Bill Text: TX HR1176 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing April 2023 as Second Chance Month and honoring Cynthia Simons and Justin Martinez for their contributions as activists for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-04-26 - Reported enrolled [HR1176 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1176-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1176 | ||
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| WHEREAS, April 2023 has been recognized by presidential | ||
| proclamation as Second Chance Month to honor those who have | ||
| successfully reentered society after being incarcerated and to pay | ||
| tribute to the community groups, faith-based organizations, and | ||
| employers that are helping to reduce recidivism among former | ||
| inmates; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Individuals who have been incarcerated face | ||
| significant barriers in returning to life outside of a detention | ||
| facility; those who have successfully made that transition are | ||
| worthy of recognition, not only because of the challenges they have | ||
| overcome but also because of the positive example they provide to | ||
| others who are walking the same path; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The State of Texas is home to many men and women who | ||
| have transcended their troubled pasts to become productive | ||
| citizens; among their numbers are Cynthia Simons and Justin | ||
| Martinez, who have dedicated themselves to assisting formerly | ||
| incarcerated Texans in rebuilding their lives; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Since her release from prison, Cynthia Simons has | ||
| become a champion for incarcerated women and their families and has | ||
| made a significant difference through her efforts as a peer leader | ||
| and reentry specialist; she has served as a member of the | ||
| Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable and of the board of | ||
| MEASURE, a Black-led organization that works to promote data equity | ||
| to address community policing as well as health, education, and | ||
| economic disparities; she is an advocate for the liberation of | ||
| Black people across the State of Texas, and she has played a pivotal | ||
| role in restoring parental rights to families torn apart by | ||
| incarceration; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After being incarcerated, Justin Martinez completed | ||
| his master's degree in legal studies with a paralegal | ||
| certification; he has since become a policy analyst, and through | ||
| his research and advocacy, he strives to dismantle systems of | ||
| oppression and to help Texans break the cycle of incarceration; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Many more individuals throughout our state have | ||
| likewise emerged from the criminal justice system to realize | ||
| meaningful goals in a broad range of endeavors, and their | ||
| experiences offer a moving testament to the human potential for | ||
| redemption; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize April 2023 as Second Chance Month, | ||
| honor Cynthia Simons and Justin Martinez for their contributions as | ||
| activists for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation, and | ||
| commend those organizations and individuals who are assisting | ||
| former inmates in reintegrating into society. | ||
| J. Johnson of Harris | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1176 was adopted by the House on April | ||
| 25, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
