H.R. No. 267

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The volunteers, staff, and board members who make up
	the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates organization are
	gathering in Austin on January 30, 2013, for CASA Day at the
	Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Court appointed special advocates are individuals
	who speak up for children removed from their homes due to abuse or
	neglect; sworn in by judges, CASA volunteers make certain that
	these young people have a voice in the family court, social service,
	and foster care systems, and the advocates remain focused on each
	child until he or she is placed in a safe, permanent home and the
	case is closed; often, the volunteers are a rare source of stability
	in the lives of the young people they assist; and
	WHEREAS, The CASA movement began in Seattle in 1977, when a
	judge realized that he needed to know more about the young victims
	of abuse and neglect who appeared in his courtroom; the
	contributions of the volunteers who responded to his request for
	assistance were so valuable that the program quickly spread to
	other states; the first CASA program in Texas began in 1979, and
	there are currently 69 local programs in the state that together
	provide life-changing advocacy to more than half of the children in
	the foster care system; and
	WHEREAS, A diverse group that comes from a broad range of
	backgrounds, CASA volunteers in Texas research a child's situation,
	offer information and recommendations about the individual's best
	interests, and work with the state to find the young person a
	"forever family"; in 2012, more than 7,200 volunteers gave help and
	hope to more than 22,900 children; and
	WHEREAS, Countless residents of Texas benefit from the
	critical services provided by CASA volunteers, whose work ensures
	that a most vulnerable group in our society is not forgotten; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2013, as CASA Day at the
	Capitol and commend all those associated with Texas CASA for their
	steadfast commitment and admirable achievements; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the
	Texas House of Representatives.
	Otto
	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. 267 was adopted by the House on January
	30, 2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House