By Megan McClure

The Legislative Research Librarians and NCSL announce the winners of the 2018 Notable Document Award winners!

Each year the Legislative Research Librarians (LRL) professional staff association sponsors the competition for outstanding state and legislative documents.

The purpose of the award is to formally recognize excellence in documents or publications that explore topics of interest to legislators and legislative staff, present substantive material in an outstanding format and advertise the extensive range of information available to legislators and staff.

This year’s selection committee was composed of, Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Eric Glover, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elaine Settergren, Minnesota and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.  Twelve documents, in 7 categories, from 12 states were chosen out of 80 total submissions from across the nation.

All documents submitted were evaluated using set criteria; such as, significantly contributes to knowledge of concern to legislators, is innovative in presentation of material, attempts to provide balance and perspective from various sides in the political spectrum, etc.

The 2018 Notable Documents covered topics ranging from The Opioid Epidemic in Nebraska, California’s Tax System, Tribal Nations in Montana and much, much more. The winners will be awarded their certificates and recognized during the NDA Award Ceremony and LRL business meeting, Monday, July. 30 at 3:00 p.m. during the NCSL Legislative Summit in Los Angeles, Calif. Please join NCSL in congratulating this year’s winners!

2018 Notable Document Awards

Education

• Meeting Current Standards for School Nurses Statewide May Cost Up to $79 Million Annually – North Carolina Assembly Performance Evaluation Division
• Overview of Achievement Gaps in Kentucky Schools – Kentucky Legislative Research Commission Office of Education Accountability
• The State of Education for Latino Students in Ohio – Ohio Latino Affairs Commission

Intergovernmental Relations

• Tribal Nations in Montana: A Handbook for Legislators – Montana Legislative Services Division and Margery Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic

Legislator’s Guide

• California’s Tax System: A Visual Guide – California Legislative Analyst’s Office
• Evaluating How to Cut Minnesota’s Business Taxes: A Primer – Minnesota House Research Department
• Senate Day Calendar 2018 – Alaska Senate Secretary’s Office

Public Health

• The Opioid Epidemic: Nebraska’s Response to a National Crisis – Nebraska Legislative Research Office
• Opioid Use Disorder – Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment – Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, Performance Audit Division

Seniors Policy

• Residential Care – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

Transportation

• Minnesota Tolling Study Report: Modern Tolling Practices and Policy Considerations – Minnesota Department of Transportation

Youth Policy

• Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs, Sixth Edition (Senate Document No. 6., 2017) – Virginia Commission on Youth
• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Performance Measures and Population Estimates – Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee