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