Authorizing the burial of Guy Herman in the State Cemetery.

89(R) HCR 100 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R16676 KSM-D

By: Flores

H.C.R. No. 100

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, State law stipulates in Section 2165.256,

Government Code, that a person specified in a concurrent resolution

adopted by the legislature is eligible for burial in the State

Cemetery if the State Cemetery Committee finds that the person has

made a significant contribution to Texas history and, based on that

finding, approves the person's burial; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law,

Guy Herman was first elected as Travis County probate judge in 1985;

he has demonstrated exceptional wisdom and compassion in the

adjudication of sensitive matters relating to wills and estates,

guardianships, and mental health commitments, and as the county

population has doubled, he has overseen the growth of the court,

training and guiding associate judges and mentoring many law clerks

who have gone on to success in probate practices; and

WHEREAS, During his long tenure as presiding judge for the

Statutory Probate Judges of Texas, Judge Herman has rendered

exceptional service to the legal community and the legislature,

recommending beneficial changes to state laws and collaborating

effectively on legislative matters with the Real Estate, Probate,

and Trust Law sections of the State Bar of Texas; in 1993, he was

elected president of the Texas College of Probate Judges, and he has

served on numerous statewide and Supreme Court task forces over the

years; and

WHEREAS, From the very beginning of his career on the bench,

Judge Herman has worked to protect vulnerable populations; his

efforts have been crucial in preserving optimal autonomy and

independence for individuals with mental illness and in the

widespread adoption of warrantless detention rather than jailing

defendants prior to mental health treatment; moreover, he played a

key role in the development of the county's hospital district,

which provides primary, specialty, behavioral, and dental health

care to residents with insufficient resources; in recent years, he

has been instrumental in the creation of the Assisted Outpatient

Services approach to meet mental health needs of defendants; Travis

County Integral Care recognized his outstanding record of service

by naming its short-term residential psychiatric treatment

facility the Judge Guy Herman Center for Mental Health Crisis Care

in his honor; and

WHEREAS, In light of his noteworthy contributions to the Lone

Star State, it is fitting that the Honorable Guy Herman be allowed

to designate the State Cemetery as his final resting place; now,

therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby authorize the burial of Guy Herman in the State Cemetery,

provided that his application for assignment of burial space is

approved by the State Cemetery Committee as required by law.