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National Library Week 2020

Apr 20

posted by TexasLRL in National Library Week

This week, April 19-25, 2020, is National Library Week. Although many libraries, including the Legislative Reference Library, are closed to visitors to assist with controlling the transmission of COVID-19, they continue to work to bring communities up-to-date information and structure in uncertain times.

 

This year's theme is "Find Your Place at the Library."  The LRL encourages you to find your place at our library as we continue to provide virtual services, access to digital resources, and reference and research assistance via e-mail and telephone.

 

To find out more about what we do, as well as the variety of resources we provide, we invite you to explore our website or take a virtual tour of the LRL. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Pinterest, read our blog, or subscribe to one of the library's RSS feeds. We use these platforms to share useful information and resources not only related to Texas and the Texas Legislature but also COVID-19.

 

This year during National Library Week, let's celebrate by showing our appreciation for the many innovative ways libraries, librarians, and all library staff members are continuing to serve their communities during a time of crisis.

 

This entry was posted on April 20, 2020 at 9:00 AM and has received 2005 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, April 16

Apr 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 ways to determine whether a person has recovered from COVID-19. (LLRX, April 12, 2020)
  • Review COVID-19 coverage from the Harvard Business Review. (Harvard Business Review, accessed April 15, 2020)
  • Find response rates to the 2020 Census by state, city, or Congressional district. (U.S. Census Bureau, accessed April 15, 2020)
  • Consider potential legal problems that could arise as a result of expanding voting by mail. (Politico, April 7, 2020)

