HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5734

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to Mother Joseph day.

Brief Description:  Recognizing the sixteenth day of April as Mother Joseph day.

Sponsors:  Senators Bauer, Deccio, Franklin, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon, McAuliffe, Spanel, Rossi, Brown, Snyder, Fairley, Wojahn, Heavey, Thibaudeau, Shin, T. Sheldon, Eide, Goings, Loveland, Jacobsen, Prentice, Haugen, Fraser, Gardner, Kline and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  3/30/99, 4/2/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Designates April 16, as Mother Joseph day, an unpaid non-legal day of recognition.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 8 members: Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Staff: Scott MacColl (786-7127).

Background:

The Legislature recognizes legal holidays, such as Presidents' Day and Memorial Day, as paid holidays for state employees.  The Legislature also recognizes days of recognition for groups and individuals which are not paid legal holidays.  These days consist of the following: Columbus Day; Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day; Washington Army and Air National Guard Day; Purple Heart Recipient Recognition Day; and Washington State Children's Day.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature recognizes the Sixteenth Day of April as Mother Joseph Day, as an unpaid, non-legal holiday.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill was initiated by kids from the accelerated program from the Evergreen School District in Vancouver.  They wanted to get involved in the governmental process, and to commemorate Mother Joseph.  Mother Joseph was born in Canada, and became a nun with the Sisters of Providence, and was subsequently sent to Vancouver, Washington.  She built a number of hospitals, schools and community buildings in Seattle, Vancouver and Olympia.  Commemorating Mother Joseph will bring awareness to people about what she has given to the state.  A memorial garden is planned on the site of the Providence Hospital in Vancouver.  The Sisters of Providence are very excited about the bill, and appreciate the efforts of the children.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  Senator Bauer, prime sponsor; Sara Bess, Kathleen Jennings, T.J. Pierce, and Cailin Reive, Burton School, Grade 6 Excel Program; Deanne Kopkas, Sisters of Providence Health System.