SRC-TJG S.C.R. 3 78(1)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.C.R. 3
78S10572 CLE-FBy: Ogden
Infrastructure Development and Security
7/17/2003
As Filed


DIGEST

In the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the United States Congress
recognized the importance of a university-based, integrated approach to
homeland security when it required the secretary of the United States
Department of Homeland Security to establish university-based centers for
homeland security.  Texas colleges and universities are at the forefront
of research on issues pertaining to homeland security, including emergency
response, food safety, transportation, border security, information
protection, and counterterrorism and have joined together to maximize
their abilities to meet state and national homeland security needs.  The
selection criteria established by congress for  university-based centers
for homeland security include expertise in training of first responders;
response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction and biological
warfare; emergency and diagnostic medical services; chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear countermeasures and detection; animal and plant
health and diagnostics; food safety; water and wastewater operations; port
and waterway security; multimodal transportation; information security and
information engineering; engineering; educational outreach and technical
assistance; border transportation and security; and public policy; these
criteria are epitomized by the collective strengths of Texas colleges and
universities.  Texas institutions of higher education have been leaders on
issues related to homeland security long before September 11, 2001, due to
Texas' unique possession of large agricultural, petrochemical, maritime,
and telecommunications industries and major land and sea ports on the
border with Mexico and on the Gulf of Mexico, all of which are vulnerable
to terrorist attack.  The Homeland Security Act of 2002 required a
university-based center or centers for homeland security to be established
within one year of the date of enactment. 

PURPOSE
As proposed, S.C.R. 3 submits the following resolutions:

Provides that the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas, 1st Called
Session, hereby respectfully urge United States Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Tom Ridge to recognize the expertise and resources
represented by Texas colleges and universities by designating a
university-based center for homeland security in the State of Texas.
Provides that the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this
resolution to the president of the United States, to the secretary of the
United States Department of Homeland Security, and to all members of the
Texas congressional delegation.