Bill Text: TX HR204 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring Texas game wardens for 125 years of service to the Lone Star State.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-23 - Reported enrolled [HR204 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR204-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 204 |
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WHEREAS, Texas game wardens have protected their fellow | ||
citizens and the state's natural resources for 125 years; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1895, the 24th Texas Legislature established the | ||
office of Fish and Oyster Commissioner to enforce laws related to | ||
those industries; four years later, it gave the Fish and Oyster | ||
Commission jurisdiction over all public waters, including | ||
freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds, and it later added commercial | ||
shrimping to the portfolio; and | ||
WHEREAS, The agency underwent several name changes before | ||
1963, when it became the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; in | ||
that era, wardens were first charged with promoting recreational | ||
water safety; the legislature designated game wardens as Texas | ||
peace officers in 1971, and eight years later, TPWD hired its first | ||
female game warden; and | ||
WHEREAS, In the past decade, game wardens have formed | ||
specialized teams to expand their capabilities; these include | ||
underwater and swift-water recovery, forensic accident | ||
reconstruction, and unmanned aerial surveillance; a K-9 unit was | ||
launched in 2013, and game wardens have played a vital role in | ||
rescue and recovery following such disasters as Hurricanes Ike and | ||
Harvey; and | ||
WHEREAS, A force once small in size and scope, game wardens | ||
now number more than 550, and they have been called "the Swiss Army | ||
knife of Texas law enforcement"; many have aided the COVID-19 | ||
pandemic response, delivering personal protective equipment, | ||
conveying samples to labs, and assisting at testing sites; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over the course of more than a century, game wardens | ||
have worked tirelessly to safeguard the state's natural resources | ||
while taking on increasing responsibilities, and in so doing, they | ||
have earned the lasting respect and appreciation of past, present, | ||
and future generations of fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby honor Texas game wardens for 125 years of | ||
service to the Lone Star State and extend to them sincere best | ||
wishes for continued success in their endeavors; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for Texas game wardens as an expression of high regard by | ||
the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
King of Hemphill | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 204 was adopted by the House on March | ||
18, 2021, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||