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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Staff members of the Travis County Mental Health |
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Public Defender office are observing the 10th anniversary of its |
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establishment in 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in April 2007, the Travis County MHPD was |
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the nation's first stand-alone public defender's office dedicated |
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to serving clients with mental health issues; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally established with a grant from the Texas |
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Indigent Defense Commission, the MHPD represents indigent |
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individuals who have been charged with a misdemeanor in Travis |
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County and who have been diagnosed with a mental illness such as |
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schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or |
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schizoaffective disorder; and |
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WHEREAS, The MHPD is staffed with specially trained |
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attorneys, social workers, case workers, and support staff, all of |
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whom are dedicated public servants tasked with providing legal |
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representation and case management for their clients; the office |
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has grown in size and scope since it was founded, and it continues |
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to provide crucial and innovative services to the community; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the leadership of director Melissa McRoy |
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Shearer, the men and women of the Travis County MHPD advocate |
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tirelessly for their clients, working to ensure that their rights |
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are upheld and that they are treated with dignity and respect; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Travis |
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County Mental Health Public Defender office and extend to its staff |
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sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Travis County MHPD office as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |