TITLE: Commending South Texas College, the City of Pharr, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD for creating the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence.

SUMMARY: Commending South Texas College, the City of Pharr, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD for creating the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence.

FULL TEXT:
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