HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1088

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the state fossil.

Brief Description:  Designating Mammuthus primigenius as the official fossil of the state of Washington.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by  Representatives Sheahan and Schoesler).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  1/31/97 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/17/97, 95‑0;

Passed House:  1/16/98, 89-0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Washington has designated several official ceremonial symbols over the years.  These include the state fish, steelhead trout; the state gem, petrified wood; and the state folk song, "Roll On Columbia, Roll On."  Washington does not have an official state fossil.  Other states have designated state fossils, including the saber-toothed cat in California and the Hagerman Horse Fossil in Idaho.

Summary of Bill:  The Columbian  mammoth (Mammuthus COLUMBI) is designated as the official fossil of the state of Washington.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Remains of the Columbian mammoth have been found throughout the state, and therefore this is a fossil that represents the entire state.  When our young people are excited about a school project, we should support them.  It would be colossal to have a state fossil.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Sheahan, prime sponsor; Sara Jane Aebly, second grade teacher, Windsor Elementary School; and Chris Pineo, student at Windsor Elementary School.