| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 411 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, Samuel Dale Allen has worked tirelessly to |
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| 3 | 3 | | improve interactions between law enforcement and Texans with |
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| 4 | 4 | | health conditions that may impede communication; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, A San Antonio native, Samuel Allen was diagnosed |
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| 6 | 6 | | with high-functioning autism as a child; he began advocating |
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| 7 | 7 | | for others with autism as a student, and he has helped educate |
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| 8 | 8 | | the public about the condition; moreover, he has raised vital |
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| 9 | 9 | | awareness of the misunderstandings that can occur when an |
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| 10 | 10 | | officer makes a traffic stop involving someone with autism, |
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| 11 | 11 | | Asperger Syndrome, mild intellectual disabilities, deafness, |
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| 12 | 12 | | speech disorders, or other impediments; his accomplishments |
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| 13 | 13 | | earned him a Spirit of Giving Award from the San Antonio Business |
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| 14 | 14 | | Journal; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Allen has been a strong voice in support of |
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| 16 | 16 | | S.B. 976, which allows a person with a communication impediment |
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| 17 | 17 | | the option to disclose this information when registering their |
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| 18 | 18 | | vehicle through the Department of Motor Vehicles; this would |
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| 19 | 19 | | place the diagnosis in the Texas Law Enforcement |
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| 20 | 20 | | Telecommunication System, ensuring that an officer is alerted |
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| 21 | 21 | | prior to approaching the vehicle, while maintaining the privacy |
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| 22 | 22 | | of the driver; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Through his dedicated efforts, Samuel Allen is |
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| 24 | 24 | | helping to make encounters safer for officers and people with |
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| 25 | 25 | | communication impediments, and his contributions have earned |
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| 26 | 26 | | the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens; now, |
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| 27 | 27 | | therefore, be it |
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| 28 | 28 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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| 29 | 29 | | Legislature, hereby commend Samuel Allen for his civic |
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| 30 | 30 | | engagement and advocacy for individuals with communication |
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| 31 | 31 | | impediments and, contingent on the passing of S.B. 976, |
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| 32 | 32 | | recognize Section 502.061, Transportation Code, as the Samuel |
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| 33 | 33 | | Allen Law. |
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| 34 | 34 | | Hughes |
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| 35 | 35 | | ________________________________ |
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| 36 | 36 | | President of the Senate |
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| 37 | 37 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 38 | 38 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 39 | 39 | | the Senate on March 14, 2019. |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 42 | 42 | | ________________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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