LRL Notable Documents Awards

Any state or legislative document published in the last two years is eligible. Submissions are generally made through each state’s legislative librarian but can be made by other interested persons. Submissions are considered based on the criteria listed below. The document:

• Clearly and prominently displays title, author, publisher, and date. 
• Contains a title that reflects actual content. 
• Appears relevant to identifiable readership. 
• Significantly contributes to knowledge of concern to legislators. 
• Is innovative in presentation of material. 
• Contains strong bibliographic/footnote entries. 
• Presents information accurately and clearly in an organized fashion. 
• Offers graphics that are readily grasped. 
• It was published within the last two years. 
• Compares state activities in an area of contemporary legislative interest in a comprehensible manner. 
• Expands understanding of government processes, functions, or relationships. 
• Attempts to provide balance and perspective from various sides in the political spectrum. 

Using a scorecard, committee members evaluate each document on specific criteria, including relevance, organization, clarity, effective use of graphics, innovation, balance, and expansion of the base of knowledge on a particular subject.

Winners are selected from the highest rated documents. Certificates and bragging rights are awarded to authors of the winning documents during the NCSL Legislative Summit.

There is no limit to the number of documents that can be nominated. For purposes of this award, a document is defined as one produced by a federal, state, or local government or legislative agency, by a foundation, or quasi-public or private sector nonprofit organization. Formats may include print, web, CD-ROM, or periodical/serial.

For more information about the LRL Notable Documents Awards, please contact lrl-info@ncsl.org.

2023 Notable Document Award Recipients 

Awarded by the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Research Librarians Professional Staff Association. 

Children  

• For Our Future: South Carolina’s Birth Through Five Plan 2022-2027 – South Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council 

Education 

• Credit Recovery in Kentucky: Advantages and Drawbacks – Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Office of Education Accountability 
• Teacher Recruitment, Recovery, and Retention Task Force Final Report – Louisiana Teacher Recruitment, Recovery, and Retention Task Force 
• The School Bus Driver Shortage in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission  

Elections 

• A Performance Audit of Utah’s Election System and Controls – Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General  

Environmental Issues 

• Colorado Water Handbook 2023 – Colorado Legislative Council Staff 
• 2022 Recycling Market Development Council: Report to the Governor and Legislature – New Jersey Recycling Market Development Council 

Intergovernmental Relations 

• American Indians, Indian Tribes, and State Government – Minnesota House Research Department 

Public Health  

• Postsecondary Healthcare Education Shortage in Oregon – Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission 

Social Services 

• Sustainability of Idaho’s Direct Care Workforce – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations 
• Louisiana Perinatal Mental Health Task Force: Policy Brief – Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Perinatal Mental Health Task Force 
• New Jersey Caregiver Task Force Report 2022 – New Jersey Caregiver Task Force 

Public Safety 

• Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force: Final Report – Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs, Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force  

Youth Policy 

• Homeless and Foster Youth Services – Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability  

Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Laura Bell, Minnesota; Jenna Steward, Louisiana; and Stephanie Heyroth Wilcox, Nevada. June 26, 2023 

2022

Communications

• Governor's Task Force on Broadband Final Report – State of Alaska, Governor's Task Force on Broadband

Education

• Arizona School District Spending Analysis – Fiscal Year 2021 – Arizona Auditor General, Division of School Audits

Environmental Protection

• Louisiana Climate Action Plan – Governor's Climate Initiatives Task Force

Increased Public Access

• Journals of the First Legislature of the State of Maine 1820 – Maine State Legislature's Law and Legislative Reference Library and the Maine State Archives
• Public Documents Accessibility Project (including the Official Code of West Virginia 1931, Enrolled Bills, and Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia) – West Virginia Legislature's Joint Committee on Government and Finance

Innovative Presentation

• Budget Universe – Washington State Senate Committee Services

Performance Evaluation

• Board of Cosmetology Licensing – Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor
• The State of Louisiana’s Role in Animal Welfare and Control Activities – Louisiana Legislative Auditor

Public Safety

• Advisory Report: Oregon Can Do More to Mitigate the Alarming Risk of Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremist Attacks – Oregon Secretary of State, Audits Division
• Volunteer Providers of Emergency Medical Services – Idaho Legislature, Office of Performance Evaluations

