By Alonzo                                            H.C.R. No. 247
       74R14300 JLZ-D
                              HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, In Senate Bill 5, the General Appropriations Act for
    1-2  the 1994-1995 biennium, the 73rd Texas Legislature included a
    1-3  provision that would have allowed The University of Texas at
    1-4  Arlington to use certain funds at its discretion to create a Center
    1-5  for Mexican American Studies at that institution; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, In October 1994, the goal of establishing the center
    1-7  was finally realized, but the funding to achieve this goal was
    1-8  derived from sources other than state appropriations, contrary to
    1-9  what had been the legislature's intent, and was the result of
   1-10  outstanding efforts on the part of the president of The University
   1-11  of Texas at Arlington, the university's administration, and other
   1-12  interested parties who recognize the increasingly important role
   1-13  that such a center can play in improving the economic and cultural
   1-14  well-being of the North Texas region; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Attended by more than 500 persons, including local,
   1-16  state, and federal officials, the center's grand opening in October
   1-17  was indicative of the widespread support for the center throughout
   1-18  the North Texas community, which includes more than half a million
   1-19  Hispanics in the Dallas Metroplex area who would be served by the
   1-20  center in the same way the communities of Houston, San Antonio,
   1-21  Austin, and El Paso are served by similar centers in those regions;
   1-22  and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Seeking to ensure the success of this much-needed
   1-24  center, the members of the 74th Legislature have again shown their
    2-1  support for this endeavor by including in the general
    2-2  appropriations bill for the 1996-1997 biennium, House Bill 1, a
    2-3  provision, Rider No. 3, authorizing the transfer of $300,000 from
    2-4  the funds appropriated to The University of Texas at Arlington for
    2-5  the expressed purpose of funding operations at the Center for
    2-6  Mexican American Studies; now, therefore, be it
    2-7        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
    2-8  hereby state explicitly its legislative intent and direct the
    2-9  president of The University of Texas at Arlington to use the funds
   2-10  designated in Rider No. 3 in the appropriations made to the
   2-11  university by House Bill 1, the General Appropriations Act, solely
   2-12  for the operation of the Center for Mexican American Studies at
   2-13  that institution; and, be it further
   2-14        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be
   2-15  forwarded to the president of The University of Texas at Arlington
   2-16  and to the board of regents of The University of Texas System as
   2-17  official expressions of legislative will and intent by the 74th
   2-18  Texas Legislature.