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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Michael Maples retired as deputy executive |
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commissioner for the Health and Specialty Care System at the Texas |
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Health and Human Services Commission in June 2021, drawing to a |
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close an outstanding career in public service that spanned nearly |
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three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Mike Maples earned his bachelor's degree in |
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psychology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and his |
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master's degree in human services from St. Edward's University; |
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after working briefly in the private sector, he began his career in |
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public service as a unit behavior therapy program director at the |
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Corpus Christi State School in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 29-year tenure with |
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the State of Texas, Commissioner Maples held leadership positions |
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with a number of health agencies; as assistant deputy commissioner |
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for the Department of State Health Services, he oversaw the Office |
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of Academic Affairs, the Center for Health Statistics, the Center |
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for Health Policy and Performance, the Vital Statistics Section, |
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the Office of Border Services, and the state hospitals; and |
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WHEREAS, Commissioner Maples helped found the Health and |
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Specialty Care System, and as deputy executive commissioner for the |
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system, he was responsible for 10 state hospitals and 13 state |
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supported living centers across Texas; he worked tirelessly to |
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bring mental health and substance abuse services to communities |
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across the state and helped establish Texas as a leader in forensic |
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inpatient mental health services; his efforts to modernize and |
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expand the state's psychiatric hospitals resulted in the |
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construction of two new hospitals, with a third in the planning |
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stages for the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2020 and 2021, Commissioner Maples worked nearly |
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around the clock to address the challenges of the COVID-19 |
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pandemic; throughout his career, he has been an indispensable |
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source of expertise on mental health and intellectual and |
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developmental disability for members of the legislature and other |
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officials; a leader in his field, he has served as president of the |
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National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and |
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he has also been active with several state and national boards and |
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associations; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his many professional achievements, |
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Mr. Maples has found time to serve his community as a volunteer |
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firefighter and emergency medical technician; in all his endeavors, |
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he has benefited from the love and support of his wife, Connie |
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Maples, and his three children, Garrett, Taylor, and Carley; and |
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WHEREAS, Mike Maples has made a positive and lasting |
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difference in the lives of countless Texans, and he may indeed |
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reflect with pride on a career well spent as he embarks upon the |
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next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Michael |
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Maples on his retirement from the Texas Health and Human Services |
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Commission and commend him for his many years of dedicated service; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Maples as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |