Water Shortage, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Charge: Monitor newly adopted and proposed federal regulations that could impact activities that fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, including regulations under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the definition of waters of the United States.

• Waters of the United States, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, last updated May 4, 2022
• Current Implementation of Waters of the United States, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, last updated December 20, 2021
• Proposed Rule, 33 CFR Part 328 and 40 CFR Part 120, Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States," U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Register, December 7, 2021

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Charge: Health Care Workforce: Study the impact of the global pandemic on the health care workforce in acute and long-term care. Identify health care staffing challenges and examine how staffing services and payment models changed the economics of the health care workforce. Identify and recommend ways to increase the health care workforce pipeline.

• Nursing Supply and Demand Projections, Texas Department of State Health Services, August 17, 2022
• Addressing Nursing Shortages: Options For States, National Conference of State Legislatures, June 20, 2022
• State Strategies to Recruit and Retain the Behavioral Health Workforce, National Conference of State Legislatures, May 20, 2022
• Making Progress on Texas' Education-to-Workforce Pipeline, Texas 2036, May 19, 2022
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Hospital and Outpatient Clinician Workforce: Challenges and Policy Responses, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, May 3, 2022
• Behavioral Health Workforce Is a National Crisis: Immediate Policy Actions for States, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, October 27, 2021

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August 24, 2022
House Committee on Natural Resources
Charge: Examine the condition of Texas’ water and flood mitigation infrastructure capabilities and consider future infrastructure needs. Evaluate sustainable funding sources to provide for water project development and infrastructure repair and replacement. Examine and make recommendations for cost-effective improvements that enhance the state’s available water supply.
Please note: the desalination portion of this charge will be held at a later date.

• Paving the Road for Infrastructure Development, National Conference of State Legislatures, May 11, 2022
• Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Jump to Section: Drinking Water & Wastewater), National Association of Counties, March 4, 2022
• 2022 State Water Plan - Water for Texas, Texas Water Development Board, July 7, 2021
• Report to the Governor: Public Water System Capacity Development Program, Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, September 2020
• Funding Water Infrastructure, Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, April 2019
• State Flood Assessment: Report to the 86th Texas Legislature, Texas Water Development Board, January 2019
• State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), Texas Water Development Board

Charge: Examine the state’s groundwater management policy and regulatory framework. Include a review of large-scale water transfers and their impact on groundwater resources. Make appropriate recommendations for legislation or state agency action to:

• promote the achievement of planning goals under Chapter 36, Water Code, including those involving desired future conditions;
• provide adequate transparency to the permit application process;
• further the state's groundwater quality protection efforts, including an assessment of risks posed to groundwater by abandoned and deteriorated water wells and orphan oil and gas wells; and
• promote conservation and waste prevention.

• Joint Groundwater Monitoring and Contamination Report, 2021, Texas Groundwater Protection Committee, July 2022
• Texas Water Development Board, State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee: Staff Report with Commission Decisions, Sunset Advisory Commission, July 2022
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission: Staff Report, Sunset Advisory Commission, May 2022
• Groundwater Assessment: 2022 State of Texas Water Quality Inventory, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, April 2022
• Groundwater Withdrawals Associated with Oil and Gas Production from Water Supply Aquifers in Texas: Implications for Water Management Practices, Texas Water Journal, December 13, 2021
• TCEQ Sunset Self-Evaluation Report (Office of Water: Water Rights Permitting Program, Groundwater Program), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, September 2021
• Texas Water Development Board Self-Evaluation Report (VII. Guide to Programs: Water Science and Conservation - Conservation, Innovative Water Technologies, Groundwater; IX. Major Issues - 3. Desired Future Conditions and Modeled Available Groundwater in Groundwater Management Plans), Texas Water Development Board, September 1, 2021
• Activities and Recommendations of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee: Report to the 87th Legislature and Priority Groundwater Management Areas and Groundwater Conservation Districts: Report to the 87th Texas Legislature, Texas Groundwater Protection Committee, January 2021
• Progress Made in Water Conservation in Texas: Report and Recommendations to the 87th Texas Legislature, Water Conservation Advisory Council, December 1, 2020

House Interim Study Committee on Criminal Justice Reform
Charge: Examine the appropriate age range for the juvenile justice system and parole eligibility, in addition to procedures for juveniles certified as adults.

