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.

"The principal." By Peg Tyre. Christian Science Monitor, September 28, 2015, pp. 28-32
Profiles Krystal Hardy and her first year as principal of a New Orleans elementary school to demonstrate the current role for principals which include more classroom involvement, specific guidance to improve classroom instruction, and academic achievement.

"Colleges consider outsourcing in a new area: building management." By Colleen Murphy. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 18, 2015, p. A12
Suggests the outsourcing of building maintenance may be the next campus service to be widely privatized. Highlights the Texas A&M University hiring of Compass Group USA to handle building management tasks at a projected savings of $363 million during a 10-year deal.

"How one state reduced in-state tuition for undergrads." By Sarah Brown. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 18, 2015, p. A16
Highlights a recently passed Washington State law that provides a reduction for state residents' college tuition over the next two years. Explains that every campus will see a five percent cut this year and an additional 10-15 percent cut next year and that beginning in 2017, tuition will be tied to the median family income. Concludes that keeping the plan in place may prove difficult due to economic ups and downs and the fact that the state had to find $200 million for colleges to make up for lost tuition revenue.
Related information at:http://lawfilesext.leg.wa ...

"When a degree is just the beginning." By Goldie Blumenstyk. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 18, 2015, pp. B4-B7
Explores the explosion of credentials in higher education and suggests the college degree is the "minimum ticket to ride" but the credentials are the validation of specific competencies that offer assurances to employers about student's abilities. Discusses the Lumina Foundation's campaign to make greater sense of the highly fragmented credentialing landscape and to bring evolving practices and policies into focus.

"Americans United joins lawsuit challenging broad Nevada voucher program." Church & State, October 2015, pp. 15-16
Highlights lawsuit challenging Nevada's voucher program, signed into law in June. Explains the Education Savings Account Program's funding scheme violates provisions in the state constitution that prohibit the use of public funds for any sectarian purpose and that requires the state legislature to provide a uniform system of common schools.
Related information at:https://www.au.org/files/ ...
Related information at:https://www.leg.state.nv. ...

"Ten myths about the Ten Commandments." By Rob Boston. Church & State, October 2015, pp. 6-8
Examines the role of the Ten Commandments in the development of the American system of government.

"Asian-Americans: the model minority is losing patience." Economist, October 3rd-9th, 2015, pp. 23-25
Reports several Asian-American organizations and students have filed complaints with the United States Department of Education against Harvard and nine other universities alleging racial discrimination and use of racial quotas in the college admissions process. Explains Asian-Americans are becoming more assertively political, noting that a California bill proposing to rescind the state's ban on using race in university admissions was dropped in 2014 due to opposition by several Asian-American organizations.

"Lethal injection: cruel and increasingly unusual." Economist, October 3rd-9th, 2015, pp. 27-28
Explains dwindling supplies, risks of faulty techniques, and on-off execution dates are discrediting the practice of execution by lethal injection. Mentions that should lethal injection become impractical, more states may give up executions, since public opinion is less favorable towards electrocution, gassing, and firing squads.

"High quality child care is out of reach for working families." By Elise Gould and Tanyell Cooke. EPI Issue Brief, October 6, 2015, pp. 1-13
Examines the affordability of child care across the country to determine how child care costs differ by location and family composition. Compares child care costs to state minimum wages and public college tuition. Notes that in 33 states and the District of Columbia, infant care costs exceed the average cost of in-state college tuition at public four-year institutions.
See:http://www.epi.org/files/ ...

"How Blue Bell blew it." By Peter Elkind. Fortune, October 1, 2015, pp. 122, 124, 126
Discusses the Blue Bell mass recall of all of the company's products and the shutdown of the ice cream maker in April of this year due to listeria contamination.

"Effects of mass incarceration on communities of color." By Robert D. Crutchfield and Gregory A. Weeks. Issues in Science and Technology, Fall 2015, pp. 46-51
Discusses how communities of color are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration.

"Reducing incarceration rates when science meets political realities." By Tony Fabelo and Michael Thompson. Issues in Science and Technology, Fall 2015, pp. 35-42
Examines studies by the Council of State Governments Justice Center conducted in Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan relating to the effects of corrections and public safety policies on state prison populations.

"Unwinding mass incarceration." By Stefan F. Lobuglio and Anne Morrison Piehl. Issues in Science and Technology, Fall 2015, pp. 56-61
Advocates for assistance programs for reintegrating those who have been incarcerated back into society. Explains that mass incarceration cannot be alleviated by mass commutations and early release programs alone.

