The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"Austin is the new Brooklyn." By Karen Weise. Bloomberg Businessweek, April 14-20, 2014, pp. 29-30
Discusses how midsize cities are growing as people leave large cities for better employment and more affordable housing, using Austin as an example. Explains that the booming growth has caused housing prices to skyrocket.

"EFH's dim future." By Nicholas Sakelaris. Dallas Business Journal, April 11-17, 2014, pp. 4-5
Reviews the troubled history of Energy Future Holdings (EFH) — the company that owns Luminant, Oncor, and TXU Energy. Considers the five most likely ways an EFH bankruptcy will affect the North Texas business world. Includes comments by Senator Troy Fraser.
Related information at:http://www.oncor.com/EN/D ...

"The world-class wow of 1." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, April 4-10, 2014, pp. 4-5
Examines which of three emerging research universities in North Texas will be the first to achieve Tier One status: University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington, or University of North Texas at Denton. Considers how a Tier One university will affect the Dallas-Fort Worth business community.

"Environmental politics: a run for his money." Economist, April 12th-18th, 2014, pp. 17-18
Profiles Tom Steyer, a San Francisco-based billionaire, who is investing millions in the NextGen Climate Action Committee to help elect politicians who share his dedication to environmental issues, such as global warming.

"Financial crises: the slumps that shaped modern finance." Economist, April 12th-18th, 2014, pp. 49-54
Highlights five historical crises that explain the origins of today's financial system and that offer lessons for today's regulators.

"Thorium reactors: Asgard's fire." Economist, April 12th-18th, 2014, pp. 78-79
Reports that several countries are investigating the idea of building reactors that run on the element thorium. Discusses thorium's advantages over uranium and plutonium. Notes that America discontinued its thorium research in the 1970s because the technology could not be used to make weapons.

"New state laws revive focus on child abuse." By Evie Blad. Education Week, April 2, 2014, pp. 1, 12
Details efforts of Erin Merry in support of legislation requiring the implementation of sexual abuse prevention programs in public schools. Reports 10 states have passed versions of Erin's Law while 26 others are considering similar legislation. Notes that Texas' sexual abuse prevention law (HB1041, 81st Legislature, R.S., also known as Jenna's Law) predates Merry's efforts.
Related information at:http://www.ncsl.org/resea ...

"Life support." By John Buntin. Governing, April 2014, pp. 38-44
Continues a special series on the rural/urban divide, focusing on issues facing rural hospitals.
See:http://www.governing.com/ ...

"ACA action steps for 2014." By Christopher S. Sears. Government Finance Review, April 2014, pp. 26-32
Details final regulations on employers' "shared responsibility obligations" under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the "employer penalty" or "pay-or-play provisions."

"Making sure you're really ready." By Charlie DeWitt. Government Finance Review, April 2014, pp. 42-46
Discusses the effect of the January 1, 2015, compliance deadline of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on state and local governments. Includes an "ACA Checklist" and other practical considerations for implementation, especially for the part-time workforce.

"Fill in the gap." By Maria Bustillos. Harper's Magazine, May 2014, pp. 5-7
Discusses the health insurance coverage gap under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in which an estimated five million adults earn too little for federal exchange subsidies but too much to qualify for Medicaid. Criticizes the level of medically uninsured in Texas and Governor Perry's rejection of Medicaid expansion funds. Quotes Representative John Zerwas on his proposed Medicaid legislation (HB3791, 83rd Legislature, R.S.).

"Alzheimer's disease legislation and policy, now and in the future." By David Hoffman. Health Affairs, April 2014, pp. 561-565
Examines state and federal efforts to develop policy, legislation, and coordinate care and research related to Alzheimer's disease.

"Unintended benefits: the potential economic impact of addressing risk factors to prevent Alzheimer's disease." By Pei-Jung Lin, et al. Health Affairs, April 2014, pp. 547-554
Examines the relationship between various preventable chronic conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia.

"Previous migration experience and legal immigration status among intending Mexican migrants to the United States." By Peter B. Brownell and Michael S. Rendall. Internet Resource, March 2014, pp. 1-20
Examines the size and composition of flows of Mexican migrants into the United States. Focuses on two characteristics relating to Social Security eligibility: legal immigration status and prior migration history.
See:http://www.mrrc.isr.umich ...