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

  • 20.04.33 / "Labor market conditions should determine duration, size of COVID-19 relief measures." By Chad Stone and Sharon Parrott. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 13, 2020, pp. 1-5.
    Argues that fiscal relief to state and local governments and expanded unemployment benefits implemented in response to COVID-19 should not end on a certain calendar date, but rather when economic and employment conditions improve. Discusses federal stimulus provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act.
  • 20.04.34 / "Comparing the National Outcome Measure of Healthy and Ready to Learn with other well-being and school readiness measures." By Katherine Paschall, et al. Child Trends, April 2020, pp. 1-19.
    Discusses the importance of early childhood education in kindergarten readiness. Explores the current status of a pilot school readiness measure, the Healthy and Ready to Learn [HRTL] National Outcome Measure [NOM], developed by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau under the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
  • 20.04.35 / "Prayer services during a pandemic: Why some churches stay open." By Harry Bruinius. Christian Science Monitor, April 6, 2020, pp. 1-7.
    Considers that Texas and a few other states have designated places of worship as essential services exempt from COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings. Highlights the tension between First Amendment protections of the free exercise of religion and public health measures instituted because of COVID-19.
  • 20.04.36 / "'I was horrified': For millions of borrowers, the coronavirus stimulus law offers no relief." By Danielle McLean. Chronicle of Higher Education, April 2, 2020, pp. 1-5.
    Explains that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act suspends payments only on federally held student loans and not loans that are commercially held but federally guaranteed. Discusses the plight of students with Federal Family Education Loans [FFEL] and federal Perkins loans, neither of which are covered by the CARES Act or by the two-month suspension of student loan interest and payments issued by the Trump administration.
  • 20.04.37 / "Pressing pause on mortgage payments." By Arpit Gupta. City Journal (Manhattan Institute), April 9, 2020, pp. 1-4.
    Suggests that allowing homeowners to pause principal payments on their mortgages would be a rare win-win deal in public policy, a way to help homeowners, lenders, and investors during the forthcoming period of severe economic turmoil due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 20.04.38 / "Democracy on the ropes." By Mike Magner, Bridget Bowman, and Gopal Ratman. CQ Weekly, March 30, 2020, pp. 14-17.
    Discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting upcoming congressional and presidential elections in Texas and the United States. Addresses concerns with expanding access to voting by mail. Quotes Senator Royce West.
  • 20.04.39 / "Unraveling a 'health crisis that led to an economic crisis'." By Rob Schneider. Dallas Business Journal, April 10, 2020, pp. 10-11.
    Presents a Q&A with economist Ray Perryman on Texas' ability to weather the economic aftermath of COVID-19 and a recession.
  • 20.04.40 / "Ghost constituents: The United States census has an inmate problem." Economist, April 11th-17th, 2020, pp. 1-2.
    Discusses the unconstitutional effects of prison-based gerrymandering, the United States Census Bureau practice of registering inmates as residents of the counties where their prisons are located, rather than the last address before their arrest. Notes several states' efforts to end this practice. Related information at: https://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/legislation.html
  • 20.04.41 / "State rainy day funds and the COVID-19 crisis." By Jared Walczak and Janelle Cammenga. Fiscal Fact (Tax Foundation), April 2020, pp. 1-11.
    Analyzes the current levels of state fiscal reserves, also known as "rainy day funds," as well as the funds as a percentage of state general fund expenditures, and states' abilities to use the funds as revenues decline during the COVID-19 crisis. Projects Texas' rainy day fund at $7.830 billion at the start of fiscal year 2020, at 12.8 percent of state general fund expenditures.
  • 20.04.42 / "Communities of color at higher risk for health and economic challenges due to COVID-19." By Samantha Artiga, Rachel Garfield, and Kendal Orgera. Issue Brief (Kaiser Family Foundation), April 7, 2020, pp. 1-7.
    Analyzes data on underlying health conditions, health coverage, health care access, and social and economic factors by race and ethnicity. Finds economic and social issues will cause communities of color to face increased financial and health risks associated with COVID-19.
  • 20.04.43 / "How much is a life worth?" By Robert VerBruggen. National Review, April 20, 2020, pp. 22-23.
    Presents concepts used in analyses of economic damages versus public health benefits in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggests the virus is too new for reliable data to exist, making it difficult to produce valid cost-benefit analyses.
  • 20.04.44 / "What drugs can do." By Avik Roy. National Review, April 20, 2020, pp. 21-22.
    Considers the two broad categories of drug development related to the COVID-19 pandemic: vaccines to provide immunity to the virus and drug treatments for those who already have the disease. Explains there are 104 different COVID-19 treatments currently in preclinical or clinical studies. Suggests if multiple successful drug therapies emerge, vigorous price competition may lead to more reasonably priced drugs.
  • 20.04.45 / "The cost of COVID-19: A rough estimate of the 2020 US GDP impact." By Christos A. Makridis and Jonathan S. Hartley. Policy Brief (Mercatus Center, George Mason University), April 6, 2020, pp. 1-7.
    Estimates the economic cost of the first two months spent fighting the COVID-19 pandemic will be $2.14 trillion, with the gross domestic product [GDP] growth rate declining about five percent per month for each month of partial economic shutdown.
  • 20.04.46 / "Critical care surge response strategies for the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in the United States." By Mahshid Abir, et al. Research Report (RAND Health Care), April 2020, pp. 1-49 (Note Length).
    Identifies the components of critical care capacity and strategies for enhancing it in hospitals, including contingency capacity strategies and crisis capacity strategies. Includes policy recommendations for state, regional, and federal entities and a link to download a Microsoft Excel-based tool to estimate critical care capacity and rapidly explore strategies for increasing it.
  • 20.04.47 / "States' unemployment compensation trust funds could run out in mere weeks." By Jared Walczak. Tax Foundation, April 9, 2020, pp. 1-4.
    Describes how many weeks of unemployment benefits each state's unemployment compensation trust fund can currently cover during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finds that six states, which account for more than one-third of the United States population, can cover less than ten weeks of unemployment, including Texas, at six weeks.
  • 20.04.48 / "Subsurface tension: The conflicting laws of Texas and New Mexico over shared groundwater and New Mexico's desire for regulation." By Kameron B. Smith. Texas A&M Law Review, February 2020, pp. 453-474.
    Discusses conflicts between Texas and New Mexico related to differences in their regulation of groundwater, including the recent increase in groundwater importation to New Mexico for use in hydraulic fracturing. Considers regulations New Mexico could impose on groundwater usage and importation, but finds an interstate compact may be more effective at resolving the conflict.
  • 20.04.49 / "Gene Wu on coronavirus and the rise in hate-fueled attacks against Asian Americans." By Michael Barajas. Texas Observer, April 7, 2020, pp. 1-8.
    Interviews Representative Gene Wu on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Asian American communities 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 April 16, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1811 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, April 9

Apr 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.