Social Services

• Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Annual Report for 2021 – New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
• Village Research & How-To Guide – Portland State University Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative

Transportation

• Are Electric Vehicles Driving the Future of Transportation? A Legislative Research Office Backgrounder – Nebraska Legislative Research Office
• Statewide Pedestrian System Plan: A Framework to Create Safe, Convenient and Desirable Walking for All – Minnesota Department of Transportation

Youth Policy

• An Anti-Bias Vision for the Next Generation – New Jersey Interagency Task Force to Combat Youth Bias

Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Laura Bell, Minnesota; Jenna Steward, Louisiana; and Stephanie Heyroth Wilcox, Nevada. June 30, 2022

2021

Communications

• Delivery of Broadband Services in Unserved and Underserved Areas of the Commonwealth – Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission

Corrections

• Louisiana Women’s Incarceration Task Force: Final Report and Recommendations – Louisiana Women’s Incarceration Task Force
• Study Dashboard: Study of the South Carolina Department of Corrections – South Carolina House of Representatives Legislative Oversight Committee

Environmental Protection

• 2020 New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Pollinator Health – Wisconsin Legislative Council

Labor and Employment

• Report of the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics – Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics
• Challenges with Telework During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Executive Branch Agencies – Louisiana Legislative Auditor

Public Health

• Food Insecurity: A Legislative Research Office FAQ – Nebraska Legislative Research Office
• We Definitely Struggle … The Worry Is Always There. Improving the Health of People Living in Deep Poverty – Minnesota Department of Human Services

Public Safety

• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force
• Municipal Police In-Service Training: Funding and Cooperation Across the Commonwealth – Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor

2021 Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.

2020

Agriculture

• Emerging Farmers in Minnesota: Legislative Report – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Oregon Wasted Food Study – Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Portland State University

Discrimination

• Addressing Discrimination Against Transgender New Jerseyans – New Jersey Transgender Equality Task Force

Education

• Homeschooling In Kentucky – Legislative Research Commission, Office of Education Accountability
• Teacher Shortages And Supports For New Teachers – Legislative Research Commission, Office of Education Accountability

Innovative Study

• Food Trucks: An LRO Backgrounder – Nebraska Legislative Research Office

Labor and Employment

• Comptroller Survey Concerning Wages of Direct Support Professionals – Tennessee Comptroller's Office of Research and Education Accountability
• Employment and Community Inclusion Services for People with Developmental Disabilities – Washington State Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee

Public Health

• Report of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices – Minnesota Attorney General's Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices
• Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Prescriber Discipline in Tennessee – Tennessee Comptroller's Office of Research and Education Accountability

Public Records

• Final report of Ginger McCall, Oregon Public Records Advocate – Oregon Office of the Public Records Advocate

Transportation

• Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation in Minnesota – Minnesota Department of Transportation

2020 Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elaine Settergren, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.

Agriculture

• The Farm Bill: From Past to Present – Nebraska Legislative Research Office

Education

• Students in Tennessee Instructed by Consecutive Ineffective Teachers – Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research and Education Accountability
• Textbooks and Instructional Materials – Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Office of Education Accountability

Elections

• Status of Election Security in Kansas – Kansas Legislative Research Department

Fiscal Matters

• Impact of State Mandates on County Governments – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Minnesota’s Volkswagen Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation Plan – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Historical and Cultural Resources

• Bridging the Mighty Red: Red River Crossings Between Oklahoma and Texas – Oklahoma Department of Transportation in collaboration with Mead & Hunt
• Michigan Legislative Biography Database – Library of Michigan

Legislator and Staff Guide

• Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual – Delaware Legislative Council, Division of Research

Public Health

• Finding our Balance: Washington State Action Plan for Older Adult Falls Prevention – Washington State Department of Health
• Firearm Fatality and Suicide Prevention: A Public Health Approach – Washington State Department of Health

Public Policy

• Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State – New York State Department of Health
• Do Criminal Laws Deter Crime? Deterrence Theory in Criminal Justice Policy: A Primer – Minnesota House Research Department

Special Investigation

• Special Report: Sex Week at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville – Tennessee Comptroller, Office of Research and Education Accountability

2019 Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Eric Glover, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.

2018

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

2018 Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Eric Glover, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elaine Settergren, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.

