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Current Articles & Research Resources, January 9

Jan 9

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

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

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

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

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

This entry was posted on January 9, 2020 at 3:15 PM and has received 877 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of January 13, 2020

Jan 8

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 86th Session

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

For recent posts on Interim Hearings, see Interim Hearing Resources on the LRL homepage. The "Recent Entries" list on the left provides quick access to interim hearings posts from previous weeks.

 

January 15

House Committee on Insurance (Rockport) 

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

  • HB 1900, which amends the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) operations and funding practices. Review the rulemaking process by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the adoption of an updated plan of operation by TWIA. Monitor whether the purchase of reinsurance has increased or declined and determine whether this provision of the legislation has had any impact on premium rates. Monitor the appointment and work of the Legislative Funding and Funding Structure Oversight board.

This entry was posted on January 8, 2020 at 9:00 AM and has received 848 views. Print this entry.

Bills Effective, January 2020

Jan 6

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On January 1, 2020, 24 bills passed during the 86th Legislature took effect. In addition, provisions of 14 bills passed during the 86th Legislature became effective.

 

Sections of bills passed during the 84th Legislature also took effect on January 1.

 

To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.

This entry was posted on January 6, 2020 at 8:30 AM and has received 6042 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of January 6, 2020

Dec 31

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 86th Session

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

For recent posts on Interim Hearings, see Interim Hearing Resources on the LRL homepage. The "Recent Entries" list on the left provides quick access to interim hearings posts from previous weeks.

 

January 9

House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety (El Paso)

Duties:

(1) Examine options for strengthening enforcement measures for current laws that prevent the transfer of firearms to felons and other persons prohibited by current law from possessing firearms 

(2) Examine impediments and challenges to the timely reporting of relevant criminal history information and other threat indicators to state and federal databases 

(3) Examine the role of digital media and technology in threat detection, assessment, reporting, and prevention, including the collaboration between digital media and law enforcement 

(4) Evaluate the ongoing and long-term workforce needs of the state related to cybersecurity, mental health, law enforcement, and related professionals  

(5) Evaluate current protocols and extreme risk indicators used to identify potential threats and consider options for improving the dissemination of information between federal, state, and local entities and timely and appropriate intervention of mental health professionals 

House Committee on Redistricting (El Paso) 

Topic: 2021 legislative redistricting process and 2020 Census data

 

January 10

House Committee on Redistricting (El Paso) 

Topic: 2021 legislative redistricting process and 2020 Census data

This entry was posted on December 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM and has received 1523 views. Print this entry.

Texas Recognition Months, Weeks, and Days

Dec 30

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, 86th Session

Recognition months, weeks, and days call attention to health issues, industries, people, and more. Some are codified in Government Code § 662. In addition, senators and representatives pass resolutions in each session to commemorate even more awareness dates. Below is a sampling of recognition months, weeks, and days observed with resolutions and bills by the 86th Legislature; click here to see a list of all the recognition dates from this past session.

 

January

Sexual Assault Survivors Day (January 28)—HB 2298

Community College Day (January 30)—SR 84

 

February

American Heart Month—HR 2140

Texas Homemade Pie Day (February 16)—HR 617

 

March

National Athletic Training Month—HR 1180

Master Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Day (March 30)—HB 295

 

April

Minority Cancer Awareness Month—HR 1391

National Donate Life Month—HR 2141

 

May

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month—HR 2142, SR 528

International Internal Audit Awareness Month—HR 1514, SR 698

 

June

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Awareness Month—HB 405

Veteran Suicide and PTSD Awareness Month—HCR 148

 

July

Space Exploration Day (July 20)—HB 3084

First Lady Frances Cox Henderson Bicentennial Day (July 21)—SR 163

 

September

Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month—HR 137, HR 2144

Quanah Parker Day (second Saturday of September)—SCR 7

 

October

Veterinary Technician Week—HB 2471

 

November

American Diabetes Month—HR 2145

Municipal Courts Week (first week of November)—HR 1658

 

The year 2020

"The Year to Embrace the Gulf"—HCR 140

This entry was posted on December 30, 2019 at 9:00 AM and has received 1632 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, December 19

Dec 19

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

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

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

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

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

This entry was posted on December 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 1276 views. Print this entry.

Holidays at the Capitol

Dec 18

posted by TexasLRL in Christmas

Around the week after Thanksgiving, the holidays start to pop up in and around the Texas Capitol! The House and Senate Chambers are decorated with Virginia pine trees from a north Texas tree farm. The trees were harvested and transported with assistance from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The TPWD park rangers from Eisenhower State Park named the Senate tree "Mamie" (after former First Lady Eisenhower), and Lake Mineral Wells State Park rangers called the House's tree "Ruby," honoring the beautiful red color of the cardinals who reside in their park. 

 

Clockwise from left: 1) Senate chambers decorated with "Mamie," as well as its traditional poinsettias on each desk. 2) Wreaths adorn the gallery of the Senate. 3) Each representative's district contributes an ornament to decorate "Ruby." 4) The day after "Ruby" arrived in the House chamber, staff worked to adorn the tree with lights and other decorations.

