By:  Nelson                                            S.R. No. 126

 1-1                                      1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The First Response Search and Rescue Team is

 1-4     providing the citizens of Texas a valuable professional resource

 1-5     during times of great crises, and the Texas Senate is proud to

 1-6     commend this group of dedicated individuals for their extraordinary

 1-7     contributions; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, The mission of the First Response Search and

 1-9     Rescue Team is to provide highly trained personnel to search

1-10     and rescue lost, missing, and abducted persons without charge or

1-11     remuneration; it also provides educational services to train and

1-12     promote all aspects of search, rescue, and prevention-related

1-13     efforts; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Working exclusively with governmental agencies,

1-15     the volunteer professionals are ready to begin response within

1-16     minutes of being called at any time 24 hours a day, seven days

1-17     a week; they provide a unique service to our communities that

1-18     lack funds to maintain a specialized search resource; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Operated as a business, the First Response

1-20     Search and Rescue Team has a board of directors whose members

1-21     bring years of experience in search and rescue as well as

1-22     business management in conducting the day-to-day operations

1-23     of the team; focusing on the skills that must be mastered,

 2-1     the organization has virtually eliminated a high turnover

 2-2     rate found in many volunteer organizations and has increased

 2-3     its membership to over 60 in less than two years; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, Before being accepted into the basic training

 2-5     program, each member must complete an extensive application

 2-6     process which includes a written application, reference checks,

 2-7     criminal background investigation, and interview; before a

 2-8     member can be fielded as a searcher, each one is trained to

 2-9     a basic level of proficiency which exceeds the level of

2-10     "SAR-TECH II" as established by the National Association of

2-11     Search and Rescue; and

2-12           WHEREAS, After SAR-TECH certification is received,

2-13     members continue intensive training to obtain a 40-hour Texas

2-14     ECA First Responder medical certification and an eight-hour CPR

2-15     certification; they are encouraged to advance to higher levels

2-16     of training or to one of the specialized skills; and

2-17           WHEREAS, In addition to the response by the team to

2-18     emergencies, the First Response and Rescue Team is working

2-19     with local agencies to prepare for such incidents by establishing

2-20     written policies and procedures with a coordinated preplan in an

2-21     attempt to eliminate the loss of valuable time and needless loss

2-22     of life; now, therefore, be it

2-23           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas hereby

2-24     recognize the members of the First Response Search and Rescue

2-25     Team for their exemplary work in responding to the needs of

 3-1     their communities and offer its wholehearted support in this

 3-2     vital effort; and, be it further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared

 3-4     for this distinguished group as an expression of the high

 3-5     regard and gratitude of the Texas Senate.

 3-6                                 ______________________________________

 3-7                                         President of the Senate

 3-8                                      I hereby certify that the above

 3-9                                 Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-10                                 on February 6, 1997.

3-11                                 ______________________________________

3-12                                         Secretary of the Senate

3-13                                 ______________________________________

3-14                                          Member, Texas Senate