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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Sunset Advisory Commission was the 2012 winner |
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of the National Conference of State Legislatures Excellence in |
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Evaluation Award; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature established the sunset |
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commission in 1977 to provide an ongoing evaluation of government |
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performance and efficiency; the commission reviews the programs and |
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policies of more than 150 state agencies and submits a series of |
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recommendations to the legislature to eliminate waste and |
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unnecessary overlap in services; since its inception, 78 agencies |
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have been abolished, with 41 of them consolidated with other |
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agencies to cut administrative duplication; these and other |
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commission-proposed actions have amounted to a reduction in |
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spending of an estimated $945 million during the past three |
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decades, equivalent to a return of $29 for every $1 spent on the |
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sunset process; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2012, the commission was presented with the |
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Excellence in Evaluation Award by the National Conference of State |
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Legislatures, a bipartisan organization led by lawmakers and |
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legislative staff from across the country; the award recognized the |
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sunset commission's substantial body of work during the 2008 to |
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2011 review period, which involved recommendations to improve the |
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functions of several major state agencies, including the Texas |
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Department of Transportation, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and |
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the Texas Water Development Board; in addition to citing the |
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extensive positive impact of the adopted measures for the citizens |
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of Texas, NCSL singled out the commission's quality analytical |
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methods and superior written and verbal communication as reasons |
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for its selection; and |
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WHEREAS, The Sunset Advisory Commission was also honored with |
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a 2012 Impact Award by NCSL's National Legislative Program |
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Evaluation Society, for which its work was assessed by peer |
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organizations throughout the United States; considered a leader in |
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program evaluation both nationally and internationally, the |
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commission has hosted 11 foreign delegations representing 22 |
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countries seeking to learn more about the sunset process; and |
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WHEREAS, By prioritizing the transparent and productive use |
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of resources, the Sunset Advisory Commission has enabled our state |
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government to more effectively serve the needs of its citizens, and |
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this prestigious accolade rightly acknowledges the tremendous |
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value of its contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Sunset Advisory Commission on |
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its receipt of the Excellence in Evaluation Award from the National |
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Conference of State Legislatures and commend the commission's |
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members and staff for their diligent work in behalf of state |
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taxpayers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the commission as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |