Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR222 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13364 TBO-D
2	2	By: Menéndez, et al. S.R. No. 222
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7	7	R E S O L U T I O N
8	8	WHEREAS, Former state senator and representative Joe J.
9	9	Bernal of San Antonio passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of
10	10	97, bringing a great loss to his family, his friends, and his
11	11	community; and
12	12	WHEREAS, The son of Jose and Antonia Bernal, Joe Bernal was
13	13	born in San Antonio on March 1, 1927, and he grew up with the
14	14	companionship of eight siblings; after graduating from Lanier High
15	15	School in 1944, he joined the U.S. Army and served with the
16	16	Headquarters Squadron, Pacific Air Command, in Manila and Tokyo
17	17	during World War II; he attained the rank of sergeant before
18	18	receiving his honorable discharge at the age of 19; and
19	19	WHEREAS, Mr. Bernal earned a bachelor's degree in sociology
20	20	from Trinity University, and he began his career as an educator with
21	21	the Kosciusko Independent School District; he went on to teach at
22	22	elementary schools in Edgewood ISD and San Antonio ISD and to obtain
23	23	a master's degree in education with a minor in social work from Our
24	24	Lady of the Lake College; along the way, he was employed as a social
25	25	worker at the Inman Christian Center for several years; he later
26	26	received a doctorate in cultural foundations in education from The
27	27	University of Texas at Austin; and
28	28	WHEREAS, A passionate advocate for education and civil
29	29	rights, Mr. Bernal successfully ran for a seat in the Texas House of
30	30	Representatives in 1964; he was subsequently elected state senator
31	31	by the people of Bexar County and began the first of two consecutive
32	32	terms in the Texas Senate in January 1967; over the course of his
33	33	tenure as a legislator, he championed bilingual education and the
34	34	end of de jure segregation, and in 1969, he overcame fierce
35	35	opposition to secure passage of the state's first bilingual
36	36	education act; he also played an instrumental role in establishing
37	37	UT San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center, and he helped to
38	38	build a strong foundation for early childhood education in Texas;
39	39	among numerous committee assignments, he served as chair of the
40	40	Senate Committees on Poverty in Texas, Claims, and Federal Programs
41	41	and Relations; he further distinguished himself as the first
42	42	executive director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus; and
43	43	WHEREAS, While carrying out his duties as a lawmaker, Senator
44	44	Bernal was employed as executive director for the Guadalupe
45	45	Community Center and then for the Commission for Mexican American
46	46	Affairs; an avid supporter of the Mexican American Legal Defense
47	47	and Educational Fund, he became a founding member of the
48	48	organization's board in 1968, holding that role for 10 years; in
49	49	1971, he served as the lead plaintiff in White v. Regester, a
50	50	successful challenge to Texas' 1970 congressional redistricting
51	51	plans; and
52	52	WHEREAS, After concluding his service in the Texas
53	53	Legislature in 1973, Senator Bernal became an educational
54	54	researcher for the Intercultural Development Research Association
55	55	as well as a regional director for ACTION, a federal agency that
56	56	coordinated volunteer opportunities; beginning in 1982, he served
57	57	as principal of Emma Frey Elementary School in Edgewood ISD for five
58	58	years, and he subsequently accepted a position as assistant
59	59	superintendent for instructional services in Harlandale ISD; and
60	60	WHEREAS, Senator Bernal was elected to the State Board of
61	61	Education in 1996, and over the next decade, he continued his
62	62	efforts to advocate for bilingual education; he worked tirelessly
63	63	to provide classrooms with Spanish-language textbooks and to have
64	64	the elementary curriculum translated into Spanish, and he supported
65	65	the addition of mariachi band competitions to the University
66	66	Interscholastic League; twice reelected to the board, he served as
67	67	its vice chair from 2001 to 2003 and chaired the committee on
68	68	instruction; and
69	69	WHEREAS, Among his many accolades, Senator Bernal was
70	70	recognized with the Inspire Award from the SAISD Foundation in
71	71	2013, and he and his wife, fellow educator Mary Esther Bernal,
72	72	received the Lifetime Achievement Award from MALDEF in 2009; in
73	73	2014, Northside ISD named Bernal Middle School in his honor; and
74	74	WHEREAS, Above all else, Senator Bernal was devoted to his
75	75	family; he and his wife shared a rewarding marriage of six and a
76	76	half decades before her passing, and he took great pride in their
77	77	four children, Richard, Patrick, Rebecca, and the late Barney
78	78	Bernal; over the years, he was further blessed with eight
79	79	grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and
80	80	WHEREAS, Joe Bernal made a lasting, positive difference in
81	81	the lives of countless Texans through his exceptional contributions
82	82	as a public servant, and those who were fortunate enough to know him
83	83	will forever treasure their memories of his generosity, his
84	84	strength of character, and his love for his family and community;
85	85	now, therefore, be it
86	86	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
87	87	hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Joe J. Bernal and
88	88	extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends; and,
89	89	be it further
90	90	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
91	91	prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this
92	92	day, it do so in memory of Joe Bernal.