 

 

Holiday spirit is not contained to the chambers, though! The sights and sounds of the season are all over through the month of December. You can read past blog posts to learn more about the holiday season at the Capitol.

 

Clockwise from left: 1) Visitors approaching the Capitol from Congress will see the tree just outside the Capitol grounds. 2) A wreath adorns the door into the Governor's Public Reception Room on the second floor of the Capitol. 3) The "Holiday Wishes" tree gives Capitol staffers the opportunity to fill holiday wishes for children in the care of Child Protective Services. 4) and 5) The Capitol Rotunda plays host to many different performing groups throughout the holiday season. 4) On December 16, members of the Austin Symphony donned reindeer antlers as they performed and children gathered around. 5) The Dripping Springs High School Jazz Cats sang in the Rotunda on December 5.

 

This entry was posted on December 18, 2019 at 8:35 AM and has received 1372 views. Print this entry.

New & Noteworthy Books and Reports: December 2019

Dec 17

posted by TexasLRL in New & Noteworthy

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our December 2019 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, contact the library at 512-463-1252, or use our PDF request form.

 

1. Biscuits, the Dole, and Nodding Donkeys: Texas Politics, 1929-1932
By Norman D. Brown
Continues the story of Texas politics that the author described in his acclaimed book, Hood, Bonnet, and Little Brown Jug: Texas Politics, 1921 - 1928. Provides a tour of the Texas political landscape during the Great Depression, using the "colorful" political leaders and their backroom deals as a framework for exploring the dominant issues of the early 1930s. Addresses the tension between the federal government and Texas, problems with the state's oil-based economy, and the changing political parties.
University of Texas Press, 2019, 448 pages
976.406 B814B 2019


 

 

2. Conflict and Cooperation: Reflections on the New Deal in Texas
By Milton S. Jordan, George Cooper, editors
Collects essays illustrating the enduring positive effects of New Deal projects and programs in Texas. Considers the impact of New Deal programs on the visual arts and state parks, as well as on different demographic groups, such as women and African Americans.
Stephen F. Austin State University Press, 2019, 154 pages
976.4 J765C 2019


 

 

3. Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Victory that Changed American History
By Brian Kilmeade
Presents a concise, well-researched account of the Texas Revolution, offering insight into the individuals involved and the historical setting. Includes illustrations, maps, notes, and an extensive bibliography.
Sentinel, 2019, 272 pages
976.4 K558S 2019


 

 

4. Texas Ethics Laws: An Annotated Guide to Lobby and Campaign Finance Laws in Texas
By Andrew Cates
Provides text of the most frequently cited Texas campaign finance and lobby laws along with pertinent primary and secondary sources that illustrate the statutes' applications. Features cross-references to Texas Ethics Commission rules and summaries of numerous Ethics Commission Opinions. Includes relevant Attorney General opinions, case law, and practice notes.
Independently published, 2019, 520 pages
328.33 C283T 2019


 

 

5. Color Coded: Party Politics in the American West, 1950-2016
By Walter T.K. Nugent
Examines political party allegiance and voting trends for nineteen states in the American West between 1950 and 2016. Considers demographic, economic, and social change, as well as key personalities and issues that have shaped each state's political history. Discusses states with notable shifts, states that have remained reliably devoted to one party, and states that have not been consistently blue or red. Includes chapters on Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Oregon, and an appendix with election returns for the years and states discussed.
University of Oklahoma Press, 2018, 374 pages
324.2730978 N896C 2018


 

 

6. New, Renamed, and Abolished State Government Entities, 86th Legislature
By Texas Legislative Council
Highlights state government agencies, interagency panels, advisory committees, and other state governmental entities created, restructured, or eliminated by legislation enacted in the 86th Legislature. Provides information about each entity, including the bill number and specific bill sections that contain provisions pertaining to the entity, effective dates, powers and duties of the entity or whether certain functions were transferred to another entity, membership information, and Sunset or expiration dates.
Texas Legislative Council, 2019, 71 pages
Online at: https://tlc.texas.gov/docs/sessions/86GovEntities.pdf
L1400.8 N42 2019


 

 

7. Summary of Enactments: 86th Legislature
By Texas Legislative Council
Provides summaries of bills and joint resolutions passed by the Texas Legislature in 2019, arranged by subject. Includes bill number, author, sponsor, effective date, and governor's vetoes.
Texas Legislative Council, 2019, 354 pages
Online at: https://tlc.texas.gov/docs/sessions/86soe.pdf
L1400.7 AC27 2019

This entry was posted on December 17, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 1091 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of December 16, 2019

Dec 16

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 86th Session

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

For recent posts on Interim Hearings, see Interim Hearing Resources on the LRL homepage. The "Recent Entries" list on the left provides quick access to interim hearings posts from previous weeks.

 

December 20

House Committee on General Investigating

Topic: Consideration and action on the investigation into the circumstances, events, and allegations in connection with a June 12, 2019 meeting between Members of the House and representatives of a Texas nonprofit corporation

This entry was posted on December 16, 2019 at 10:50 AM and has received 855 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, December 12

Dec 12

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Research Resources

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

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

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

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

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

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