By:  Montford                                    S.R. No. 767
                                   SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, The number of injuries to young children occurring
    1-2  on public playgrounds nationwide has been estimated to be more than
    1-3  200,000; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Many of these injuries to young children are
    1-5  severe--some crippling, some disfiguring, some even fatal; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Such injuries result not only in much pain and
    1-7  suffering for many young children of Texas, for whose enjoyment
    1-8  playgrounds are intended, but also in anguish and expense for their
    1-9  parents and other citizens of this state; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Most playground injuries to young children could,
   1-11  according to safety experts, be avoided through use of safer
   1-12  playground equipment design, safer surfacing materials under and
   1-13  around the equipment, and appropriate warning signs; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Various organizations and entities concerned with
   1-15  reducing the frequency and severity of injuries to young children
   1-16  on playgrounds in Texas, as well as in other states, have addressed
   1-17  and are addressing this problem through safety recommendations
   1-18  relating to playground equipment design, surfacing materials, and
   1-19  other matters; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Certain governmental units of the State of Texas are
   1-21  involved in the ownership and operation of playgrounds in this
   1-22  state, and certain agencies of the State of Texas are involved in
   1-23  the licensing or inspection of facilities that own or operate
    2-1  playgrounds in this state; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas, 73rd Legislature,
    2-3  is concerned about the well-being of young children playing on such
    2-4  playgrounds and with maximizing the reduction of both frequency and
    2-5  severity of injuries to young children on such playgrounds; now,
    2-6  therefore, be it
    2-7        RESOLVED, That it is in the best interest of the State of
    2-8  Texas and its citizens to make such playgrounds in this state safer
    2-9  for young children to play on; and, be it further
   2-10        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 73rd
   2-11  Legislature, urge all concerned with the safety of such playgrounds
   2-12  to be mindful of and attentive to the public interest of Texas in
   2-13  providing safer playground equipment, safer surfacing materials,
   2-14  and adequate warning signs in such playgrounds; and, be it further
   2-15        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
   2-16  forwarded to the Central Education Agency, the Texas Department of
   2-17  Human Services, the Department of Health, and the Parks and
   2-18  Wildlife Department, with a request from the Texas Senate that they
   2-19  recopy and distribute this Resolution to their employees who are
   2-20  involved with purchasing, leasing, or otherwise acquiring new or
   2-21  replacement playground equipment or surfacing material for
   2-22  playgrounds at elementary schools and parks in Texas or with the
   2-23  licensing or inspection of child care or eating facilities in Texas
   2-24  that have children's playgrounds, so that all such employees will
   2-25  be apprised of and responsive to the public policy concerns set
    3-1  forth in this Resolution; and, be it further
    3-2        RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be furnished, on
    3-3  request, to individuals, organizations, and entities who are
    3-4  interested in addressing the public policy concerns set forth
    3-5  herein.
    3-6                                 _____________________________________
    3-7                                        President of the Senate
    3-8                                      I hereby certify that the
    3-9                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   3-10                                 the Senate on April 27, 1993.
   3-11                                 _____________________________________
   3-12                                        Secretary of the Senate
   3-13                                 _____________________________________
   3-14                                          Member, Texas Senate