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

 

 

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 April 9, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1597 views. Print this entry.

**UPDATED** COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Texas Informational Resources

Apr 9

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, COVID-19

This post is an update of a blog post dated March 17, 2020

 

Seeking information on COVID-19 (coronavirus) and how it may affect different aspects of life in Texas? We've compiled this list of resources from various Texas leaders, agencies, and other organizations. Please use contact information on the respective organizations' websites for any questions specific to their purposes.

 

From Texas leadership:

Texas state agency resources:

From other Texas organizations:

National organizations:

And federal resources:

 

Information on this page is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site

This entry was posted on April 9, 2020 at 12:00 PM and has received 2180 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, April 2

Apr 2

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.

  • Review a summary of the CARES Act. (Congressional Research Service, updated March 31, 2020)
  • Consider some security issues related to video-teleconferencing. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, March 30, 2020)
  • Read about immigration laws enacted by the states in 2019. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 30, 2020)
  • Explore whether teachers can read books aloud online under copyright law. (EdSurge, March 30, 2020)

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

 

 

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 April 2, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1870 views. Print this entry.

Library Update: COVID-19

Apr 2

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news, COVID-19

In an effort to assist with controlling the transmission of COVID-19, the LRL is closed to the public. However, we are able to continue to provide many of our usual services. Librarians will continue to offer reference and research assistance via phone (512-463-1252) or email.  We will continue to produce Current Articles and the Legislative Clipping Service.

This entry was posted on April 2, 2020 at 10:44 AM and has received 1512 views. Print this entry.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Database and Portal Resources

Apr 1

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, COVID-19

Seeking information on COVID-19 (coronavirus)? We've compiled a list of databases and portals from various organizations that are providing free, temporary access to their resources during the COVID-19 pandemic including: books, journals, news, and research. Please use contact information on the respective organizations' websites for any questions specific to their purposes.

 

Association of American Publishers Directory of Open Access Journals

  • DOAJ
    Community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals.
EBSCO

  • Covid-19: Updates & Information (Portal)
    Compiles updates related to COIVD-19, including news and information from the CDC, WHO and other U.S. government agencies. Includes a list of maps related to the outbreak.
  • For Researchers
    COVID-19 research portal that includes open-access to research resources.

Elsevier

Fastcase
  • COVID-19 Resources
    A resource hub, bringing together free legislative and government updates and COVID-19 content across leading news media sources.  

Govinfo, United States Government Publishing Office (GPO)

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    Provides legislative, presidential, and regulatory documents relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In Custodia Legis (blog), Law Library of Congress

  • Coronavirus Resource Guide
    A guide to laws, regulations, and executive actions in the United States, at both the federal and the state level, and in various countries related to COVID-19 and its spread.

JSTOR

LexisNexis

  • Law360 COVID-19 News
    News, in-depth features, and expert analysis and commentary related to COVID-19 and the law.

National Library of Medicine

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

    • LitCovid
      Provides central access to COVID-19 articles in PubMed. Updated daily.
    • Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Initiative (PubMed Central)
      Free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature, includes a list of publishers that have made their coronavirus-related articles accessible.
      (See Discovering Coronavirus-Related and COVID-19-Related Articles insert for search queries examples.)

Project Muse

  • Free Resources on MUSE during COVID-19
    Temporarily-free vetted research in the humanities and social sciences from a variety of distinguished university presses, societies, and related not-for-profit publishers.