2017

Economy

• Business Ready Community Program – Wyoming Legislative Service Office
• Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities – Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
• History, Public Policy, and the Geography of Poverty: Understanding Challenges Facing Baltimore City and Maryland – Maryland Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis

Education

• Allotment-Specific and System-Level Issues Adversely Affect North Carolina’s Distribution of K-12 Resources – North Carolina General Assembly, Program Evaluation Division
• Arizona School District Spending: Fiscal Year 2016 – Arizona Office of the Auditor General
• Distribution of State Funds for K-12 Public Education – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Recess and Physical Education (K-5) – Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

Intergovernmental Relations

• State Jurisdiction in Indian Country – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

Legislatures

• Report of the Legislative Salary Council – Minnesota Legislative Salary Council

Public Health

• Opioids: Preventing and Addressing Prescription Drug Abuse – Office of Minnesota Attorney General
• Prescription Drug Costs: Maximizing State Agency Purchasing Power – New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee
• Student Mental Health Services Inventory – State of Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee

State Comparison

• Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Laws in Other States – Kansas Legislative Research Department

2017 Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Sabah Eltareb, California; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.

2016

Historical and Cultural Resources

• Crossing the Bayou: Louisiana's Historic Bridges – Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
• Minnesota State Capitol: Overview of the Fine Art – Minnesota Historical Society

History of Legislation

• United States Constitutional Amendments: Minnesota's Legislative History – Minnesota House Research Department
• United States Constitutional Amendment Process: Legal Principles for State Legislatures – Minnesota House Research Department

Legislatures

• Demographic Profiles of Nevada Senate and Assembly Districts of the 78th Session (2015) – Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau Research Division
• Officers of the Senate of Virginia 1776-2016 – Virginia Senate Clerk's Office

Legislatively Mandated

• Flame Retardants and Firefighter Exposure and Health – Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Surveillance and Assessment Section
• A Legislated Study of Raising the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction in Louisiana: the Future of Juvenile Jurisdiction in Louisiana. In Response to Concurrent Resolution 73 (2015) – The Institute for Public Health and Justice at the Louisiana State University's Health Science Center

Legislator's Guide

• 2015 North Dakota Finance Facts – North Dakota Legislative Council

Performance Evaluation

• Risk of Bias in Administrative Hearings – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

Public Policy--Education

• The Every Student Succeeds Act ("The ESSA Collection") – Tennessee Offices of Research and Education Accountability and Comptroller of the Treasury

Public Policy--Health

• Unfunded Actuarial Liability for Retiree Health is Large, but State Could Save Up to $64 Million Annually by Shifting Costs to Medicare Advantage Plans – North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division

2016 Notable Document Awards Committee: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Sabah Eltarab, California; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; and Carol Blackburn, Minnesota.

2015

Constitution

• Piecemeal Amendment to the Constitution of New Mexico 1911-2014 – New Mexico Legislative Council Service

History of Legislation

• Texas Penal Code Revision Research Guide – Legislative Reference Library of Texas

Innovative Presentation

• Economic Impact of Public Natural Resource Lands – State of Washington, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
• Interactive Graphics – Texas Legislative Budget Board
• A Modern Correctional Facility for Utah and Answers (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3a, Vol. 3b, and Vol. 3c) – Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Notable Online Resource

• Colorado LegiSource [Blog] – Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services

Performance Evaluation

• The State’s Use of Legal Services – Office of Performance Evaluations, Idaho Legislature

Public Policy – Economy

• Uber’s On-Demand Car Service – Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research
• Level the Playing Field: Put California’s Underground Economy Out of Business – The Little Hoover Commission, California

Public Policy – Fiscal

• Understanding California’s Sales Tax – The California Legislative Analyst’s Office

Public Policy – Environmental

• Minnesota and Climate Change: Our Tomorrow Starts Today – Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
• Plastic Microbeads in Minnesota – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Session Summary

• Highlights 2014 – New Mexico Legislative Council Service

2015 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Shelley Day, Utah; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elisa Naquin, Louisiana; and Alyssa Novak Jones, Minnesota.

