By Uher                                               H.R. No. 1446
         77R16694 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Steve Collins, who became chief legislative counsel
 1-2     and executive director of the Texas Legislative Council on December
 1-3     1, 2000, has provided exactly the sort of strong and capable
 1-4     leadership that was promised by his skillful handling of council
 1-5     responsibilities throughout his previous 25 years of outstanding
 1-6     service with this agency; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, A native of Amarillo and a 1976 graduate of The
 1-8     University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Collins began his career
 1-9     with the council in September 1976 as a legislative counsel and
1-10     rose steadily through the ranks; he became assistant director of
1-11     the legal division in 1984 and director of the division in 1986, a
1-12     position to which he also added the responsibilities of general
1-13     counsel; when it came time to select a new executive director for
1-14     the legislative council, his background as an attorney and as an
1-15     administrator made him a natural for the job; and
1-16           WHEREAS, In his post as executive director, Mr. Collins
1-17     oversees a council staff whose numbers range from more than 400
1-18     during the interim to approximately 500 employees when the
1-19     legislature is in session; a nonpartisan agency that provides
1-20     support services to the legislature and legislative agencies, the
1-21     council strives for quality and efficiency, and in pursuing these
1-22     goals it has the unconditional support of its new director, the
1-23     strongest of advocates for superior customer service; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Assuming the reins of this critical organization at
 2-1     the beginning of a redistricting session, by definition one of the
 2-2     most challenging of legislative gatherings, Mr. Collins continues
 2-3     to demonstrate his integrity, judgment, and level-headed composure,
 2-4     and it is indeed a great pleasure to pay tribute to his masterful
 2-5     execution of this demanding office; now, therefore, be it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-7     Legislature hereby honor Steve Collins for his exemplary service as
 2-8     executive director and chief legislative counsel of the Texas
 2-9     Legislative Council and extend to him its deep appreciation for his
2-10     innumerable contributions in behalf of this state; and, be it
2-11     further
2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-13     prepared for Mr. Collins as an expression of high regard by the
2-14     Texas House of Representatives.