Bill Text: TX HR678 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Recognizing March 4 and 5, 2013, as Collin County Days at the State Capitol.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-03-13 - Reported enrolled [HR678 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HR678-Enrolled.html

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H.R. No. 678

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering at the
State Capitol on March 4 and 5, 2013, to celebrate Collin County
Days, and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to its
many prosperous communities; and
WHEREAS, The seventh most populous county in Texas, Collin
County has maintained the highest sustained growth rate for Texas
counties with more than 200,000 people, at 66 percent; the
educational level of its residents is twice that of the state and
national average, with 93 percent of the workforce over 25 holding a
high school diploma and 50 percent having earned at least a
bachelor's degree; and
WHEREAS, Collin County also ranks first in the 2011 and 2012
reports from the University of Wisconsin Population Health
Institute's Texas County Health Rankings, and it ranked sixth
nationwide in CNN Money magazine's 2012 Counties with Fastest Job
Growth; in addition, the county has just entered its 20th year in a
row with no increase in the property tax rate; and
WHEREAS, Plano is the largest city in the county and home to
such major companies as Frito-Lay, J. C. Penney Company, Inc.,
Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group,
Inc.; recently named one of the Best Run Cities in America by 24/7
Wall St., this thriving municipality boasts nationally recognized
schools, award-winning parks, a lively historic district, and
multicultural neighborhoods that appeal equally to families, young
singles, and retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant shopping
districts, exciting entertainment venues, and active local arts
scene all contribute to the city's high quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Home of the Collin County Regional Airport, McKinney
hosts such major employers as Raytheon Company, Encore Wire
Corporation, Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark
Corporation; its historic downtown encompasses 130 boutiques, and
it has earned the number two ranking in Money magazine's list of
Best Places to Live and a place on America's Promise Alliance 100
Best Communities for Young People; and
WHEREAS, Allen was named among the 10 safest cities in the
nation in its class for the third time by CQ Press, and it has also
placed 13th on Money magazine's list of the Best Places to Live; the
city received the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Award
for its environmental efforts, and its residents are proud of the
2012 5A Division 1 high school football champions, the Allen
Eagles; and
WHEREAS, Frisco combines a dynamic business environment with
a comfortable, hometown atmosphere, and as one of the top
communities in the area in safety, innovation, and cultural
opportunities, it has been named by Men's Journal as the Best Place
to Raise an Athlete; with 130,000 residents so far and growing,
Frisco is on track to more than double in size in the years to come;
and
WHEREAS, Ranked in the 2010 U.S. Census as the
third-fastest-growing city in Texas, Wylie celebrated its 125th
anniversary in 2012, and over the years, it has transformed from a
farming center into a community with a thriving business
environment, outstanding schools, an ISO-1 rated fire department,
and a police department that has lowered the crime rate by 13
percent; new infrastructure enhancements include $50 million in
improved roads, an upgrade of the city's two parks, a new recreation
center, and a public library that boasts 30,000 cardholders out of
45,000 residents; and
WHEREAS, Home of The University of Texas at Dallas and the
Telecom Corridor, Richardson has been recognized by the Texas
Legislature as the official International Business Capital of North
Texas; the city is the site of State Farm's new lease of 1.5 million
square feet of office space, as well as home to the Corporate
Challenge, an Olympic-style competition between such companies as
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Southwest Airlines, Raytheon Company, and
Texas Instruments; the city is also host to the Wildflower! Art and
Music Festival, the largest such event in North Texas, and the
Cottonwood Art Festival, one of the top outdoor arts festivals in
the nation; and
WHEREAS, More than 80 percent of the land in the city of
Murphy is developed, with the addition of such exciting new
projects as Murphy Central Park, the Plano Sports Authority-Murphy
Center, and a Super Wal-Mart, as well as the expansion of Murphy
Road from two lanes to six; Murphy was recognized by Money magazine
as one of the top cities to live in, and it has been named as the
second-safest city in North Texas and the fourth-safest in the
state; and
WHEREAS, Recognized by D Magazine as a top 10 suburb, Prosper
issued more than 460 single-family housing permits in 2012 and has a
billion-dollar mixed-use development in the works; it is home to
several top housing developers, including Blue Star Development,
LandPlan, and Terra Verde Group; Prosper's citizens have passed a
$710 million bond package for their public schools, which have
maintained academic excellence while experiencing a growth in
enrollment of 50 percent over the last three years; the city's
outstanding police department offers such community outreach and
crime prevention programs as Citizens on Patrol, the Citizens
Police Academy, and Prosper Community Watch, among others; and
WHEREAS, One of two platinum-level Scenic Cities in Texas,
Fairview has been recognized as a Tree City USA, earned a 2012
Growing Green Cities Award, and ranked 12th in D Magazine's Best DFW
Suburbs for 2012; the city is home to the first street in Texas
illuminated by LED lighting and is a three-time recipient of the
Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award; the city's
Veterans' Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement
Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; and
WHEREAS, The crossroads of the developing transportation
corridor in northern Collin County, Celina is growing rapidly while
retaining its respect for the traditional values of family and
heritage; its school district is rich in academic and athletic
achievement, with the Celina Bobcats earning pride of place as the
winners of eight state football championships; and
WHEREAS, Since its incorporation in 1959, Lucas has remained
a serene country oasis of spacious homes, small ranches, farms,
horse trails, and lakeside living; the city's emphasis on financial
stability and transparency has earned it the Certificate in
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the
Government Finance Officers Association for two years in a row;
Lucas is also proud of its top-rated volunteer fire department,
whose members have especially distinguished themselves fighting
wildfires in recent years; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Parker are proud to be living in D
Magazine's number one suburb in the DFW metroplex, and they also
enjoy a low municipal tax rate, as well as an AA bond rating; they
cherish their uniquely "country" lifestyle, with its large lots and
comfortable atmosphere, known to millions of television viewers as
the home of the legendary Southfork Ranch from Dallas; and
WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
allure; Anna's annual Balloon Festival and its warm and welcoming
atmosphere charm visitors from across the country; Farmersville
boasts a bustling district of antique and specialty shops and has
earned the Texas Downtown Association's Community Spirit Award for
its annual celebration of hometown hero Audie Murphy, winner of the
Congressional Medal of Honor; the growing community of Blue Ridge
is committed to revitalizing its downtown, while the people of
Josephine are proud of their active volunteer fire department,
which not only protects the community but hosts such popular annual
events as the Easter egg hunt and the Christmas parade; and
WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
County are the citizens of Copeville, Lavon, Lowry Crossing,
Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Royse City, Sachse, St. Paul,
Westminster, and Weston, along with parts of Dallas and Garland,
and those communities play an important part in the county's
flourishing, diversified economy and its commendable quality of
life; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
to a bright and promising future, and they are sure to figure
prominently in the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State in
the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 4 and 5, 2013, as Collin County
Days at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
visiting delegation for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin.
Laubenberg
Leach
Sanford
Turner of Collin
Taylor
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 678 was adopted by the House on March 5,
2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House