Bill Text: TX SCR26 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Designating the third Tuesday in February as Texas Game Warden Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-30 - Signed by the Governor [SCR26 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SCR26-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Designating the third Tuesday in February as Texas Game Warden Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-30 - Signed by the Governor [SCR26 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SCR26-Comm_Sub.html
| By: Springer | S.C.R. No. 26 | |
| (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2021; March 18, 2021, read | ||
| first time and referred to Committee on Administration; | ||
| April 13, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, | ||
| Nays 0; April 13, 2021, sent to printer.) | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is blessed with abundant | ||
| wildlife and natural resources, and for more than 125 years, Texas | ||
| game wardens have played a vital role in preserving and protecting | ||
| this rich legacy for all Texans; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The profession of Texas game warden has its roots in | ||
| the office of the Fish and Oyster Commissioner, which was created in | ||
| 1895 by the 24th Texas Legislature; the first commissioner was I. P. | ||
| Kibbe, and he appointed several deputies, including William Henry | ||
| Sterling, one of the first conservation law enforcement officers in | ||
| the state; staff salaries--$150 a month for the commissioner and up | ||
| to $50 a month for the deputies--were funded by the sale of licenses | ||
| and permits; in 1899, the commission was given jurisdiction over | ||
| all public waters, including freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds, | ||
| and four years later the agency's duties were expanded to include | ||
| commercial shrimping; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the years, the name of the agency has changed | ||
| several times; it was designated the office of the Game, Fish, and | ||
| Oyster Commissioner in 1907, the Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission | ||
| in 1929, and the Game and Fish Commission in 1951; since 1963, the | ||
| agency has been known as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, | ||
| and in 1965, the professionals now known as Texas game wardens were | ||
| further tasked with enforcing recreational safety on all waters of | ||
| the state; in 1971, the 62nd Texas Legislature formally recognized | ||
| TPWD game wardens as peace officers, granting them full authority | ||
| to preserve the peace within Texas; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The ranks of game wardens in Texas have grown over | ||
| the years, from six officers in 1919 to more than 550 today; active | ||
| and retired game wardens joined together in 1979 to found the Texas | ||
| Game Warden Association and again in 2000 to establish the Game | ||
| Warden Peace Officers Association, with both organizations working | ||
| to further the vitality and the heritage of the profession; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The dedicated men and women who serve as game | ||
| wardens in the Lone Star State work tirelessly to safeguard the rich | ||
| bounty of our natural resources and to maintain them for the use and | ||
| enjoyment of present and future generations, and their exemplary | ||
| service is deeply appreciated by their fellow Texans; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate the third Tuesday in February as Texas Game Warden | ||
| Day; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
| * * * * * | ||
