SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5410

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Ecology & Parks, February 8, 1995

Title:  An act relating to the Washington park arboretum.

Brief Description:  Designating the Washington park arboretum as an official state arboretum.

Sponsors:  Senators C. Anderson, Rasmussen, Gaspard, Newhouse, Snyder, Bauer, Kohl, Pelz, Fraser, Sellar, Wood and Roach.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ecology & Parks:  2/2/95, 2/8/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5410 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; C. Anderson, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  Washington State has a variety of designations symbolizing the uniqueness of the state.  Some of these include the state flag, state tree (western hemlock), state grass (bluebunch wheatgrass), state flower (rhododendron), state fruit (apple), state bird (willow goldfinch), state fish (steelhead trout), state song ("Washington My Home"), state folk song ("Roll on Columbia"), state dance (square dance), and the state seal.

The Washington Park Arboretum, formerly known as the University of Washington Arboretum, is a 200-acre arboretum run by the city of Seattle and the University of Washington.  In addition to being an area dedicated to preserving and displaying woody plant species from around the world that can thrive in the Northwest, it is a center for botanical and gardening information. 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Findings are made regarding the importance of arboreta to the state.  The Washington Park Arboretum is declared an official arboretum of the state of Washington.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Additional findings are made.  The legislative findings are uncodified; only the official declaration is codified.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill acknowledges the important role played by the Washington Park Arboretum in botanical and gardening matters.  The official designation will help the arboretum when it approaches national foundations for grants.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Don Abel, Arboretum Foundation (pro); John Wott, University of Washington (pro); Bill Briggs (pro).