SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 17

WHEREAS, Albert Hawkins is retiring as executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on August 31, 2009, and it is indeed fitting to recognize his outstanding leadership at this time; and

WHEREAS, Appointed by Governor Rick Perry in January 2003, Mr. Hawkins oversees operations of five health and human services agencies with more than 50,000 employees and a combined budget of about $25 billion; during his tenure, he oversaw the consolidation of 12 agencies into five and he initiated substantial enhancements in child and adult protective services; widely recognized as a budget expert, he instituted administrative changes in the Texas Medicaid program that have saved millions of dollars, as well as innovations that include personalized treatment plans for clients with chronic health issues and electronic health passports for children from foster homes; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hawkins met the challenges of natural disasters with compassion and efficiency; by ensuring the availability of federal resources, he avoided overburdening Texas taxpayers while providing timely aid to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike; during his tenure, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission won increased federal funding for services, more than doubling Upper Payment Limits for doctors and hospitals and significantly increasing funding for services to the deaf and hearing impaired; moreover, Mr. Hawkins worked with the legislature to expand community placement options to serve an additional 20,000 clients with disabilities and special health care needs; and

WHEREAS, A Fort Worth native, Mr. Hawkins worked his way through The University of Texas at Austin as a postal service employee and earned his master's degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs; he joined the Texas Legislative Budget Board in 1978 as a program analyst and eventually became deputy director of the agency; from 1995 to 2000, he served as budget director for Governor George W. Bush, and he went on to serve on the senior staff in the Bush White House as assistant to the president and secretary to the cabinet; and

WHEREAS, This dynamic 35-year veteran of government service has received numerous accolades, including the Whitney M. Young Award of the Austin Urban League, the Outstanding Leadership Award of the Austin Chapter of Blacks in Government, and the Bob Bullock Award for Outstanding Public Stewardship; he received an honorary doctorate of public service from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and was named a distinguished alumnus by the LBJ School; in addition, he was Texas State Administrator of the Year in 1998; he has served his local community as chair of the Austin Area Urban League, as board treasurer of the Capital Area United Way, as a mentor and board member of Project M.A.N., Incorporated, and as a member of the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Austin; and

WHEREAS, Highly respected for his integrity, dedication, and uncompromising commitment to excellence and fiscal responsibility, Albert Hawkins skillfully guided the Health and Human Services Commission through a time of considerable change, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many accomplishments; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Albert Hawkins on his retirement as executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Hawkins as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Nelson

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on July 2, 2009.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate