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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Silver-Haired Legislature has benefited |
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our state in countless ways over the course of four decades, and its |
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achievements are indeed deserving of recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, Designed to encourage older Texans to take an active |
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role in legislative and governmental affairs, TSHL traces its |
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origins to April 1985, when the 69th Texas Legislature passed |
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S.C.R. 37 to establish the program; the elected members of the |
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inaugural TSHL body met for a training and orientation session in |
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July 1986, and they were sworn in by the Texas secretary of state |
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the following September; the initiative was modeled on similar |
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programs in other states, the first of which was organized in |
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Missouri in 1973; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, TSHL is a nonpartisan organization composed |
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of up to 123 members, age 60 and over, who are elected by and |
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represent the state's 28 Texas Area Agencies on Aging; TSHL members |
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strive to promote good government by discussing and advocating for |
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action on issues affecting older Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, In carrying out their work, members serve on |
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committees covering a range of subject areas; during the group's |
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biennial legislative session at the Texas Capitol, members debate |
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and vote on resolutions addressing key issues, and the approved |
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resolutions are presented to state lawmakers and other officials; |
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over the years, TSHL has impacted more than 275 pieces of |
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legislation, and its involvement has resulted in legislative action |
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on a variety of issues, including the establishment of the Silver |
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Alert program for missing seniors, criminal penalties for senior |
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financial abuse, and efforts to assure the soundness of pension |
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funding for the Employees Retirement System and Teacher Retirement |
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System of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The vitality of our democratic system depends on an |
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informed and engaged citizenry, and since its inception, the Texas |
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Silver-Haired Legislature has made a positive difference in the |
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Lone Star State by drawing on the knowledge and experience of older |
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Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate April as Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Month; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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passed by the legislature. |