H.R. No. 972

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Ground was broken in March 2017 for construction of
	the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence in Pharr, bringing
	to fruition a unique collaboration between South Texas College, the
	City of Pharr, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School
	District; and
	WHEREAS, This new regional center will meet the growing law
	enforcement needs of the Rio Grande Valley by providing basic
	training and certification for entry-level peace officers as well
	as continuing education classes for the area's police veterans,
	with all instructional programs satisfying the requirements
	established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; when it is
	completed, this state-of-the-art 21,800-square-foot facility will
	include classrooms, administrative offices, a vehicle-driving
	range, an outdoor shooting range, and a firearms simulator; it is
	slated to open by the end of 2017; and
	WHEREAS, In support of this worthwhile project, the City of
	Pharr has contributed 59 acres of land worth $2.5 million, while the
	PSJA ISD has contributed an additional 10 acres; the district has
	also contributed $1 million to the venture for the construction of
	four classrooms to serve the needs of dual-enrollment students in
	criminal justice and other public safety programs; and
	WHEREAS, The center will be run under the auspices of South
	Texas College, which will offer a broader range of degree and
	certificate programs in criminal justice; the center will expand
	early college opportunities for the students of PSJA ISD, and it
	will offer adults in the community access to degree, certification,
	and other advanced training programs in a number of careers; and
	WHEREAS, This noteworthy collaborative effort will fill a
	long-standing need for regional law enforcement training while also
	creating jobs in the Rio Grande Valley, and the project's three
	partners may indeed take great pride in their foresight,
	initiative, and commitment to improving educational opportunities
	in the area; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby commend South Texas College, the City of Pharr,
	and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District for the
	creation of the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence and
	extend to all those associated with the project sincere best wishes
	for success in their shared enterprise; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for South Texas College, the City of Pharr, and Pharr-San
	Juan-Alamo ISD as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of
	Representatives.
	Canales
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 972 was adopted by the House on March
	30, 2017, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House