1-1  By:  West                                             S.R. No. 1243
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed May 27, 1995; May 27, 1995, read first
    1-3  time and referred to Committee on Administration; May 27, 1995,
    1-4  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0;
    1-5  May 27, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks on Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
    1-8  and Tokyo, Japan, as well as the events of the Persian Gulf War,
    1-9  have led many security experts around the world to warn that
   1-10  civilians, military personnel, and governmental officials may be
   1-11  increasingly vulnerable to attack from traditional weapons as well
   1-12  as state-of-the-art chemical and biological agents; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Although international treaties now prohibit the use
   1-14  of biological agents in warfare, laws designed to regulate the
   1-15  development, manufacture, distribution, and possession of deadly
   1-16  pathogens are inadequate to protect the citizens of our state and
   1-17  nation; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The intentional or unintentional misuse of deadly
   1-19  pathogens poses a very grave threat to the population at large, and
   1-20  it is appropriate at this time that action be taken to protect the
   1-21  health and welfare of the residents of the Lone Star State; now,
   1-22  therefore, be it
   1-23        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 74th
   1-24  Legislature, hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to
   1-25  conduct, in conjunction with the federal Centers for Disease
   1-26  Control and Prevention and with other state or federal agencies or
   1-27  institutions, a study of the current system by which deadly
   1-28  pathogens are manufactured and distributed; and, be it further
   1-29        RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health make a full
   1-30  report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate of the
   1-31  75th Legislature of the State of Texas.