82R1016 MMS-D
By: Naishtat H.C.R. No. 36
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, a volunteer,
nonpartisan organization that advocates for older Texans,
celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Created in 1985 by the 69th Texas Legislature, the
TSHL is composed of 116 Texans, age 60 and over, who are elected by
older, registered voters to represent the 28 Texas Area Agencies on
Aging; collectively, those who serve in the TSHL volunteer more
than 15,000 hours annually in service to their fellow seniors; and
WHEREAS, During their two-year terms, TSHL members identify
public policy issues affecting older citizens, research those
issues, and craft pertinent legislative proposals in the TSHL
legislative session, which is held every other year at the State
Capitol; members subsequently present their legislative report to
the governor, state representatives and senators, state officials,
and the Texas Aging Network; they also testify at senate and house
committee hearings on matters of concern to older residents; and
WHEREAS, Among the many significant laws passed relating to
TSHL resolutions have been Acts establishing the Legislative
Committee on Aging, creating the Silver Alert for missing seniors,
allowing grandparent caregivers to enroll their grandchildren in
school and to access state programs for their grandchildren,
requiring criminal history checks of employees and applicants at
special care facilities, and setting up a volunteer advocate
program for elderly persons; and
WHEREAS, For two and a half decades, the work of the Texas
Silver-Haired Legislature has promoted the engagement of older
Texans in the legislative process and contributed to improved
quality of life for older residents of the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the
Texas Silver-Haired Legislature and extend to all those who have
ever been associated with the program sincere appreciation for
their invaluable service; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature as an expression
of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.