By West                                               S.R. No. 1243
       74R13957 KMP-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks on Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
    1-2  and Tokyo, Japan, as well as the events of the Persian Gulf War,
    1-3  have led many security experts around the world to warn that
    1-4  civilians, military personnel, and governmental officials may be
    1-5  increasingly vulnerable to attack from traditional weapons as well
    1-6  as state-of-the-art chemical and biological agents; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Although international treaties now prohibit the use
    1-8  of biological agents in warfare, laws designed to regulate the
    1-9  development, manufacture, distribution, and possession of deadly
   1-10  pathogens are inadequate to protect the citizens of our state and
   1-11  nation; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, The intentional or unintentional misuse of deadly
   1-13  pathogens poses a very grave threat to the population at large, and
   1-14  it is appropriate at this time that action be taken to protect the
   1-15  health and welfare of the residents of the Lone Star State; now,
   1-16  therefore, be it
   1-17        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 74th Legislature of the
   1-18  State of Texas hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to
   1-19  conduct, in conjunction with the federal Centers for Disease
   1-20  Control and Prevention and with other state or federal agencies or
   1-21  institutions, a study of the current system by which deadly
   1-22  pathogens are manufactured and distributed; and, be it further
   1-23        RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health make a full
   1-24  report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate of the
    2-1  75th Legislature of the State of Texas.