• Meeting the Needs of Emerging Adults in the Justice System, National Center for State Courts, July 11, 2022 
• Taking a Second Look at Juvenile Sentencing, Right on Crime, July 2022
• Juvenile Age of Jurisdiction and Transfer to Adult Court Laws, National Conference of State Legislatures, April 8, 2021
• "Raise the Age": Hold 17-Year-Olds Accountable in the Juvenile Justice System, Texas Center for Justice and Equity, 2021
• Principles of Effective Juvenile Justice Policy (Principle 4: The Age and Scope of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Should Take Into Account Research and Evidence About Youth Development), National Conference of State Legislatures, January 2018

Charge: Examine opportunities to reduce recidivism and remove barriers to re-entry after justice involvement.

• Responding to Community Supervision Violations with Alternatives to Incarceration, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 18, 2022
• How 4 States Cut Their Criminal Justice Budgets Without Sacrificing Safety, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 7, 2022
• Five Evidence-Based Policies Can Improve Community Supervision, PEW Charitable Trusts, January 27, 2022
• First Step Act Approved Programs Guide, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice, July 2021
• Five Program Models for Reducing Recidivism, The Maryland Public Policy Institute, 2021
• Biennial Reentry and Reintegration Services Report, Reentry and Integration Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, September 2020

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August 25, 2022
House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 1258, relating to data matching with financial institutions to facilitate the collection of certain delinquent taxes; and
• HJR 99, proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county; authorizing the issuance of bonds and notes.

Charge: Review the impact of investments by public retirement systems of their endowment and other trust funds in businesses and funds owned or controlled by the Russian government or Russian nationals, and determine the need for investment restrictions. Consider the impact of any proposed investment restrictions on fund performance.

• The Importance of Russian Trade and Investment Activity to the Texas Economy, The Perryman Group, April 2022
• U.S. Funds Remain Vigilant Over Exposure to Russian Securities, Pensions & Investments, March 30, 2022
• Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar's Statement on Potential Russia Divestments, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, March 2, 2022

Charge: Review state and federal regulations surrounding blockchain, including virtual currencies. Examine how these technologies impact industries in the state, and possible consumer protections.

• Blockchain 2022 Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures, June 7, 2022
• Reports Show Scammers Cashing in on Crypto Craze, Federal Trade Commission, June 2022
• Blockchain: Emerging Technology Offers Benefits for Some Applications by Faces Challenges, U.S. Government Accountability Office, March 2022
• Texas Commissioner Stops Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Mining Scheme, Texas State Securities Board, February 21, 2022
• Cryptocurrency Fraud Soars, Spurring State Action, PEW Charitable Trusts, November 17, 2021
• The SEC's Regulatory Role in the Digital Asset Markets, Center for American Progress, October 2021
• Virtual Currencies on the Rise, National Conference of State Legislatures, April 1, 2021
• Overview of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology for State Government Functions, Legislative Budget Board, April 2019
• The Investor's Guide to Cryptocurrency Offerings, Texas State Securities Board

Review the state’s investment in the Texas Bullion Depository. Evaluate available information on the status, condition, operations, participation, and prospects to assess the value of the state having its own precious metals depository.

• The Texas Bullion Depository: The Only State-Run Depository Prepares to Go Global, Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, August 2021
• Texas Just Opened the Nation's First State-Run Gold Depository. Here's What That Means., Texas Tribune, Jun 6, 2018

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This entry was posted on August 17, 2022 at 2:45 PM and has received 1172 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the history of business-related court opinions at the U.S. Supreme Court. (SSRN, August 6, 2022)
• Consider how teens use social media. (Pew Research Center, August 10, 2022)
• Find out how to block spam calls and texts. (Wired, August 6, 2022)
• Purchase hunting and fishing licenses online. (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Accessed August 10, 2022)

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

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

This entry was posted on August 11, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 553 views. Print this entry.

