In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.
- Find resources related to homeowners' associations law. (Library of Congress, December 7, 2017)
- Consider issues related to face scanning in airports. (Georgetown Law, Center on Privacy & Technology, December 21, 2017)
- Examine graduation rates by state. (Education Week, December 7, 2017)
- Explore the Congressional Record from its first issue forward. (U.S. Government Publishing Office, January 3, 2018)
Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.
- "No way out." By Barbara Bradley Hagerty. Atlantic Monthly, January/February 2018, pp. 54-66.
Profiles the case of Benjamine Spencer, sentenced to life for the 1987 Dallas murder of Jeffrey Young. Examines the work of Jim McCloskey and Centurion Ministries in trying to prove Spencer's innocence.
See: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/01/no-way-out/546575/ - "Shale oil." By Alex Nussbaum and David Wethe. Bloomberg Businessweek, January 8, 2018, p. 72.
Discusses the future of shale oil producers, particularly those in the Permian Basin. Details anxiety in the oil market regarding the shale oil industry's sustainability. - "Insecure ballots." By Warren Richey. Christian Science Monitor, December 11, 2017, pp. 26-32.
Presents the findings of a Christian Science Monitor study of the vulnerabilities of the American election system. - "It's open season." By Dean DeChiaro. CQ Weekly, December 4, 2017, pp. 30-33.
Discusses changes in immigration policy under the Trump administration — specifically, the removal of prosecutorial discretion when enforcing immigration law. Highlights the case of an undocumented girl with cerebral palsy who was arrested and detained in Texas after seeking medical help. - "Business and society: America Inc gets woke." Economist, December 2nd-8th, 2017, pp. 53-55.
Reports reactions to the Trump administration are reinforcing a longer-term trend for former apolitical businesses to make their voices heard on social issues. - "Older Americans were sicker and faced more financial barriers to health care than counterparts in other countries." By Robin Osborn, et al. Health Affairs, December 2017, pp. 2123-2132.
Surveys elderly adults across eleven countries and finds that seniors in the United States were sicker than their counterparts in other countries and faced more financial barriers to health care. - The promises and pitfalls of treating addiction." By Jessica L. Gregg. Health Affairs, December 2017, pp. 2204-2206.
Relates an addiction medicine physician's personal experience treating opioid addiction. Notes that addressing the epidemic will require involvement from primary care providers, not just specialized treatment facilities. - "Houston area law enforcement leaders favor drug policy reform." Internet Resource, 12/08/2017, pp. 1-8.
Offers informed perspectives on the detrimental effects of the war on drugs as well as a rationale for a new approach to dealing with nonviolent drug offenders. Includes excerpts from interviews with Sylvester Turner, Rodney Ellis, Art Acevedo, and others.
See: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/research-document/ee3d9e84/bi-brief-120817-drug-policyreform.pdf - "Texas ranks higher in oil and gas allure." Oil and Gas Journal, December 4, 2017, pp. 34-35.
Reports that, according to the Fraser Institute of Canada's annual Global Petroleum Survey, Texas holds the top rank as the "most attractive jurisdiction globally for oil and gas investment."
Report at: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/global-petroleum-survey-2017.pdf - "Public health: lead in drinking water: past, present, and future." By Caroline Russell, Philip Brandhuber, and Darren Lytle. Opflow, December 2017, pp. 10-15.
Explores the regulation and use of lead in plumbing materials. - "The end of free speech." By Katherine Mangu-Ward. Reason, January 2018, pp. 18-26.
Argues that both the right and the left are willing to abridge free speech rights in the "service of partisan goals." Highlights recent events such as NFL player protests and Charlottesville rallies. - "Not so fast." By Jeffrey Mervis. Science, December 15, 2017, pp. 1370-1374.
Discusses autonomous vehicles and whether they will be a realistic transportation option in the near future. - "On record: Dan Patrick, Texas Lieutenant Governor, author." By Gene Rose. State Legislatures, January 2018, pp. 24-25.
Interviews Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick about Hurricane Harvey and ongoing recovery efforts. - "Top 10 in 2018." By Julie Lays. State Legislatures, January 2018, pp. 10-13.
Highlights the biggest issues that will have a wide impact and presence in almost every state legislature in 2018. - "Courthouse security." By Julie Anderson. Texas County Progress, December 2017, pp. 12-14.
Recounts two high-profile shootings that took place in Texas county courthouses and led the Texas Legislature to enact SB42, 85th Legislature, R.S. - "Closing the gap." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, December 2017, pp. 22-28.
Discusses the value and importance of SB507, 85th Legislature, R.S., which will greatly expand mediation for out-of-network medical bills. Notes additional measures that would help eliminate balance billing.
See: https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=46160 - "Difficult situations." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, December 2017, pp. 37-42.
Examines the Texas Advance Directives Act that was challenged in court in summer 2017. Explores the challenge of reconciling the wishes of a patient or the patient's health care decider with the ethical duties of a physician.
See: https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=46157 - "Bordering on an outbreak." By Sophie Novak. Texas Observer, December 2017, pp. 12-16.
Details Brownsville's battle with the Zika virus. Considers how the South Texas climate and the international border pose challenges to the efforts to address Zika outbreaks. - "The silence breakers." By Edward Felsenthal, et al. Time, December 18, 2017, pp. 30-56, 58-62, 64, 66-68, 70-71 (Note Length).
Presents Time Magazine's Person of the Year — the Silence Breakers — the people who have launched a "revolution of refusal" by speaking publicly about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault.
See: http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/
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.
