FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1449

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 224 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Recognizing the fourth Saturday of September as public lands day.

Sponsors: Representatives Peterson, Chandler, Doglio, Ortiz-Self, Blake, Gregerson, Tharinger, Dolan, Frame, Stanford, Chapman, Fitzgibbon, Davis, Santos, Lovick, Tarleton, Jinkins and Ormsby.

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations

Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections

Background:

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. The National Environmental Education Foundation, established under the National Environmental Education Act of 1990, coordinates National Public Lands Day with participating federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Three states, including Nevada, Colorado, and Virginia, recognize a state Public Lands Day on varying days.

Washington recognizes 10 specific days and all Sundays as state legal holidays. Another 15 specific days are recognized by the Legislature, but are not considered legal holidays. These other recognized days include Korean-American Day, Columbus Day, Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, Washington Army and Air National Guard Day, Purple Heart Recipient Recognition Day, Children's Day, Mother Joseph Day, Marcus Whitman Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Civil Liberties Day of Remembrance, Juneteenth, Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and Cesar Chavez Day.

Summary:

The fourth Saturday of September is recognized as Public Lands Day.

Votes on Final Passage:

House

97

0

Senate

48

0

Effective:

July 28, 2019