2014

Guide – Education

• Recess Moves! A Toolkit for Quality Recess – Minnesota Department of Education

Historical and Cultural Resources

• Tennessee State Capitol: Grounded in Tradition (Video) – Tennessee Secretary of State
• Points of Personal Privilege: A Collection of Essays by Virginia Senators and Presiding Officers – Virginia Senate Clerk’s Office

Innovative Presentation

• Medicaid Expansion: The Debate Continues (Video) – Utah Legislature Health Reform Task Force

Performance Evaluation

• Confinement of Juvenile Offenders – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• North Carolina Needs to Strengthen Its System for Monitoring and Preventing the Abuse of Prescribed Controlled Substances – North Carolina General Assembly, Program Evaluation Division

Public Policy – Education

• Kentucky School District Superintendent Employment and Contracts – Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Office of Educational Accountability

Public Policy – Health

• Implementation of the Affordable Care Act: Medicaid Expansion Options and Their Impacts -- Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
• Implementation of the Affordable Care Act: The Utah Model for Implementing Exchanges -- Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
• Advancing Health Equity in Minnesota: Report to the Legislature – Minnesota Department of Health

Public Policy – Natural Resources

• Managing False River Watershed Resources: An Interim Report to the Louisiana Legislature – Louisiana False River Watershed Council, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

State Comparison

• Dog Bites in Maryland and Other States: Data, Insurance Coverage, and Liability – Maryland Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis
• Laws on Assault of a Sports Official – Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research

Statistical Analysis

• An Annual Report on Classified Employee Turnover – Texas State Auditor’s Office

2014 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Shelley Day, Utah; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey

2013

Citizen’s Guide

• Ohio Facts, 2012 Edition – Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Fiscal Policy

• Budget 101: A Guide to the Budget Process in Texas – Texas Senate Research Center
• State Employee Compensation and Turnover – Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

Historical And Cultural Resources

• Civil War Sesquicentennial in Virginia: Impact at the Halfway Mark – Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission

Legislatively Mandated

• Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania: Policy Recommendations and Proposed Legislation – Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Legislator’s Guide

• Firearms Laws in Minnesota: A Guide for Legislators – Minnesota House Research Department
• Kentucky’s Boards, Commissions, and Similar Entities – Kentucky Program Review and Investigations Committee

Public Policy – Education

• 2013 Nevada Education Data Book – Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau

Public Policy – Public Safety

• Digging into One-Call: A Review of Montana's Underground Facility Damage Prevention Program – Montana Legislative Services Division

Natural Resources

• Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast – Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana
• Report on Silica Sand – Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

Performance Evaluation

• Options for Creating a Separate Department of Medicaid Require Transition Planning – North Carolina General Assembly, Program Evaluation Division

Notable Online Resource

• Legislative Reference Library of Texas Pinterest Boards – Texas Legislative Reference Library

2013 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Frances Thomas, Louisiana

2012 

STATE GOVERNMENT HISTORY COMPILATION

• California’s Legislature - California State Assembly, Office of the Chief Clerk
• Vetoed Bills of the Nevada Legislature 1899 – 2011 - Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau Research Library
• Amendments to the Texas Constitution Since 1876 - Texas Legislative Council

PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

• Lottery Operations and Charitable Gaming - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Compared to Other States’ Retirement Plans TSERS is Well Funded and Its Plan Features Are Typical or Less Generous - North Carolina General Assembly, Program Evaluation Division

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

• Kentucky District Data Profiles School Year 2010 - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Office of Education Accountability
• The Wisconsin Scorecard: How Wisconsin Compares to Other States - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

PUBLIC POLICY

• Ash Management Guidelines for Private Forest Landowners - University of Minnesota Extension; Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
• The Coke Can from Columbus: An Analysis of Methods for Increasing Recycling and Solid Waste Diversion in Montana - Environmental Quality Council, Montana Legislature

2012 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Kristin Ford, Idaho, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota; Frances Thomas, Louisiana

2011 Notable Documents Awards

CITIZEN’S GUIDE

• The Legislators of California - California State Senate

HISTORY OF LEGISLATION

• Texas Water Law Timeline - Texas Legislative Reference Library
• A History of Property Tax in Utah - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE

• Guide to Local Redistricting for 2011 - Virginia Division of Legislative Services

MODEL HISTORICAL WEBSITE

• Texas Legislators: Past and Present - Texas Legislative Reference Library

PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

• Distribution and Sale of Liquor in Idaho - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Governance of EMS Agencies in Idaho - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Programs for Children, Youth and Families Need a Guiding Framework for Accountability and Funding: Final Report to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee - North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division
• Statutory Changes Will Promote County Flexibility in Social Services Administration: Final Report to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee - North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division

