SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5734

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1999

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 & Local Government:  3/1/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/9/99, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The Legislature has declared a number of days as recognition days for various individuals and groups of people.  These days are not considered legal holidays and are as follows: 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 declares that April 16 is recognized as Mother Joseph Day but is not considered a legal holiday for any purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  She did wonderful things for others during her lifetime.  She is an example of a tireless worker for the poor and the unfortunate.  Her statue represents our state in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.  Leading a group of five Sisters of Providence, she founded Providence Academy and the first hospital in the Northwest, St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver.  Before she died on January 19, 1902, she had established hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the aged, and shelters for the mentally ill in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Canada.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Michelle Gibson, Justin Hollister, Kathryn Sandor, Kelsey Milne, Excel at Burton Evergreen School District.

House Amendment(s):  The House amendment adds the fourth day of September as Marcus Whitman Day (a nonlegal holiday).