Bill Text: TX HR1571 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating 2011 as the Year of the Farmworker Child.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-21 - Reported enrolled [HR1571 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR1571-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1571 | ||
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| WHEREAS, During 2011, the Association of Farmworker | ||
| Opportunity Programs is working to draw attention to the | ||
| underserved constituency of farmworker children; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Youth as young as 12 years of age are legally allowed | ||
| to work in agriculture for an unlimited number of hours outside of | ||
| school, yet according to the Centers for Disease Control's National | ||
| Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, agriculture is the | ||
| most dangerous industry in the United States that is open to | ||
| children in terms of injuries and fatalities; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Agricultural work involves exposure to pesticides | ||
| and the use of dangerous farm equipment, and these conditions can | ||
| lead to serious injury or even death; farmworker youth are also | ||
| excluded from the "hazardous work" protections imposed in all other | ||
| industries, allowing children as young as 16 to operate heavy | ||
| machinery and perform other dangerous functions that are strictly | ||
| reserved for adults in every other area of employment; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that | ||
| farmworker children earn less than $1,000 per year on average, | ||
| while often sacrificing their education and physical well-being; | ||
| moreover, it is estimated that more than half of migrant farmworker | ||
| youth drop out of high school; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs | ||
| will be hosting events and activities throughout the year aimed at | ||
| improving federal standards concerning child labor in agriculture | ||
| and educating the public, all with the goal of brightening the | ||
| future of America's migrant and seasonal farmworker children; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate 2011 as the Year of the Farmworker | ||
| Child and encourage all Texans to learn more about this important | ||
| issue; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs as | ||
| an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Munoz, Jr. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1571 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 19, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