PUBLIC POLICY – ENVIRONMENTAL

• Future of Electric Vehicles in Michigan - Michigan Legislative Service Bureau, Research Services Division
• Options to Reduce and Phase-out Priority Chemicals in Children’s Products and Promote Green Chemistry: Report to the Legislature - Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

PUBLIC POLICY – PUBLIC SAFETY

• Statewide Ignition Interlock Pilot Project: Interim Report to the Minnesota Legislature - Minnesota Department of Public Safety
• Combating DUIs, Preserving DNA, and Examining Emerging Law & Justice Issues - Montana Legislative Services Division

2011 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Sabah Eltareb, California State Library, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota

2010 Notable Documents Awards

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Increasing Efficiencies in Idaho's Parole Process - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• 2009 Full Tax Preference Performance Reviews - Washington State Joint Legislature Audit and Review Committee

CITIZEN’S GUIDE

• AIDS and the Law: What You Should Know: Laws for Older Adults - Illinois Legislative Research Unit
• Permitting in Montana - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office

LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE

• Illinois Tax Handbook for Legislators - Illinois Legislative Research Unit
• How North Carolina Compares: A Compendium of State Statistics - North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division
• A Legislator's Guide to Taxation in Virginia, Volume 1: State Taxes - Virginia Division of Legislative Services

PUBLIC POLICY- ENVIRONMENTAL

• Contamination of Stormwater Pond Sediments by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Minnesota: The Role of Coal Tar-based Sealcoat Products as a Source of PAHs - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Public Health Impacts of Wind Turbines - Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health Division

NOTABLE ONLINE RESOURCE

• Legislative Time Capsule (Web application) - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

FISCAL MATTERS

• Feasibility of Restructuring Budget and Financial Management of North Carolina State Government - North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division
• 2010-2011 Appropriations Report - Utah Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s Office
• Utah's Economy: What's Happened and Where Do We Go From Here? - Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

INNOVATIVE ARTICLE

• Wisconsin at the Frontiers of Astronomy: A History of Innovation and Exploration (feature article in the State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010) - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

2010 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota

2009

CITIZENS' GUIDE

• Special Education Primer for Charter Schools - Minnesota Department of Education

INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY

• Montana Legislator READ poster series - Montana Legislative Services Division

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Idaho Transportation Department Performance Audit - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE

• A Minnesota Lawmaker's Guide to the Agri-Environmental Policy Landscape - Minnesota House Research Department

POLICY GUIDE

• Visioning Kentucky's Future: Measures and Milestones 2008 - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center

PUBLIC POLICY - EDUCATION

• Feasibility of School District Services Consolidation - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Public Education Funding in Idaho - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Emerging Global Workforce Raising Education Stakes: Children at the Economic Margins Key to Sustaining Progress - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center

PUBLIC POLICY - ENVIRONMENTAL

• Technical Evaluation of the Emissions and Control Costs of High Global Warming Potential Gases - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division, etc.
• Biofuel Policies and Programs - Office of the Minnesota Legislative Auditor
• Carbon Sequestration Study - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
• The Price of Flame - Montana Legislative Services Division

2009 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota

2008

CITIZEN’S GUIDE

• North Dakota Blue Book 2007-2008 - Alvin A. Jaeger, North Dakota Secretary of State

FISCAL MATTERS

• 2008 General Session Appropriation and Budget Highlights - Utah State Legislature – Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst

INNOVATIVE STUDY

• Voices from the Street: A Survey of Homeless Youth by Their Peers - California Research Bureau, California State Library

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:

• Criminal Records and Employment in Minnesota: Report and Recommendations of the 2007 Collateral Sanctions Committee - Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Indicators of Efficiency and Effectiveness - Kentucky Office of Education Accountability
• Virtual School Operations - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE

• Quick Guide to Committee Procedures in the House of Representatives & Quick Guide to Floor Procedure - Louisiana House Legislative Services

PUBLIC POLICY

• Compensating Victims of Bridge Collapses Outside Minnesota - Minnesota Legislature, Senate Counsel

STATE COMPARISON

• Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania General Assembly – Joint State Government Commission

2007

CITIZEN’S GUIDE

• Water Rights in Montana - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council

