Legislative Reference Library

Current Articles list for December 11, 2014

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.

"Coming to America." By Del Stover. American School Board Journal, December 2014, pp. 14-19
Reports many schools in the United States have faced the challenges of serving immigrant students for decades. Discusses the recent influx of immigrant children from Central America and how it differs from previous migrations. Details how school districts handle immigrant students, noting certain schools, for a variety of reasons, are better prepared than others.

"How strict is too strict?" By Sarah Carr. Atlantic Monthly, December 2014, pp. 83-87
Examines the consequences of the no excuses discipline used in several New Orleans charter schools founded after Hurricane Katrina. Points out low-income parents, worried about their children's future, support the strict discipline procedures because of the structure provided for their children.

"Yellow, but ready to fight." By Chad Swiatecki. Austin Business Journal, November 28, 2014, pp. 4-5
Reports on the Austin taxi industry's "battle strategy" to push back against new transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft.

"Many people who auto-enroll in federal marketplace health coverage for 2015 could pay more than they should." By January Angeles. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, November 21, 2014, pp. 1-7
Examines the possibility of health care costs increasing due to auto-enrollment in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. Points out that subsidies received for 2014 will remain at the same dollar level in 2015 and that consumers should receive an updated eligibility determination.
See:http://www.cbpp.org/files ...


"Humane being. " By Fabien Tepper. Christian Science Monitor, December 8, 2014, pp. 26, 28-32
Considers the responses of the food production industry to consumers' demands for more humane treatment of animals raised for food. Explains why change has been slow but steady. Includes sidebar article on the global effort to raise standards.

"Where the death penalty stays strong." By Patrik Jonsson. Christian Science Monitor, December 8, 2014, pp. 21-23
Examines use of the death penalty in Duval County, Florida, a county where more than half of the nation's death penalty sentences are issued. Explains that, while the United States is gradually turning away from the death penalty, Duval County is not expected to change quickly due to its Southern honor codes and a penchant for violence, according to experts. Includes sidebar article exploring the trend toward fewer executions in 2014.

"Boom in certificates, but study says they don't lead to jobs." By Katherine Mangan. Chronicle of Higher Education, November 14, 2014, p. A20
Presents findings from a study of short-term community-college certificates. Suggests these may not help recipients land jobs or earn more money. Presents proponents' view of certificates as building blocks toward associate or bachelor's degrees.

"Rick Perry's no-frills airline." Economist, December 6th-12th, 2014, p. 36
Discusses Governor Rick Perry's preparations for a possible second presidential campaign in 2016 and his definition of the "Texas miracle."

"Sex crimes on campus: professors as judges." Economist, December 6th-12th, 2014, pp. 32, 34
Questions whether professors, administrators, and students should adjudicate complaints of sexual misconduct and other serious crimes on college campuses.

"Veterans, what next?" Economist, December 6th-12th, 2014, pp. 29-30
Reports that almost half of new federal government employees are military veterans. Notes that younger veterans are now more likely to be unemployed due to traumatic brain or physical injuries sustained in combat, tripling the cost of disability benefits for veterans.

"Grid-scale energy storage: smooth operators." Economist Technology Quarterly, December 6th, 2014, pp. 14-16
Reports on developments in grid-scale battery technology that could enable renewables such as wind and solar to compete on cost alone without subsidization by gas-fired or coal-fired plants.

"Building healthy communities: establishing health and wellness metrics for use within the real estate industry." By Matthew J. Trowbridge, et al. Health Affairs, November 2014, pp. 1923-1929
Discusses how the real estate industry can play a role in the development of healthy communities. Examines how the industry can partner with the health care and public health sectors to address environmental determinants of health issues, such as daily physical activity, traffic accidents, and violent crime.

"A new era for educational assessment: executive summary." By David T. Conley. Internet Resource, October 2014, pp. 1-5
Argues that educational assessment should shift from an overreliance on standardized tests to one using multiple measures that provide deeper and more useful information regarding students' college and career readiness.
Report at: http://www.jff.org/sites/ ...
See:http://www.jff.org/sites/ ...


"Best practices for obtaining and evaluating credits and incentives." By Geoffrey J. Troan and Janette M. Lohman. Journal of MultiState Taxation and Incentives, November/December 2014, pp. 6-21, 46-48
Examines tax, financial, and economic development incentives from the business perspective. Discusses the negotiation process and legal structures of incentives.

"Cannabis, conservatively." By Mark A. R. Kleiman. National Review, December 8, 2014, pp. 28-30
Suggests there should be a middle ground approach between the cannabis trade being punished as a felony and its full commercialization. Reviews recently passed laws and likely proposals for future legislation.

"Suffer the little children: an assessment of the economic cost of child maltreatment." Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 31, No. 9, 2014, pp. 1-3, 6-7
Quantifies the economic aspects of child maltreatment to inform the policy process. Offers an economic rationale for the investment of public and private resources to reduce the prevalence of child abuse and to minimize its long-term consequences.

"Oilfield recycling in Texas." By Austin C. Whitmore. Texas Environmental Law Journal, September 2014, pp. 287-305
Discusses recycling waste materials generated in Texas oilfields into usable raw materials. Points out that, not only is recycling oilfield waste an environmental concern, but an important economic concern as well.

"Bills would outlaw a grand jury selection method." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, December 1, 2014, p. 8
Highlights two prefiled bills relating to the key man system used to pick grand juries, HB282 and SB135, 84th Legislature. Includes comments by the bills' authors, Representative Harold Dutton and Senator John Whitmire.

"Recommendations for state administrative law agency." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, December 1, 2014, p. 9
Summarizes the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations for the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings, scheduled for Sunset review during the upcoming 84th legislative session.
Report at: https://www.sunset.texas. ...


"Know the requirements." By Rachel Dedman. Texas Lone Star (Texas Association of School Boards), December 2014, pp. 22-24
Reviews school employee training legislation enacted by the 83rd Legislature. Notes the majority of the training-related bills address the treatment and well-being of students.

"Equal justice for all." By Kara Nuzback. Texas Medicine, December 2014, pp. 43-46
Examines the implications of the Texas Supreme Court decision in Tenet Hospitals Limited v. Elizabeth Rivera, which upheld part of the Tort Reform Act of 2003 that prevents patients from filing medical liability lawsuits more than ten years after an injury.
Related information at:http://www.search.txcourt ...


"Home sweet medical home." By Amy Lynn Sorrel. Texas Medicine, November 2014, pp. 26-33
Explores the challenges and benefits of patient-centered medical homes.

"On a charitable mission." By Kara Nuzback. Texas Medicine, December 2014, pp. 16-20
Discusses how physicians and health care workers volunteered to care for the influx of undocumented immigrants at the border with Mexico. Explains that undocumented immigrants coming from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador suffered mostly from fatigue and hunger but there were not the large-scale infectious disease outbreaks that some feared.

"Waters of the United States." By Andrew Biar. Texas Wildlife, December 2014, p. 16
Discusses the proposed joint rule issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to clarify the definition of "waters of the United States" in the Clean Water Act. Expresses concerns of private property owners regarding potential expansion of federal jurisdiction.
Related information at:http://www2.epa.gov/uswat ...


"Dangerous cases." By Haley Sweetland Edwards. Time, December 1-8, 2014, pp. 56-59
Considers the controversial question of compelling adults with serious mental illness to receive involuntary psychiatric treatment. Presents the pros and cons of involuntary commitment.

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