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 16, 2022
House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 3898, relating to the funding of public retirement systems.

Charge: Review and evaluate the actuarial soundness of the Employees Retirement System (ERS) pension fund.

• Actuarial Valuation Reports for Pension Plans Administered by ERS as of August 31, 2021 (Summary), Employees Retirement System of Texas, December 8, 2021
• Interim Report to the 87th Legislature (Charge 4 – Actuarial soundness of the Employees Retirement System and TRS pension funds), House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services, January 2021
• Interim Report (Charge – Investment of state funds), Senate Committee on Finance, August 2020
• ERS Actuarial Valuation Reports, Employees Retirement System of Texas

Charge: Evaluate the actuarial soundness of the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental Retirement Fund (LECOS) and Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan 2 (JRS 2). Identify strategies to reduce and eliminate existing unfunded liabilities and recommend structural enhancements that improve the financial health and viability of the funds moving forward.

• Fiscal Size-Up 2022-23 Biennium (Retirement), Legislative Budget Board, March 2022
• Pension and Retirement Legislation Information by State, National Conference of State Legislatures, December 10, 2021
• Actuarial Valuation Reports: For Pension Plans Administered by ERS as of August 31, 2021 (Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental Retirement Fund) (Judicial Retirement System of Texas, Plan 2) (Summary), Employees Retirement System of Texas, December 8, 2021

Charge: Review the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA) to ensure proper governance and financial oversight. Examine whether the Pension Review Board has proper oversight and authority to implement necessary corrective measures.

• Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA) Pension Report, Texas Pension Review Board, May 2022
• Guide to Public Retirement Systems in Texas (Local Firefighter Plans (TLFFRA)), Texas Pension Review Board, March 2021
• Texas Public Pension Data Center (Local Firefighter FY 2020), Texas Pension Review Board

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This entry was posted on August 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM and has received 695 views. Print this entry.

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

• Find which counties are under a burn ban. (Texas A&M Forest Service, ©2022)
• Track monkeypox cases by state. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated August 2, 2022)
• Explore the global Fortune 500 list. (Fortune, ©2022)
• See how the global economy breaks down by country. (Visual Capitalist, accessed August 3, 2022)
• Review the 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) preliminary dataset. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, updated July 28, 2022)

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

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

This entry was posted on August 4, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 642 views. Print this entry.

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 8, 2022
  • House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety and House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety (Joint)
• August 9, 2022
  • House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
  • House Committee on Public Education
• August 10, 2022
  • House Committee on Corrections
  • House Committee on Higher Education
  • Senate Committee on Border Security

August 8, 2022
House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety and House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety (Joint)
Charge: Examine the role of online communications in mass violence scenarios and identify technological resources and solutions for detecting, mitigating, and reporting threats.

• Directory of Police Department Social Media Policies, Brennan Center for Justice, last updated May 25, 2022 
• Internet Trolls Should Not Dictate the Terms of Public Exposure to Hate, Tech Policy Press, May 18, 2022 
• Regulatory Goldilocks: Finding the Just and Right Fit for Content Moderation on Social Platforms, 8 Texas A&M Law Review 451, April 30, 2021 
• Essentials of Alerts, Warnings, & Notifications, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, April 2020 
• Interim Hearings – Week of December 2, 2019, December 4 – Senate Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety, Legislative Reference Library, November 26, 2019 

Charge: Study the needs of the state related to mental health professionals, educators, school administrators, and related professionals overseeing youth mental health programs and the delivery of those mental health services.

