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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Samuel Dale Allen has worked tirelessly to improve |
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interactions between law enforcement and Texans with health |
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conditions that may impede communication; and |
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WHEREAS, A San Antonio native, Samuel Allen was diagnosed |
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with high-functioning autism as a child; he began advocating for |
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others with autism as a student, and he has helped educate the |
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public about the condition; moreover, he has raised vital awareness |
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of the misunderstandings that can occur when an officer makes a |
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traffic stop involving someone with autism, Asperger Syndrome, mild |
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intellectual disabilities, deafness, speech disorders, or other |
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impediments; his accomplishments earned him a Spirit of Giving |
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Award from the San Antonio Business Journal; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Allen has been a strong voice in support of |
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S.B. 976, which allows a person with a communication impediment the |
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option to disclose this information when registering their vehicle |
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through the Department of Motor Vehicles; this would place the |
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diagnosis in the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System, |
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ensuring that an officer is alerted prior to approaching the |
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vehicle, while maintaining the privacy of the driver; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his dedicated efforts, Samuel Allen is |
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helping to make encounters safer for officers and people with |
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communication impediments, and his contributions have earned the |
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respect and admiration of his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commend Samuel Allen for his civic engagement and advocacy |
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for individuals with communication impediments and, contingent on |
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the passing of S.B. 976, recognize Section 502.061, Transportation |
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Code, as the Samuel Allen Law. |