HBA-ALS H.C.R. 111 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 111 By: Noriega State Affairs 5/7/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the name of a state building must be approved and authorized by a concurrent resolution passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. The state office building at 5425 Polk Avenue in Houston has never been officially named. The Tejano Association for Historical Preservation has requested that the building be named in honor of Elias Ramirez, an early Houston civic and civil rights leader. Elias Ramirez was born in Texas in 1880 and settled in Houston in 1910. Within a few years Mr. Ramirez established the Sociedad Mutualista Benito Juarez, an organization created to inform Hispanic citizens of their rights and assist them in obtaining educations for their children. In addition, the organization's Mexican Patriotic Committee promoted the history of Mexico's cultural traditions. At that time, Mexican-Americans were prohibited from using the community's only park, so Mr. Ramirez led a successful effort to establish and maintain what is now known as Hidalgo Park. Additionally, Mr. Ramirez helped to establish the first Houston council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Mr. Ramirez passed away in 1960. The purpose of this resolution is to pay tribute to Elias Ramirez for his achievements and his contributions to the City of Houston by the naming of a state office building in his honor. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS H.C.R. 111 urges the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas to name the state building at 5425 Polk Avenue in Houston the Elias Ramirez Building. Provides that the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General Services Commission.