http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/tapthepower.htm The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau creates annotated bibliographies including hyperlinks on topics of current interest. The publication, called Tap the Power circulates in paper form to all legislative offices and is archived on the LRB public website. Tap the Power originated in July 1999 with the topic of School Finance in the 90s. Saturday Sunday 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 en-us http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/images/lrbcommon/ttp/TTP.gif http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/tapthepower.htm http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-05-2013a.pdf The following titles and book reviews were gathered as an activity for National Library Week 2013. Submitted by legislators and legislative staff, the reviews were not altered except to edit for length or to correct typographical errors. Web sites of interest to book club groups, and to readers in general, are also included. Many more reading suggestions can be found in the previous 11 issues of Favorite Books. All of the previous issues are listed on the Tap the Power Web page. Wisconsin Legislature ttp-05-2013a Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-05-2013.pdf In 2000, the United States Surgeon General issued a report on oral health which highlighted disparities between racial and social economic groups regarding oral health, especially among children. This bibliography addresses the progress made since 2000, disparities that remain, efforts to close the gaps, and public policy. Health, Human and Social Services ttp-05-2013 Fri, 3 May 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-04-2013.pdf Youth Homelessness in the United States affects an estimated 1.6 million youth between the ages of 12 and 17 each year. Homeless youth are individuals under the age of 18 who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. These young people are sometimes referred to as "unaccompanied" youth. Homeless youth face many challenges on the streets. Few homeless youth are housed in emergency shelters as a result of lack of shelter beds for youth, shelter admission policies, and a preference for greater independence. Because of their age, homeless youth have few legal means by which they can earn enough money to meet basic needs. This bibliography provides resources related to the causes, consequences, and scope of youth homelessness and an overview of related programs and policies. Health, Human and Social Services ttp-04-2013.pdf Mon, 1 Apr 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-03-2013.pdf The funding of transportation initiatives is becoming an increasingly critical issue for federal, state, and local governments to solve. Gas taxes are no longer sufficient to finance the country's transportation infrastructure as the tax amount remains stagnant and cars become increasingly fuel efficient. The following resources highlight current funding situations and examine alternatives to the traditional gas tax. Transportation, Motor Vehicles ttp-03-2013 Mon, 4 Mar 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-02-2013.pdf In 2002, we published a Tap the Power bibliography called "Charter Schools." Since that time, charter schools have grown, including the addition of virtual, or online, charter schools. This bibliography is an update to the 2002 edition. Education, K-12 ttp-02-2013 Fri, 1 Feb 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-01-2013.pdf Venture capital is investment capital designed to finance businesses in the early stages of development or expansion. State governments in turn are creating venture capital programs to help grow their economies by supporting these new businesses. Such programs can include tax credits to early-stage investors, funding venture capital firms or new businesses directly, or helping connect entrepreneurs with investors. This publication provides resources about entrepreneurial investing with an emphasis on venture capital. Business, Industrial Development ttp-01-2013 Fri, 4 Jan 2013 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-12-2012.pdf Significant advances have been made in the way 911 systems are designed and operate since Wisconsin adopted the service in the 1970s. Advances in technology, such as mobile phones and voice over Internet protocol services have created new obstacles for the 911 system. The Wisconsin Legislative Council has established a Special Committee on 911 Communications to address these problems in order to strengthen and improve the system. This publication provides resources related to 911 communications, focusing on Next Generation 911 (NG911). Consumer Issues, Gambling, Privacy ttp-12-2012 Sat, 1 Dec 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-11-2012.pdf Green Chemistry refers to the field of chemical research and engineering that seeks to reduce the use and formation of hazardous substances during design and production. Also called sustainable chemistry, green chemistry aims to create efficiencies and reduce pollution before it occurs. This publication provides resources related to current state and federal policies, legislation, and agencies that regulate green chemistry; information on public policy considerations; and current initiatives related to green chemistry. Environment, Recycling, Land Use ttp-11-2012 Thu, 1 Nov 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-10-2012.html Sexually violent persons (SVP), are persons who have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and have a mental disorder that makes it likely that they will commit further acts of sexual violence. 1993 Wisconsin Act 479 established a procedure to have these persons civilly committed and treated after they have served their sentences. This publication provides resources that cover the commitment process, treatment options, and release criteria. Other resources included focus on current research, statistics, and general information on sex offenders. Criminal Justice ttp-10-2012 Wed, 3 Oct 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-09-2012.html For states, balancing the government's authority over people who live within its borders with Native American sovereignty is a challenge. Legal jurisdiction can overlap, become confusing, and strain the relationship between the state governments and the tribes. This bibliography presents resources about state-tribal relations with an emphasis on tribal sovereignty. State and Local Governments ttp-09-2012 Mon, 3 Sep 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-08-2012.html When a child is placed in foster care or other out-of-home care, it is important that a permanent home is established as soon as possible for the child, whether that means adoption by a new family or a return to the child's original family. The Wisconsin Legislative Council has established a Special Committee on Permanency for Young Children in the Child Welfare System to address some of these issues. This bibliography presents resources about foster care, with a focus on permanency. Children, Families, Maternal Care ttp-08-2012 Mon, 6 Aug 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-07-2012.html Dementia is the loss of brain function affecting memory, thinking, and behavior. Occurring predominantly in older people, Alzheimer's disease is an incurable, progressive form of dementia. With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, the proportion of those afflicted could be the largest in history and there is an increased spotlight on addressing their needs. This Tap the Power focuses on resources available to understand the policy issues related to treatment, funding, and programs that address the direct costs of caring for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Health, Human and Social Services ttp-07-2012.html Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:01 GMT http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ttp/ttp-06-2012.html A number of states are considering revising their income tax policies to encourage stronger economic growth. This publication provides resources on income taxation and the different polices affecting it. The resources included cover recent and past policy changes, historical information on Wisconsin income tax, information on corporate income tax, and income tax policies from other states. Taxation ttp-06-2012 Fri, 1 Jun 2012 00:00:01 GMT