SSRN

  • Coronavirus
    Coronavirus-related research available for free. Note that these papers are not peer-reviewed.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine

Wiley Online Library

World Health Organization

 

Information on this page is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

This entry was posted on April 1, 2020 at 3:00 PM and has received 3321 views. Print this entry.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Municipal and County Informational Resources

Mar 30

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, COVID-19

Seeking municipal and county information on COVID-19 (coronavirus)? We've compiled a list of current declarations, orders, and supplemental resources. Please use contact information on the respective organizations' websites for any questions specific to their purposes. 

 

National Association of Counties:  

National League of Cities:

Texas Association of Counties:

Texas Health and Human Services:

Texas Judicial Branch:

 

Information on this page is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

 

This entry was posted on March 30, 2020 at 8:50 AM and has received 2234 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, March 26

Mar 26

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 fraud relating to medical testing and vaccines targeting Medicare and Medicaid recipients. (AP News, March 23, 2020)
  • Review the City of Austin's stay-at-home order. (City of Austin, March 24, 2020)
  • Explore the emergency powers President Trump can exercise during a crisis. (Congressional Research Service, March 23, 2020)
  • Consider whether books are "essential" in a similar way as groceries right now. (Quartz, March 21, 2020)

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

  • 20.03.43 / "Immediate and robust policy response needed in face of grave risks to the economy." By Sharon Parrott, et al. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 19, 2020, pp. 1-19.
    Outlines policy proposals to mitigate the decline in economic activity during the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Summarizes provisions in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of interest to states, including increased federal share of Medicaid funding, new paid sick leave, new flexibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and state unemployment insurance. Argues additional policy responses to address the broader economic consequences are necessary.
  • 20.03.44 / "Coronavirus: What child welfare systems need to think about." By John Kelly and Kim Hansel. Chronicle of Social Change, March 11, 2020, pp. 1-8.
    Discusses the effect of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, on foster care and child welfare agencies, including the effects on child maltreatment investigations, nutrition, visitation and reunification, and other child welfare services.
  • 20.03.45 / "Climate change: Green Texas." Economist, March 14th-20th, 2020, pp. 20-21.
    Examines factors advancing the renewable energy boom in several oil-producing states. Questions whether the shift to greener energy will change attitudes towards climate change.
  • 20.03.46 / "Oil prices: Scorched earth." Economist, March 14th-20th, 2020, pp. 58-59.
    Considers the economic impact of an oil-price war, compounded by a viral pandemic, on shale oil and gas states, such as Texas, and on the American shale oil and gas industry.
  • 20.03.47 / "House coronavirus bill would direct billions to schools, fund remote learning." By Andrew Ujifusa. Education Week, March 23, 2020, pp. 1-2.
    Breaks down $50 billion in emergency funding proposed by the United States House of Representatives to stabilize states' education budgets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes a fact sheet about the education provisions of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, along with the text of the bill.
  • 20.03.48 / "Governors' top education priorities in 2020 state of the state addresses." By Brian Kelley and Erin Whinnery. Internet Resource, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-10.
    Highlights trends in public education policy accomplishments and proposals featured in 43 governors' State of the State addresses delivered in 2020.
  • 20.03.49 / "How to protect the 2020 vote from the coronavirus." By Wendy R. Weiser and Max Feldman. Internet Resource, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-10.
    Recommends strategies for conducting free, fair, accessible, and secure elections considering the new challenges to election administration as a result of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Offers suggestions related to polling place modification, expanded early voting, voting by mail, voter registration modification, including expanding online registration, and voter education.
  • 20.03.50 / "Paid sick leave is much less common for lower-wage workers in private industry." By Gary Claxton and Larry Levitt. Internet Resource, March 2020, pp. 1-4.
    Observes that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to employers' sick leave policies. Points out that lower-wage workers are much more likely to lack access to paid sick leave, and are also more likely to be in positions requiring considerable interaction with the general public.
  • 20.03.51 / "Schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: How emergency education savings accounts can meet the needs of every American child." By Lindsey M. Burke. Internet Resource, March 20, 2020, pp. 1-7.