"Texas public school attrition study, 2012-2013." By Roy L. Johnson. Internet Resource, October 2013, pp. 1-27 (Note Length)
Reports on the annual longitudinal study by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Examines student attrition rates at the state and county levels in the categories of race/ethnicity and gender. Reports 33 percent of Hispanic students, 26 percent of Black students, and 14 percent of White students dropped out from Texas public schools in 2012-2013.
See:http://www.idra.org/image ...
Related information at:http://www.idra.org/Resea ...

"Power to the city." By Michelle Goldberg. Nation, April 21, 2014, pp. 12-14, 17-18
Illustrates how cities have become laboratories for "progressive policy innovation." Discusses cities' role in policies concerning living wage, economic development, income inequality, and social services. Mentions Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

"In Texas, conflict between mineral and water rights." By David Baay, et al. National Law Journal & Legal Times, April 7, 2014, pp. 12-13
Highlights a case before the Texas Supreme Court, FPL Farming Ltd. v. Environmental Processing Systems, that could affect how fracking operations dispose of their waste water.
Related information at:http://caselaw.findlaw.co ...

"University lobby push." By Andrew Ramonas. National Law Journal & Legal Times, April 7, 2014, pp. 1, 6
Reports several universities have hired lobbyists to voice their concerns on federal patent litigation reform legislation that would stop abusive practices by patent trolls. Notes that the universities' stance on patent reforms are at odds with those of major technology companies like Google and Oracle.
Related information at:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ ...
Related information at:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ ...

"California drought prompts water-saving practices." By Andy Seidel. Opflow, April 2014, pp. 10, 12-13
Discusses how one San Diego water reclamation plant has used public education and new local water sources to ease customers through several droughts, including the current one. Notes conservation and reclamation of wastewater are crucial to keeping potable water available for their customers.

"The economic forecast for Texas metropolitan areas." Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2014, pp. 1-3, 6-7
Provides the latest Texas outlook for the state's metropolitan statistical areas during the 2013-2018 period. Expects Texas cities to outperform most parts of the United States.

"Contesting the U.S. Constitution through state amendments: the 2011 and 2012 elections." By Sean Beienburg. Political Science Quarterly, Spring 2014, pp. 55-85 (Note Length)
Argues that state constitutions play an increasingly central role in national debates about the United States Constitution. Examines state constitutional amendments from the 2011-2012 election cycles on issues of abortion, race and voting, guns, gay marriage, eminent domain, health care, church and state, campaign finance, and marijuana. Mentions Fisher v. University of Texas and the voter identification case, Texas v. Holder.

"A drop in the bucket." By Todd Haggerty and Jonathan Griffin. State Legislatures, April 2014, pp. 22-23, 25
Examines the similarities and differences of states' rainy day funds. Reports states have used these funds during the last two recessions to cover some of the gaps in state budgets. Notes the variations among states of the minimum amount that must remain in the funds so they are not depleted.

"World's worst game of telephone." By Amy Hardberger. Texas Environmental Law Journal, Summer 2013, pp. 257-303 (Note Length)
Explores the convoluted history of water rights in Texas. Examines legislative initiatives and court cases that have influenced the regulation of groundwater. Focuses on the Texas Supreme Court's decision in Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day, which addressed groundwater ownership rights.
Related information at:http://www.lrl.state.tx.u ...

"Investigation into Hidalgo County voting machines." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, April 7, 2014, p. 6
Reports that a 430th District Court grand jury has authorized grand jury funds to pay for an expert and for the investigation of voting machines used in the Hidalgo County Democratic primary. Notes that separate civil election contests by primary candidates are progressing through the county's district courts.

"The drug threat in plain sight." By Eliza Gray. Time, April 21, 2014, pp. 24-31
Discusses the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids whose popularity among teenagers has increased significantly because they are inexpensive, are not detected by commonly used drug tests, and can be openly and easily bought in stores. Argues the traditional process for declaring drugs illegal is not keeping pace with the speed in which manufacturers can tweak the formulas of the synthetic drugs to make them legal. Discusses the arrival of synthetic pot in Amarillo and the devastation it caused one family.