TITLE: Recognizing Ken Levine on the occasion of his retirement.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Ken Levine on the occasion of his retirement.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Ken Levine retired as Director of the Sunset Advisory Commission on August 31, 2018, thus drawing to a close an exemplary career that spanned 37 years with the legislative agency; and WHEREAS, Hired to serve the commission in 1981, Mr. Levine was instrumental in the development of thousands of proposals to improve government operations and programs through his leadership and participation in the commission's recommendations; he conducted and supervised reviews of agencies and programs related to areas that impact all Texans' lives, such as alcoholic beverages, water resources, insurance, and human services; after serving as assistant director, he was promoted to deputy director in 1995, and 14 years later, he was appointed to lead the agency in the position of director; and WHEREAS, Mr. Levine is recognized on the state and national levels as an expert and a leader in public policy and program evaluation; he is a Fellow of the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at The University of Texas School of Law; he has held several leadership positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures; he served for five years on its Executive Committee and for 11 years on its Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee; he was elected to serve for three terms on the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society's Executive Committee and served as both its chair and vice chair; he has given numerous presentations on program evaluation and the Sunset process before state, national, and international audiences; Mr. Levine holds a degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree from the institution's Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs; and WHEREAS, Through his leadership, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to promoting good governance, Ken Levine has greatly benefited his fellow Texans, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a career well spent and much appreciated; and WHEREAS, Mr. Levine is now able to pursue his longtime passion for traveling and to attend baseball games and enjoy playing and hearing all genres of music; in addition, he enjoys spending more time with his family, especially with his wife of 33 years, Ellie, and their daughter, Katie; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby congratulate Ken Levine on his exceptional career and on his retirement as director of the Sunset Advisory Commission and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Ken Levine as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Watson, Birdwell, Buckingham, Hall, Nichols Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 1, 2019.