FISCAL SERIES

• Profiles of Montana State Agencies - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Split Estates: The Relationship Between Surface and Minerals - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council

• Use of Average Daily Attendance in Public Education Funding - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE

• Tax Relief & Reform: What Does It Mean to Taxpayers? - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

PUBLIC POLICY

• Delaying Necessities, Denying Needs - New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation

• The Road to Privatization: Implications of Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Projects - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis

STATE COMPARISONS

• An Overview of California’s Low Emission Vehicle Program and Efforts to Implement It in Maryland and Other States - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis
• The Road to Electric Restructuring in Maryland - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis

2007 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota

2006

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Idaho School for Deaf and Blind Evaluation Report - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Report of the Advisory Committee on Geriatric and Seriously Ill Inmates - Pennsylvania General Assembly - Joint State Government Commission

CITIZEN'S GUIDE

• Citizens Guide (series of five publications) - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
• Utah State Government: A Citizens Guide - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE

• Understanding Medicaid: A Policymaker's Introduction - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

STUDENT'S GUIDE

• Governing Wisconsin series - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

PUBLIC POLICY

• Improved Coordination and Information Could Reduce the Backlog of Unserved Warrants - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
• Use of Social Security Numbers for Drivers' Licenses, Permits, and Identification Cards: Federal Mandate Review - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

FISCAL MATTERS

• A Fiscal Review of the 2005 Legislative Session - Minnesota Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

• High Plains of Northeastern New Mexico: A Guide to Geology and Culture - New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources

2006 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey

2005

BODY OF WORK--LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Hydrogen, Wind, Biodiesel, and Ethanol: Alternative Energy Sources to Fuel Montana's Future? - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council
• Montana's Water--Where is it? Who can use it? Who decides? - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council

CITIZEN'S GUIDE

• Pocket Guides on Fiscal Matters (various) - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division

LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE

• Gambling in Minnesota: A Short History - Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives
• Noncitizens and Minnesota Law: A Guide for Legislators - Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives

PUBLIC POLICY

• Medical Professional Liability Reform for the 21st Century: A Review of Policy Options - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission

2005 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Sabah Eltareb, California

2004

BODY OF WORK

• Public Interest Energy Research: 2003 Annual Report - California Energy Commission
• 2003 Integrated Energy Policy Report - California Energy Commission

BODY OF WORK--MONOGRAPHIC SERIES

• State and Local Government in Louisiana: An Overview - Louisiana House Legislative Services
• Orientation Guide for Louisiana House Members - Louisiana House Legislative Services

EXCEPTIONAL TECHNICAL WORK

• New York State 2004-2005 Executive Budget: Revenue Estimating Methodology - New York State Division of the Budget:

BODY OF WORK--LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• The Funding and Benefit Structure of the Pennsylvania Statewide Retirement Systems: A Report with Recommendations - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
• Minority Representation in the Jury Selection Process in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission

EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION

• Mission: Protect and Restore Puget Sound, A Progress Report - Washington Puget Sound Action Team

2004 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Shirley Dallas, Washington; Penelope Dukes, Williams, Texas; Sabah Eltareb, California; Cathy Griffin, Arizona; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey

2003

PUBLIC POLICY

• Planning for the Future: Findings from Research on the Commonwealth's Current and Coming Retirees - Road Ahead: Uncertainty and Opportunity in a Changed World - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center
• Nevada Natural Resources Status Report - Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

CITIZEN GUIDE

• Electricity Law Handbook: A Montanan's Guide to Understanding Electricity - Montana Environmental Quality Council

LEGISLATORS' GUIDE

• Understanding State Finances and the Budgeting Process: A Reference Manual for Legislators - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division
• Legislator's Handbook - Montana Legislative Services Division

SERIAL

• Briefing Paper Series: Future of Highway Funding; Medicaid Spending; Controlling Costs: No Simple Solutions to Complex Issues; Senate Confirmation of Judicial Appointments; Tax Primer - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

REDISTRICTING & REAPPORTIONMENT

• Demographic Profile of Legislative Districts - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

2002

NOTABLE DOCUMENTS

• Nuclear Waste Dry Cask Storage - Minnesota House of Representatives Research Dept
• Youth and the Law: A Guide for Legislators - Minnesota House of Representatives Research Dept
• State of Nebraska: 2001 Redistricting - Nebraska Legislative Research Division
• Energy Policy Issues and Legislative Options - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

