82R30189 BPG-D

By: Frullo H.R. No. 2419

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Legal Aid Society of Lubbock has provided vital assistance to low-income residents for more than three decades; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, the Lubbock County Bar Association began a pro bono project to offer legal advice and representation to underserved citizens of Lubbock County; that initiative led to the incorporation of the Legal Aid Society of Lubbock in 1974; since that time, the nonprofit organization has continued to expand its staff and services, and today, it provides assistance in family law and elder law matters to residents of Lubbock, Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum Counties; and

WHEREAS, The Legal Aid Society currently has a staff of 10 full-time and part-time employees, including 4 attorneys; the staff fielded more than 20,000 phone calls in 2010 and assisted more than 8,000 clients who came to the office for help; its caseload of some 1,300 matters represented a 22 percent increase over 2009; more than 80 percent of its clients have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, and the society is at the forefront of the effort to help end such attacks through its leadership of the Domestic Violence Taskforce and its involvement in the Crime Victims' Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Through their dedicated service, the staff of the Legal Aid Society of Lubbock have made a positive difference in the lives of innumerable area residents, and it is indeed fitting to recognize their outstanding contributions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby honor the Legal Aid Society of Lubbock and extend to its staff sincere best wishes for continued success in their noteworthy endeavors; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.