• Texas Leaders Must Help Parents Seeking Mental Health Support for Their Children (Policy Brief), Texans Care for Children, June 22, 2022 
• Presentation to the House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, October 4, 2021 
• Interim Report to the 87th Texas Legislature (Charge 1 – Implementation of HB 18, HB 19, HB 906, and SB 11, 86th Legislature), House Committee on Public Education, December 2020 
• Statewide Plan for Student Mental Health: Senate Bill 11, Texas Education Agency, December 2020 
• Texas House of Representatives, Committee on Public Education, Interim Charge One, Request for Information, Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, September 30, 2020 
• Summary Report: 2020-2021 Biennium, Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium 
• Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, The University of Texas System 

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August 9, 2022
House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Charge: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 4544, relating to providing children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department with certain documents on discharge or release, authorizing a fee.

Charge: Explore ways to modernize the juvenile justice system for youth on probation and incarcerated youth. Review statewide resource allocation, including available staffing, and identify potential geographic limitations. Investigate the best practices of smaller specialized facilities for youth committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department while leveraging the Department's current facilities and staff. Analyze the current gaps in county-level services and funding and make recommendations to address those gaps.

• Juvenile Justice Update Newsletter, National Conference of State Legislatures, March 2022
• State Juvenile Justice Reforms Can Boost Opportunity, Particularly for Communities of Color, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 27, 2021
• Texas Model Plan for Reform, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, October 2020
• Strategic Plan for 2021-2025, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, June 1, 2020

Charge: Examine workforce issues at state and local juvenile correctional facilities and consider the state's incentives to recruit quality staff. Consider the geographic areas where specialty providers are concentrated and the viability of opening specialized facilities for the state's youth with the highest therapeutic need to relieve the state's current rural facilities struggling with staffing. Consider consistent investments the state can make in local probation to encourage their facilities to divert youth from the juvenile justice system.

• Texas Juvenile Justice Department and Office of the Independent Ombudsman: Sunset Staff Report (Issue 1: TJJD's Critical Staffing Issues), Sunset Advisory Commission, May 2022
• Fallout: The Stress of 'Working Short' in Corrections, Corrections1, April 21, 2022
• Smart, Safe, and Fair II: Creating Effective Systems to Work with Youth Involved in Violent Behavior, Justice Policy Institute, November 2021
• Central Office, District Offices, Institutions, and Halfway Houses (Interactive map), Texas Juvenile Justice Department
• Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

House Committee on Public Education
Charge: HB 3906 (86R), relating to the assessment of public school students, including the development and administration of assessment instruments, and technology permitted for use by students.

Charge: Study the unfulfilled recommendations from the 2016 Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability. Evaluate the state’s progress on assessments and accountability and consider possible legislation to support the recommendations from the report. Study and recommend measures needed at the state level to prevent unintended consequences to students, campuses, and districts, including changes that could improve the system for students or help public schools serving a disproportionate number of educationally disadvantaged students impacted by the pandemic.

• 50-State Comparison: States' School Accountability Systems, Education Commission of the States, December 8, 2021
• Educational Assessments in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond, National Academy of Education, February 2021
• The Big Test: The Future of Statewide Standardized Assessments, FutureEd, Georgetown University, April 2020
• Report to the Governor of Texas and Texas Legislature (Summary of Commission Recommendations), Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, August 31, 2016
• Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, Texas Education Agency

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August 10, 2022
House Committee on Corrections
Charge: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 30, relating to educational programs provided by the Windham School District for certain inmates;
• HB 385, relating to conditions of community supervision and procedures applicable to the reduction or termination of a defendant’s period of community supervision; and
• HB 3227 (86R), relating to the availability of and access to certain programs and services for persons in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Charge: Examine the implementation of HB 3130 (85R), which established an educational and vocational training program for certain state jail felony defendants to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes upon reentry.

Charge: Evaluate the benefits and potential savings associated with modernizing technology throughout the state’s correctional system. Consider updating regulations related to cell phone monitoring, body cameras, and video surveillance systems.

