| 1 | 1 | | 89R6217 AMB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Flores S.C.R. No. 2 |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The Texas Silver-Haired Legislature has benefited |
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| 9 | 9 | | our state in countless ways over the course of four decades, and its |
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| 10 | 10 | | achievements are indeed deserving of recognition; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Designed to encourage older Texans to take an active |
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| 12 | 12 | | role in legislative and governmental affairs, TSHL traces its |
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| 13 | 13 | | origins to April 1985, when the 69th Texas Legislature passed |
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| 14 | 14 | | S.C.R. 37 to establish the program; the elected members of the |
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| 15 | 15 | | inaugural TSHL body met for a training and orientation session in |
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| 16 | 16 | | July 1986, and they were sworn in by the Texas secretary of state |
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| 17 | 17 | | the following September; the initiative was modeled on similar |
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| 18 | 18 | | programs in other states, the first of which was organized in |
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| 19 | 19 | | Missouri in 1973; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Today, TSHL is a nonpartisan organization composed |
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| 21 | 21 | | of up to 123 members, age 60 and over, who are elected by and |
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| 22 | 22 | | represent the state's 28 Texas Area Agencies on Aging; TSHL members |
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| 23 | 23 | | strive to promote good government by discussing and advocating for |
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| 24 | 24 | | action on issues affecting older Texans; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, In carrying out their work, members serve on |
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| 26 | 26 | | committees covering a range of subject areas; during the group's |
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| 27 | 27 | | biennial legislative session at the Texas Capitol, members debate |
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| 28 | 28 | | and vote on resolutions addressing key issues, and the approved |
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| 29 | 29 | | resolutions are presented to state lawmakers and other officials; |
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| 30 | 30 | | over the years, TSHL has impacted more than 275 pieces of |
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| 31 | 31 | | legislation, and its involvement has resulted in legislative action |
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| 32 | 32 | | on a variety of issues, including the establishment of the Silver |
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| 33 | 33 | | Alert program for missing seniors, criminal penalties for senior |
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| 34 | 34 | | financial abuse, and efforts to assure the soundness of pension |
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| 35 | 35 | | funding for the Employees Retirement System and Teacher Retirement |
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| 36 | 36 | | System of Texas; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, The vitality of our democratic system depends on an |
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| 38 | 38 | | informed and engaged citizenry, and since its inception, the Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | Silver-Haired Legislature has made a positive difference in the |
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| 40 | 40 | | Lone Star State by drawing on the knowledge and experience of older |
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| 41 | 41 | | Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | hereby designate April as Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Month; |
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| 44 | 44 | | and, be it further |
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| 45 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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| 46 | 46 | | 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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| 47 | 47 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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| 48 | 48 | | passed by the legislature. |
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