Bill Text: PA HB318 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Selecting, designating and adopting the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) as the official reptile for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-09 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HB318 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB318-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 341
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 318 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, BEYER, BRENNAN, DiGIROLAMO, FLECK, GEIST, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, McCALL, MELIO, M. O'BRIEN, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND MURT, FEBRUARY 9, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2009
AN ACT
Selecting, designating and adopting the Eastern Box Turtle
(Terrapene carolina carolina) as the official reptile for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Turtles have lived on Earth for over 250 million
years; and
WHEREAS, Reptiles, such as the Eastern Box Turtle, have lived
in abundance in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The scientific name for the Eastern Box Turtle is
Terrapene carolina carolina; and
WHEREAS, The Eastern Box Turtle was given the name of "box
turtle" for its unique ability to hinge its lower shell and pull
its entire body into its shell, sealing itself tighter than a
box; and
WHEREAS, Recently, the number of Eastern Box Turtles in
Pennsylvania has begun to decrease, prompting the Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission to place restrictions on the number of
turtles taken from the wild to two turtles per person, per day;
and
WHEREAS, The loss of habitat, pollution, being taken for the
retail pet trade, killed by vehicles, predators eating turtle
eggs, and the inability to locate mates have severely decreased
the Pennsylvania turtle population; and
WHEREAS, By raising the awareness of the Eastern Box Turtle's
plight, we can save the Eastern Box Turtle and other reptiles in
Pennsylvania.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Designation of the official reptile of the
Commonwealth.
The Eastern Box Turtle or Terrapene carolina carolina is
hereby selected, designated and adopted as the official reptile
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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