• Community Corrections Technology: Experts Identify Top Needs for Tech Solutions to Probation and Parole System Challenges, National Institute of Justice, March 17, 2021
• Optimizing Surveillance Systems in Correctional Settings: A Guide for Enhancing Safety and Security, Urban Institute, January 2021
• Technology in Corrections (Research on cell phones, computers & Internet, drones, electronic monitoring/GPS, social media, tablets, video visiting & calling, apps, biometrics & facial recognition, and body cameras), National Institute of Corrections

Charge: Evaluate current family visitation rooms and visitation-related practices, programs, and services in TDCJ facilities. Make recommendations regarding any additional measures that TDCJ could take to make visitation more family friendly.

• Texas Prisons Stopped In-Person Visits and Limited Mail. Drugs Got in Anyway, The Marshall Project, March 29, 2021
• Locked Out, Texas Observer, May 18, 2020
• General Information Guide for Families of Offenders, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, April 2016
• Study of the TDCJ Offender Visitation Policies, 83rd Legislature General Appropriations Act, Article V, Rider 61, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, August 2014
• Inmate Visitation, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

House Committee on Higher Education
Charge: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• SB 1102, relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce education; and
• SB 1295, relating to financial support and incentives for comprehensive regional universities.

Charge: Examine factors that have contributed to the rising costs of higher education, including the effect of statutory tuition and fee waivers and exemptions, the cost of compliance with state and federal mandates, and the increase in the number of non-faculty staff. Make recommendations for controlling these costs and ensuring a sound fiscal approach to managing college affordability for the future.

• Access and Affordability: An Update on Higher Education in Texas, Every Texan, April 21, 2022 
• Today's College Student and the Rising Costs of Higher Education, LegisBrief, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 2, 2022
• The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2020–21, Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors, July 2021
• Overview: Tuition Deregulation and Tuition Set Asides, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, March 2021
• State Higher Education Funding Cuts Have Pushed Costs to Students, Worsened Inequality, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, October 24, 2019
• Interim Report (Charge 5 – Mandate Reduction), Senate Higher Education Committee, November 29, 2018
• Compliance Matrix, Higher Education Compliance Matrix, National Association of College and University Attorneys
• Exemptions and Waivers and Tuition and Fees Data, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Charge: Review the impact of investments of endowment and other trust funds, including the Permanent University Fund, by university systems and institutions of higher education in businesses and funds owned or controlled by the Russian government or Russian nationals, and determine the need for investment restrictions. Consider the impact of any proposed investment restrictions on fund performance.

• The Importance of Russian Trade and Investment Activity to the Texas Economy, The Perryman Group, April 27, 2022
• Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar's Statement on Potential Russia Divestments, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, March 2, 2022
• Available University Fund Report, University of Texas System, December 2021
• Financial Statements and Independent Auditors' Report: Permanent University Fund, Deloitte & Touche LLP, October 28, 2021

Senate Committee on Border Security (Eagle Pass)
Charge: Community Impact: Study and report on the impact of Operation Lone Star on border, rural, and urban communities throughout Texas.

• Border Security: Appropriations and Reporting Requirements (Presented to Senate Finance Committee), Legislative Budget Board, July 2022
• The Economic Costs of the Recent Border Delays, The Perryman Group, April 2022 
• Operation Lone Star, Texas Tribune

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This entry was posted on August 3, 2022 at 3:35 PM and has received 1124 views. Print this entry.