HONORABLE MENTION

• Five Shoes Waiting to Drop on Arizona's Future - Morrison Institute for Public Policy, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University
• Driver Distractions and Traffic Safety - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
• Tap the Power: Constitutional Highlights - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

OUTSTANDING PROACTIVE E-UPDATE SERVICE

• Studies in the News - California Research Bureau
• OLR Updates -Connecticut Office of Legislative Research

SPECIAL CITATION FOR DEPTH OF ANALYSIS AND SPEED IN PRODUCING INFORMATION VITAL TO GOVERNMENT

• Impact of the September 11 WTC Attack on NYC's Economy and Revenues -New York City Comptroller

CONSISTENTLY OUTSTANDING CORPUS OF WORK

• Kentucky Legislative Research Commission:

1. CD-Roms: Acts of the General Assembly & Journal of the General Assembly
2. Kentucky General Assembly Membership 1900-2000
3. V1. 1900-1949 V2. 1950-2000
4. Executive Branch Contracting for Services: Inconsistent procedures limit accountability and efficiency
5. Impact Plus: Design of Medicaid - Funded Program for children with severe emotional disturbance results in rapidly growing expenditures and difficult policy choices

• Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center:

1. Challenges for the New Century: Trends that will influence KY's future
2. Foresight
3. Education and the Common Good: Social Benefits of Higher Education in KY.
4. Financing State and Local Government: Future challenges and opportunities
5. Listening to Kentucky High Schools: Why some high schools Miss, Meet, and Exceed Predicted Post Secondary Outcomes
6. Policy Notes: on issues of importance to KY's future
7. Talking Back: Kentucky High School students and their future education plans

2001

GUIDES FOR MEMBERS

• Orientation Guide for Louisiana House Members, 2000-2004 Term - Louisiana House of Representatives
• Quick Guide to Floor Procedure in the Louisiana House of Representatives - Louisiana House of Representatives
• State and Local Government in Louisiana: An Overview, 2000-2004 Term - Louisiana House of Representatives

PUBLIC POLICY

• Eminent Domain in Montana and Improving the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Process - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
• Shock of the New: Changes in the Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electricity in Montana - Montana Legislative Services Division, Lois Menzies, Executive Director
• Too Much, Too Little, Too Late: An Assembly Investigation of CONNECTIONS -New York's Statewide Child Welfare Computer System - New York Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation

CITIZEN GUIDE

• When You Are Concerned: A Guide for Families Concerned About the Safety of an Older Driver - New York State Office for the Aging

2001 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Deb Priest, New York, chair; Robbie LaFleur, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Cathy Griffin, Arizona

2000

Notable Documents

• Minnesota Budget: A Fiscal Policy Analysis - Minnesota State Senate, Office of Fiscal Policy Analysis
• Nevada State Water Plan - Nevada Division of Water Planning, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Positioning Arizona to Achieve Maximum Benefit from the Information Economy - Arizona Legislature, Joint Legislative Study Committee on the Internet

Serial Award

• Ohio LBO Policy Briefs - Ohio Legislative Budget Office
• Session Weekly - Minnesota House of Representatives, Public Information Office

1999

Notable Documents

• Arizona Blue Book - Arizona Secretary of State
• Dilemma in the Millennium: Capital Needs of the World's Capital City - Comptroller of the City of New York
• Insurance Discrimination: Against Victims of Domestic Violence - Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Women's Law Project

Serial Award

• Perspectives - New York State Assembly Committee on Ways and Means

URL Award

• http://www.leginfo.state.sc.us/ - South Carolina Legislative Information Systems

Special Award for Consistently Outstanding and Comprehensive Quality of Publications

• Montana Environmental Quality Council
• Texas Legislative Budget Board

1998

Notable Documents

• Arizona Legislative Manual - Arizona Legislative Council
• Clean and Green - Joint State Government Commission, Pennsylvania General Assembly
• Minnesota Data Book for Legislators - Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives

Notable URL Awards

• Florida Monitor - Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
• Feedlots and Links to the World - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

1998 Notable Documents Awards Committee: Deb Priest, New York; Cathy Griffin, Arizona; Anne Craig, Illinois; Beth Furbush, Montana; Nancy Hays, Texas