1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 749 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas would like to 1-4 pause in its deliberations today to recognize the significant 1-5 contributions of the 51st Legislature during the 50th anniversary 1-6 year of one of the most productive sessions in Texas history; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The men who made up that legislature were men of 1-8 great vision and foresight, and their efforts and hard work 1-9 resulted in the passage of vital legislation which still benefits 1-10 all Texans today; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Among the most outstanding accomplishments of the 1-12 51st Legislature were the creation of the Legislative Budget Board 1-13 and the Texas Legislative Council, the passage of the Gilmer-Aikin 1-14 Law, and the funding and enabling legislation for farm-to-market 1-15 roads; and 1-16 WHEREAS, One of the most important bills that legislature 1-17 passed was Senate Bill 387, the bill which created the Legislative 1-18 Budget Board, sponsored by Senators Hardeman, Taylor, Hazelwood, 1-19 Harris, and Hudson; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In creating the Legislative Budget Board, the 1-21 State of Texas set up an independent and impartial agency which 1-22 oversees the budget estimates for appropriations by departments, 1-23 institutions, and agencies of the state; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Since the youth of Texas are our greatest 2-1 resource for tomorrow, Senate Bill 115, popularly known as the 2-2 Gilmer-Aikin Law in honor of Representative Claud H. Gilmer and 2-3 Senator A. M. Aikin, Jr., probably has had the most far-reaching 2-4 effects on our state; and 2-5 WHEREAS, During the 51st Legislature, Senate Bill 115 was 2-6 passed to increase the authority of a State Board of Education, 2-7 to found the Texas Education Agency, to create funding for the 2-8 public schools in Texas, and to create more efficient administration 2-9 of Texas public schools; and 2-10 WHEREAS, One of the more far-reaching bills passed during 2-11 this historical session was Senate Bill 287, which provided for more 2-12 farm-to-market roads in Texas for better travel and flood control; 2-13 and 2-14 WHEREAS, The bill which was finally passed increased funding 2-15 for farm-to-market roads in order to assist Texas in its economic 2-16 expansion and population growth; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Another of the most influential bills passed during 2-18 the session was Senate Bill 316, sponsored by Senators Proffer and 2-19 Jones, which created the Texas Legislative Council; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Senate Bill 316 provided for the appointment of its 2-21 members, prescribed its powers and duties, and directed other 2-22 state agencies to render advice and assistance to the council; and 2-23 WHEREAS, The duties of the council include gathering 2-24 information for the use of the legislature, investigating 2-25 departments, agencies, and officers of the state and studying 2-26 their functions and problems, and making studies for the use of 3-1 the legislative branch of the state government; and 3-2 WHEREAS, The citizens of Texas were well served by their 3-3 senators and representatives during the 51st Legislature, and the 3-4 entire state has profited; and 3-5 WHEREAS, The actions of the 51st Legislature have had a 3-6 positive impact on the lives of countless Texans, and the 3-7 dedication and devotion of these keenly perceptive men in their 3-8 complicated endeavors will continue to inspire lawmakers for years 3-9 to come; now, therefore, be it 3-10 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-11 76th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud the superlative 3-12 work of the 51st Legislature, and express appreciation for the 3-13 excellent legislation produced; and, be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 3-15 tribute to the 51st Texas Legislature. 3-16 Ratliff 3-17 ______________________________________ 3-18 President of the Senate 3-19 I hereby certify that the above 3-20 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-21 on April 26, 1999. 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 Secretary of the Senate 3-24 ______________________________________ 3-25 Member, Texas Senate