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

• Review the draft 2023 Unified Transportation Program and public involvement. (Texas Department of Transportation, July 8, 2022)
• Find the highest performing hospitals in your area. (U.S. News & World Report, ©2022)
• Explore cryptocurrency state legislation. (National Conference of State Legislatures, June 7, 2022)
• Read about the forest carbon cycle in U.S. forests. (Congressional Research Service, updated July 26, 2022)
• Track health information related to extreme heat. (National Integrated Heat Health Information System, accessed July 27, 2022)

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

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

This entry was posted on July 28, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 559 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our July 2022 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 and delivery 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. House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting, Texas House of Representatives Interim Report, 2022: A Report to the House of Representatives, 88th Texas Legislature
By House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting
Reports on the inquiry conducted by the Investigative Committee, established by the Texas House of Representative's Speaker Dade Phelan, on the events relating to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Examines contributing factors to the shooting and details the responses of the various law enforcement agencies, individual officers, and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. Outlines preliminary conclusions drawn by the committee. The following link is to the English version of the report.
House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting, 2022, 77 pages
L1836.87 R631

 

 

2. Comité de Investigación de la Cámara de Representantes de Texas sobre el Tiroteo en la Escuela Robb Elementary Informe Provisional 2022: Un Informe para la Cámara de Representantes, de Texas 88. ª Asamblea Legislativa de Texas
By Comité de Investigación sobre el Tiroteo en la escuela Robb Elementary
Reports on the inquiry conducted by the Investigative Committee, established by the Texas House of Representative's Speaker Dade Phelan, on the events relating to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Examines contributing factors to the shooting and details the responses of the various law enforcement agencies, individual officers, and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. Outlines preliminary conclusions drawn by the committee. The following link is to the Spanish version of the report.
Comité de Investigación sobre el Tiroteo en la escuela Robb Elementary, 2022, 75 pages
L1836.87 R631 ES

 

 

3. Last Gangster in Austin: Frank Smith, Ronnie Earle, and the End of a Junkyard Mafia
By Jesse Sublett
Examines the true events surrounding one of the biggest criminal trials in Travis County history involving Frank Smith, a bail bondsman and auto salvage yard operator, who tried to put a competitor out of business through arson and an attempted robbery. Discusses the role of newly-elected District Attorney Ronnie Earle who had prior experience with Smith by proxy while working on bail bond reform in the Texas legislature. Highlights the 1970's Austin underworld as the background for the narrative.
University of Texas Press, 2022, 212 pages
976.431063 SU941L 2022

 

 

4. The One Ann Only: Wit and Wisdom from Texas Governor Ann Richards
By Ann Richards Legacy Project
Presents a collection of photographs and quotations showcasing the remarkable life and political career of Ann Richards, Texas' 45th governor. Includes an index of photo credits with brief descriptions of the images.
Ann Richards Legacy Project, 2022, 144 pages
923.2764 B618R 2022

 

 

5. Unsettled Land: From Revolution to Republic, the Struggle for Texas
By Sam W. Haynes
Explores the history of Texas, from the 1830s to the 1850s, through the personal stories and lives of ordinary people. Discusses how the region once had a diverse population, including people of African descent, white Americans, Mexicans, and Native Americans, that was transformed into one of mainly white settlers during that period.
Basic Books, 2022, 446 pages
976.4 H424UN 2022

 

 

6. The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic
By Jillian Peterson, PhD & James Densley, PhD
Discusses the authors' research on mass shootings, complied in a comprehensive database, which includes the life histories of perpetrators, details from interviews with incarcerated living mass shooters, and the people who knew them. Examines this data to understand the social and mental health factors affecting the perpetrators and communities where mass public shootings take place. Presents strategies to reduce mass gun violence.
Abrams Press, 2021, 240 pages
Online at: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/
364.152 P485V 2021

 

 

7. Owning My S.H.I.T!: Suffering Hardship Internalizing Trauma
By Jolanda "Jo" Jones
Recounts the challenging experiences of Representative Jolanda "Jo" Jones and how she was able to overcome what she details as Suffering of Hardships while Internalizing Trauma (S.H.I.T!). Describes her journey to become a successful attorney, politician, author, and activist. Shares her transformation so that others may have a roadmap to identify, accept, and work through adversities to achieve positive change in their own lives.
Shekinah Publishing Services, 2018, 191 pages
328.764 J76OW 2018

 

 

This entry was posted on July 27, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 734 views. Print this entry.

