Bill Text: TX SR113 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing February 19, 2019, as Texas Game Warden Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-19 - Reported enrolled [SR113 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SR113-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Many dedicated officers and honorably retired | ||
officers of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are visiting | ||
Austin on February 19, 2019, to celebrate Texas Game Warden Day | ||
in conjunction with the annual Texas Game Warden and Game Warden | ||
Peace Officer Association Conference at the State Capitol; and | ||
WHEREAS, Since 1895, when the office of Fish and Oyster | ||
Commissioner was created by the 24th Texas Legislature, game | ||
wardens have played an essential role in wildlife conservation; | ||
the Fish and Oyster Commission was given jurisdiction in 1899 | ||
over all public waters, including freshwater streams, lakes, and | ||
ponds, and its purview was soon extended to shrimping and | ||
hunting; and | ||
WHEREAS, The name of the agency later became the Game, | ||
Fish, and Oyster Commission, and it changed again several times | ||
to reflect the expansion of its mission until, in 1963, it merged | ||
with the State Parks Board to form the current agency; in 1919, | ||
there were just six wardens, but their numbers grew as their | ||
duties continued to evolve, encompassing such tasks as the | ||
promotion of recreational water safety and the apprehension of | ||
criminals involved in a range of illegal activities in addition | ||
to wildlife law violations; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1971, the legislature formally recognized as | ||
peace officers all law enforcement officers within the Texas | ||
Parks and Wildlife Department; the state is served today by some | ||
550 game wardens, whose responsibilities have grown to include | ||
participation in homeland security initiatives on the state's | ||
border with Mexico; and | ||
WHEREAS, For well over a century, game wardens have | ||
enforced natural resource conservation laws in the Lone Star | ||
State, and their vital contributions have earned the deep | ||
appreciation of all Texans; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th | ||
Legislature, hereby recognize February 19, 2019, as Texas Game | ||
Warden Day at the State Capitol and honor these outstanding | ||
professionals as they commemorate 124 years of public service. | ||
Flores | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on February 19, 2019. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |