One of HeinOnline’s newer databases is State Constitutions Illustrated, a collection of the constitutional documents of all 50 states as well as other related works and scholarly articles that impart some additional insight on these constitutional materials. Through this database, users have access to not only the current text of the constitutions but also the original and any consolidated texts, including pre-statehood materials for all 50 states. The resources in the database are current through November 6, 2018 and include almost 9,000 historical and current constitutions and related documents.
Read moreStarting This Month: Big Civ Pro Changes Impact Texas Litigants
Anyone dealing with Texas civil suits being filed in 2021 should familiarize themselves with some significant changes to the Texas Code of Civil Procedure that went into effect this week.
Read moreLocked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry, 4th Edition
Project of Beacon Law, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources)
KFT 9747 .L63
Originally published by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources), Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry addresses some of the most common barriers previously incarcerated individuals face upon their release from prison. The guide is intended to smooth the transition from living in confinement to surviving in mainstream society. The authors address issues that many take for granted, including obtaining identification documents, finding access to transportation, paying offense-related debt, mitigating criminal records through expunction or nondisclosure, finding employment, qualifying for public benefits, locating housing, and regaining the eligibility to vote. Another topic to consider is the collateral consequences of conviction, such as the possession of a firearm and eligibility for benefits. Incarceration also creates barriers in the parent-child relationship. As a result of the incarceration, the newly released parent may have difficulty locating a child or may be responsible for any accrued, unpaid child support. Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry is intended to help in this regard. The appendices are especially helpful, consisting of handy tables, the steps needed to obtain certain records and documents, and sample court forms. The guide doesn’t provide all of the answers, but it does offer much information and many resources to find those answers. An online version of this guide is available on TexasLawHelp.org.
In addition to the Texas Legal Guide to Reentry, there are some additional resources that can be found online:
Federal Trade Commission’s Reentry and Corrections Education page - Helpful information designed to assist reentering and formerly incarcerated consumers learn about managing money, meeting educational goals, earning a living, and knowing what to expect from a background check.
City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education - Re-Entry Programs - List of community partners that may be able to provide some assistance, including Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Houston Food Bank, and Goodwill Houston.
Houston Health Department - Community Re-Entry Network Program - Program components include anger management, life skills course, and peer support groups.
StopTXEviction.org LiveChat Now Available
A few weeks ago, we featured on this blog a new service designed to help Texas renters stay in their homes during the pandemic. The service is a website called StopTXEviction.org.
Just yesterday, the Texas Legal Services Center informed the legal aid community that a LiveChat feature is now available on the website four days a week, Monday through Thursday, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Law students, volunteer lawyers, and paralegals are ready to answer your questions about renters’ rights in Texas, while providing options to those in need of legal assistance. To receive legal advice from an attorney, users must be at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.
When LiveChat is open, you will find the 'Chat now' icon displayed on the bottom right corner of the website. Here, before proceeding, you will be asked a few basic questions about household size, family income, and child support obligations, if any.
For additional information about services offered through this website, please read our blog post on the topic (in English and Spanish) or consult the StopTXEviction.org website directly.
To Grandmother's House? Know Before You Go
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/connection-covid-19-coronavirus-4884862/
The CDC urges Americans that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If your holiday plans still include travel or you are considering travel, it is important to understand that depending on your destination COVID-19 restrictions may vary, such as requiring people to wear masks and requiring those who recently traveled to stay home for up to 14 days.
On May 21, 2020, Gov. Abbott issued Executive Order GA-24 terminating Texas air travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are travelling outside of Texas, here are some resources to help guide your decision and plans within and outside of the United States.
Domestic Travel
The CDC recommends using Travel Planner before traveling. The site offers links to state, local, tribal, and territorial government restrictions. You simply enter a city, zip code, or address to learn more about COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources in your destination.
Additionally, CNN Travel has also created a list of travel restrictions state-by-state which they update periodically due to the ever-changing situation across the country.
Before making your final travel plans, it would be helpful to also know if cases are high or increasing in your destination. The CDC’s COVID Data Tracker provides the latest number of cases by state.
Finally, you may wish to consult this map, the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool created at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Enter your geographic destination, narrowing your selection to the county you intend to visit. Use the slider to specify your event size, from 10-5,000 people. The tool will then assess the likelihood of at least one person getting the virus.
One additional metric for gauging your risk of infection is provided here on this chart from the Texas Medical Association COVID-19 Resource Center. It ranks your chances, on a scale of 1 to 10, of getting COVID-19 while participating in a number of holiday festivities. The chart is available in English and Spanish and in grayscale for easy printing.
International Travel
The U.S. Department of State maintains a COVID-19 Traveler Information page that has current information on international travel restrictions, advisories, and any required self-quarantine periods. The State Department also offers a U.S. Embassy COVID page with country specific information, such as entry and exit requirements, self-quarantine policies, and current restrictions on movement within the country (e.g., curfews, intercity travel).
For individuals looking to travel to the United States, the CDC has published the following: Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States. With specific exceptions, foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States:
European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City)
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
In a time when we are starved for human connection, we are also faced with alarming numbers. In the United States, there were 162,320 newly reported COVID-19 cases on Nov 18, 2020 alone. Recognizing that we all want to celebrate with friends and family in some way and hopefully in a safe way, the CDC offers a Holiday Celebrations page. One tip: Limit the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart (2 arm lengths) at all times. Although the CDC cannot offer a magic number for attendees, in these times, less is definitely more.
Mask Requirements While Flying
The CDC issued a “strong recommendation” that all passengers and employees on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-share vehicles should wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Surprising to some, there is no formal mask mandate from the U.S. government for travel on airplanes or at airports. The U.S. Department of Transportation previously declined a petition by the largest airline passenger non-profit organization consumer group Flyers Rights to implement one. However, airlines have stepped in and all major U.S. airlines are requiring passengers to wear face masks. As some of these restrictions become tighter, it is advisable to check with your airline for specific instructions and for more information and recommendations on travel visit the CDC’s Travel page.
From all of us here at the Harris County Law Library, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