"Vital signs: improvements in maternity care policies and practices that support breastfeeding — United States, 2007–2013." By Cria G. Perrine, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), October 6, 2015, pp. 1-6
Discusses maternity care policies and practices that are supportive of breastfeeding, and the influence these policies and practices have on successful breastfeeding for new mothers.
See:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/p ...

"Indigent defense system needs greater independence from judiciary." By E.G. "Gerry" Morris. National Law Journal, September 21, 2015, p. 23
Discusses report that points out deficiencies in the federal indigent defense system. Explains that because the federal defender system is housed in the judicial branch, judicial officers are making decisions about the selection, funding, and payment of defense counsel. Calls for a reevaluation of the place of the defense function in the federal criminal justice system.
Report at: http://www.nacdl.org/fede ...

"The cop in the stop." By Jack Dunphy. National Review, October 5, 2015, pp. 20-21
Suggests traffic stops can be one of the most dangerous activities for police officers and highlights the three types of stops: routine, redirected, and pretext. Explains the United States Supreme Court has ruled in Maryland v. Wilson and other cases, that an officer has discretion over directing a driver and passenger to exit or remain in the car. Recommends motorists should save their arguments for court and not argue on the side of the road.
Related information at:https://www.law.cornell.e ...

"Cigarette taxes and smoking." By Kevin Callison and Robert Kaestner. Regulation (CATO Institute), Winter 2014-2015, pp. 42-46
Questions whether higher cigarette taxes yield a public benefit. Finds that cigarette tax increases are not a cost effective way to improve public health and represent a "non-trivial" burden on low-income families' budgets.
See:http://object.cato.org/si ...

"Mandatory food labeling for GMOs." By Thomas A. Hemphill and Syagnik Banerjee. Regulation (CATO Institute), Winter 2014-2015, pp. 7-10
Discusses safety concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and examines the pros and cons of mandatory GMO retail food labeling. Mentions proposed federal legislation that would preempt state or local government requirements concerning GMO food labeling.
See:http://object.cato.org/si ...
Related information at:https://www.congress.gov/ ...

"In Wisconsin, an early clash over fetal tissue." By Kelly Servick. Science, September 18, 2015, pp. 1267-1268
Discusses proposed legislation in Wisconsin that would make conducting research using tissue or cells from recently aborted fetuses a felony.

"Birds of a feather." By Suzanne Weiss. State Legislatures, October/November 2015, pp. 24-27
Discusses how legislative caucuses can bring together lawmakers from opposite ends of the spectrum to accomplish shared agendas. Highlights the Young Texans Legislative Caucus and quotes Texas Representative Eric Johnson, a cofounder of the caucus. Includes caucuses from other states and their shared legislative goals.

"On the road again." By Kevin Pula. State Legislatures, October/November 2015, pp. 20-21
Discusses how states are funding their transportation needs as Congressional funding of states' transportation and water infrastructures is uncertain. Mentions Texas proposed constitutional amendment to divert general revenue funds to transportation.

"Preschool is for real." By Julie Poppe and Robyn Lipkowitz. State Legislatures, October/November 2015, pp. 14-19
Reports funding is up for early childhood education as well as enrollment in programs. Highlights states that offer preschool and notes Texas school districts are required to meet certain quality requirements including certified teachers and to use state approved curricula before receiving new grant money.

"Amid court fights, some states consider redistricting commissions." By Rebecca Beitsch. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), September 23, 2015, pp. 1-7
Discusses recent movements to take away state legislators’ power to draw redistricting maps and placing it in the hands of commissioners. Reports 23 states have some type of commission involved in redistricting but they vary greatly in their composition and power. Compares differences of these commissions and comments on whether legislators or commissions draw better maps. Includes United States maps identifying who draws the Legislative and Congressional boundaries in each state.
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Should Medicaid recipients have to work?" By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), September 30, 2015, pp. 1-4
Reports Arizona is considering imposing work requirements and a five-year limit to Medicaid eligibility requirements. Notes that while the federal government has signed off on some states' proposals, it has rejected work requirements and has never allowed lifetime limits on eligibility.
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Poor judgment." By Emily DePrang. Texas Observer, October 2015, pp. 11-17
Examines how Judge Bill Harmon of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 applies the requirements of the Texas Fair Defense Act of 2001 in his courtroom. Explains the Act was passed to insure all indigent defendants had access to an attorney and it left the responsibility of meeting the Act's requirements to the counties. Points out most counties leave the responsibility to the individual courtrooms, so the judges decide which defendants get appointed lawyers, which lawyers will get indigent appointments and the number of cases each attorney will be assigned. Quotes Senator Rodney Ellis, author of the bill.