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 4, 2022
  • House Select Committee on Health Care Reform
• August 5, 2022
  • House Select Committee on Health Care Reform

August 4, 2022
House Select Committee on Health Care Reform
Charge: Study the implications of excessive health care costs on the efficacy of Texas Medicaid and the private health insurance market and the resulting impact on individual Texans, businesses, and state government.

• Examine the interaction of specific factors of health care affordability such as transparency, competition, and patient incentives. Make recommendations to expand access to health care price information to allow consumers to make informed decisions regarding their care;
  • 2020 Health Care Cost and Utilization Report, Health Care Cost Institute, May 2022
  • Addressing Cost Drivers in U.S. Healthcare Through Transparency, Competition, and Value, Texas Public Policy Foundation, March 2021
  • Barriers to Price and Quality Transparency in Health Care Markets, RAND Corporation, 2021
  • Increasing Price Transparency in Health Care: Key Themes and Policy Options from a Technical Expert Panel, RAND Corporation, 2021
  • Frequently Asked Questions, Texas Healthcare Costs
• Examine the impact of government benefit, administrative, and contractual mandates imposed upon private insurance companies and their impact on employer and consumer premiums and out-of-pocket costs, including the effects of specific benefit and any-willing-provider requirements. Make recommendations for state and agency-level mandates and regulations that could be relaxed or repealed to increase the availability and affordability of private health coverage options in the state;
  • Know Your Coverage: EHBs and Mandated Health Benefits, Office of Public Insurance Counsel, October 13, 2021
  • Laws to Curb Surprise Medical Bills Might Be Inflating Health Care Costs, PEW Charitable Trusts, May 20, 2021
  • Stabilizing the Individual Health Care Market, National Conference of State Legislatures, March 2020
  • Texas Mandated Health Benefits, Texas Department of Insurance, updated to reflect laws in effect as of September 1, 2019
• Review access to and affordability of prescription drugs;
  • State Drug Pricing Laws: 2017-2022, National Academy for State Health Policy, updated July 19, 2022
  • House Bill 18 Implementation Update: Texas Cares, Texas Health and Human Services, May 17, 2022
  • Comparison of State Prescription Drug Affordability Review Initiatives, National Academy for State Health Policy, updated March 31, 2022
  • Prescription Drug Price Disclosure Program, Texas Department of State Health Services, last updated January 27, 2022

Charge: Monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, current price transparency requirements and study ways that the state can support patients and increase competition. Make legislative and administrative recommendations, as appropriate;

• Health Facility Compliance Guidance Letter (SB 1137, 87R), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, May 13, 2022
• Are Texas Hospitals Practicing Price Transparency?, Baker Institute for Public Policy, March 21, 2022
• Transparency and Disclosure of Health Care Prices, National Conference of State Legislatures, September 7, 2021
• Semi-Annual Hospital Price Transparency Compliance Report, PatientsRightsAdvocate.org, July 2021
• Hospital Price Transparency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Charge: Evaluate innovative, fiscally positive options to ensure that Texans have access to affordable, quality and comprehensive health care, with an emphasis on reaching low-income and at-risk populations. The evaluation should include a study of strategies other states and organizations have implemented or proposed to address health care access and affordability. Make recommendations to increase primary health care access points in Texas.

• Health Innovations State Law Archive Database | 2015-2021, National Conference of State Legislatures, November 15, 2021
• Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion, National Conference of State Legislatures, October 14, 2021
• The Effects of Medicaid Expansion Under the ACA: Studies from January 2014 to January 2020, Kaiser Family Foundation, March 17, 2020
• Healthcare Affordability State Policy Scorecard, Altarum Healthcare Value Hub

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August 5, 2022
House Committee on Health Care Reform
If the committee does not complete its hearing of all invited testimony scheduled for its August 4th public hearing, it will reconvene after a recess to continue hearing invited testimony only on the posted interim charges.

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This entry was posted on July 27, 2022 at 11:30 AM and has received 634 views. Print this entry.