Bill Text: TX HCR36 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating February as Hit-and-Run Awareness Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2019.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HCR36 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HCR36-Introduced.html
| 86R7699 ST-D | ||
| By: Bailes | H.C.R. No. 36 | |
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Each February, Hit-and-Run Awareness Month is | ||
| observed throughout the nation to highlight the danger these | ||
| accidents pose to the public and the often tragic toll they can | ||
| exact on families and communities; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An average of 682,000 hit-and-run incidents have | ||
| taken place in the United States each year since 2006; a record-high | ||
| 2,049 deaths occurred from these crashes in 2016, with pedestrians | ||
| and cyclists accounting for most of the fatalities; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In Texas, the state Transportation Code specifies | ||
| that drivers are legally obligated to stop if they are involved in | ||
| an accident of any kind, and failure to do so can result in a second | ||
| degree felony charge; nonetheless, Texas ranks eighth in the nation | ||
| in the number of hit-and-run crashes; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The heartbreaking loss of East Texas resident Josey | ||
| Lynn Scott offers an example of the terrible consequences that can | ||
| result from a hit-and-run; a 2013 graduate of Tarkington High | ||
| School, where she served as FFA president during her senior year, | ||
| Ms. Scott went on to enroll at Angelina College with the goal of | ||
| becoming a dental hygienist; this vibrant young woman relished | ||
| hunting, fishing, riding horses, and other outdoor activities, and | ||
| she was active in the Christian Cowboy Fellowship Church in | ||
| Cleveland, Texas; on February 10, 2015, while jogging along FM 2666 | ||
| near Shepherd, she was struck from behind by a vehicle; the driver | ||
| fled without rendering assistance, and Ms. Scott died at the scene | ||
| at the age of 19; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ms. Scott's family | ||
| started the "Justice for Josey" campaign, which has worked to focus | ||
| attention on the issue and to provide support for other victims and | ||
| their families; additionally, the organization has fought for | ||
| tougher laws for offenders who leave the scene of a crash; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Increased public awareness is key to reducing the | ||
| number of hit-and-run injuries and fatalities, and it is indeed | ||
| appropriate that February be officially designated as Hit-and-Run | ||
| Awareness Month and that all Texans be encouraged to affirm their | ||
| commitment to making our roadways safer for all; now, therefore, be | ||
| it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate February as Hit-and-Run Awareness Month and pay | ||
| tribute to the memory of Josey Lynn Scott; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date that this resolution is | ||
| finally passed by the legislature. | ||
