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Interim Hearings – Week of September 5, 2022

Sep 1

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Interim hearings

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.

 

September 6, 2022
House Committee on Insurance
Charge: Review existing state laws, administrative regulations, and agency practices to identify barriers to competition in the insurance marketplace. Examine existing business practices in the industry to determine if additional laws or regulations are needed to promote competition, lower premiums, and protect consumers.

  • Review consumer rights and appraisal in automotive and homeowner policies. Review trade industry practices and interaction with insurers and consumers.
  • Review current regulatory landscape for Healthcare Sharing Ministries, County Mutual Insurance Agencies, and Farm Mutual Insurance Agencies.

Charge: Monitor the implementation compliance and enforcement of legislation related to freestanding emergency rooms to determine whether patients are adequately protected and if further safeguards and disclosures are needed.

Charge: Review Texas' insurance anti-rebating laws and model legislation related to rebates. Make recommendations for legislation that would preserve the purpose of the current statute while allowing certain services for and benefits to insurance consumers.

 

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September 8, 2022
House Committee on Appropriations
1. Space Exploration and the Space Economy
Topic: Explore potential state, federal, and industry partnerships to advance the role of Texas in the space economy.

2. Employee Retirement System of Texas
Topic: Provide an overview of the ERS Fund and implementation of SB 321.

3. Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Topic: Provide an overview of the TRS fund, and examine the current status of TRS Care and TRS ActiveCare.

4. Department of Family and Protective Services
Charge 4: Monitor efforts by the Department of Family and Protective Services to implement Section 11, HB 5 (87S2), relating to foster care capacity improvement.

Topic: Examine the current status of children without placement in the State's care.

5. Health and Human Services Commission
Topic: Review the Texas Medicaid Program including the status of the 1115 Waiver, end of the Public Health Emergency, and implementation of HB 133.

Topic: Explore the goals of and eligibility for the Alternatives to Abortion Program and opportunities for enhancing services across the state.

 

House Committee on Transportation (Brownsville)
Charge: Discuss tools available to reduce the unprecedented increase in fatalities on Texas roads.

Charge: Study policies impacting truck transportation, a key link in the supply-chain, including utilizing state property and right-of-way for natural gas fueling stations and truck parking, the potential shortage of drivers and sellers of commercial trucks, the shortage of truck parking options to accommodate hours of service regulations, and ways to reduce border crossing wait times. Examine regulatory and statutory impediments to connected vehicle and autonomous technologies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of trucking in Texas.

Charge: Examine the ability of the state’s seaports to promote the public purposes of state economic growth, diversification, and commerce through development of port-owned properties within their boundaries. Review the investments needed for Texas ports to remain competitive in handling increased cargo volumes and ensuring a resilient supply chain.

 

House Committee on Ways & Means
Charge: Actively oversee associated rulemaking and agency actions to ensure the intended legislative outcome of:

  • HB 2404, relating to creating and maintaining a database of information regarding certain local economic development agreements;
  • SB 2 (86R - the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019) and related property tax reform legislation passed by the 87th Legislature, including HB 1869, HB 2429, HB 2723, and SB 1438.
  • Monitor legislation relating to reform of the property tax appraisal system, including HB 988, HB 2941, HB 3971, SB 63, SB 916, and SB 1919.

Charge: Study Texas' property tax appraisal system and make appropriate recommendations to improve the appraisal system. The study should include:

  • Assessing the accuracy of appraised values and operational effectiveness of appraisal districts;
  • Evaluating methods of selecting chief appraisers, appraisal review boards, and appraisal district directors;
  • Evaluating existing appraisal protections for taxpayers and ease of taxpayer participation in the appraisal process.

Charge: Conduct a comprehensive review of the impact of not renewing Chapter 313, Tax Code. Evaluate tax incentives offered by other states and make recommendations for incentivizing manufacturers and other capital-intensive businesses to locate to Texas.

 

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September 9, 2022
House Committee on Appropriations
1. Texas Education Agency
Charge 6: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Expenditures

2. Higher Education: Access and Affordability
Topic: Examine options for increasing access to and affordability of successfully obtaining post-secondary degrees and credentials.

3. Higher Education: Excellence and Research Funding
Topic: Review current Texas research and endowment funds and explore opportunities for enhanced state investments.

4. Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Topic: Explore the role of appropriations in the agency's current efforts to improve staff recruitment and retention.

 

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This entry was posted on September 1, 2022 at 12:05 PM and has received 1175 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 25, 2022

Aug 25

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 most recent life expectancy data for the Unites States. (National Center for Health Statistics, August 23, 2022)
  • Track rainfall totals and other information related to the lower Colorado River basin. (Lower Colorado River Authority, accessed August 24, 2022)
  • Read about ways to filter microplastics from water. (Popular Science, updated June 19, 2022)
  • Consider the implications of America's retirement savings shortfall. (Bloomberg via Wealth Management.com, August 16, 2022)
  • Browse a variety of topics related to health in the Unites States. (National Center for Health Statistics, August 12, 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 25, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 522 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 29, 2022

Aug 25

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Interim hearings

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.

 

 

This entry was posted on August 25, 2022 at 2:10 PM and has received 632 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 18, 2022

Aug 18

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 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 598 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 22, 2022

Aug 17

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Interim hearings

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 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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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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.

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.

 

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.

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

 

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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.

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

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.

 

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This entry was posted on August 17, 2022 at 2:45 PM and has received 1440 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 11, 2022

Aug 11

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 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 590 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 15, 2022

Aug 10

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Interim hearings

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.

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.

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.

 

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This entry was posted on August 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM and has received 806 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 4, 2022

Aug 4

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.

  • 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 678 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 8, 2022

Aug 3

posted by TexasLRL in 87th Session, Interim hearings

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)
Charge: Examine the role of online communications in mass violence scenarios and identify technological resources and solutions for detecting, mitigating, and reporting threats.

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.

 

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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.

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.

 

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.

 

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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.

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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This entry was posted on August 3, 2022 at 3:35 PM and has received 1438 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, July 28, 2022

Jul 28

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 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 592 views. Print this entry.

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