    Suggests Education Savings Accounts [ESAs] could ease the transition of children learning from home as a result of the coronavirus disase, COVID-19, by providing parents resources to pay for education-related services and products. Recommends an ESA be established for each student with a prorated percentage of what each state would have spend on education.
  • 20.03.52 / "The effects of hospital consolidation in Colorado." By Jared Gaby-Biegel. Issue Brief (Center for Economic and Policy Research), March 2020, pp. 1-17.
    Examines the impact of hospital consolidation on residents across all regions of Colorado. Points out important lessons policymakers can learn from Colorado's experience when crafting future health care reforms.
  • 20.03.53 / "Discussing the ABCs of health security — antibiotic resistance, biothreats, and coronavirus" By Angel N. Desai. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), March 10, 2020, pp. 912-914.
    Interviews health security expert Dr. Tom Inglesby of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, on topics including infections disease outbreaks (highlighting COVID-19), biothreats, and government and public health infrastructure preparedness.
  • 20.03.54 / "Innovation and 'new energy'." By Mark P. Mills. National Review, March 23, 2020, pp. 39-40.
    Argues comparisons of the digital technology revolution to the potential of a clean energy "revolution" are faulty because the same scale of growth cannot be reached with the energy technology and mining capabilities available today. Explains "clean technologies" such as batteries, windmills, and solar panels would require a hugh increase in the tonnage of minerals currently extracted.
  • 20.03.55 / "How COVID-19 could impact Texas' economy and real estate markets." By James P. Gaines, et al. Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-2.
    Briefly discusses the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil prices, housing markets, and commercial real estate.
  • 20.03.56 / "State legislative responses to COVID-19." By Katherine Loughead, et al. Tax Foundation, Updated March 23, 2020, p. 1.
    Tracks state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of budet and tax policy. Includes legislative meeting and adjournment dates, possible schedule adjustments being contemplated or made in response to the pandemic, the status of the state's budget, and the state's rainy day fund [RDF] balance as a percentage of the prior year's general fund budget. Updated periodically.
  • 20.03.57 / "Oil and gas matters." By Bernard F. Clark and Ellen Conley. Texas Bar Journal, March 2020, pp. 156-158.
    Discusses the protection of oil and gas interests, first purchaser statutes, and the In re SemCrude, L.P. decisions related to the security interest of producers in bankruptcy estates. Compares the Texas First Purchaser Statute which predates SemCrude, and Oklahoma's Oil and Gas Owners' Lien Acts of 1988 and 2010. Argues Oklahoma's amended statute better protects producers' claims.
  • 20.03.58 / "The PMP requirement begins." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, March 2020, pp. 29-30.
    Points out that legislation is now in effect requiring physicians to check PMP Aware, the state's prescription monitoring program, before prescribing opioids. Notes that Representative J.D. Sheffield passed HB3284, 86th Legislature, to delay the effective date of the mandate and ensure smoother integration of systems.
  • 20.03.59 / "As the first coronavirus vaccine human trials begin, manufacturer is already preparing to scale production to millions." By Alice Park. Time, March 23, 2020 pp. 1-3.
    Reports on a study of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being conducted by Moderna Therapeutics. Notes the vaccine testing will take at least a year to complete but valuable information regarding how the immune system can combat the virus can be obtained sooner.

 

 

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 March 26, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 1886 views. Print this entry.

Research Minute: Upcoming Primary Runoff and Special Elections

Mar 23

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Research minute

According to Texas Election Code § 172.003, "to receive a political party's nomination, a candidate in a primary election must receive a majority of the total number of votes received by all the candidates for the nomination." Following the March 3 primary elections, several House and Senate districts require a primary runoff before their candidates can be selected for the November election. Per Texas Election Code § 2.025, "a runoff election shall be held not earlier than the 20th or later than the 45th day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed." The runoff date had been set for May 26, but the governor postponed it until July 14. 

 

Special elections may be called per the law set out in Texas Election Code § 3.003. However, they can be postponed as needed in a disaster, as will be the case for the Senate District 14 special election. That election had been set for May 2, but the governor postponed it until July 14. The governor also issued a proclamation that allows political subdivisions to postpone their elections until November.

This entry was posted on March 23, 2020 at 8:30 AM and has received 1270 views. Print this entry.

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