Designating the Hynerpeton bassetti, a stem tetrapod, as the official State fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and making a repeal.
Summary
HB1554 designates Hynerpeton bassetti, an extinct stem tetrapod discovered in Pennsylvania, as the official State fossil of the Commonwealth. The bill includes legislative findings describing Hynerpeton as an early four-limbed vertebrate found at the Red Hill fossil site near Hyner, Pennsylvania, and notes that the fossil is unique to the Commonwealth. It states that the designation is intended to promote appreciation, education, and study of fossils in Pennsylvania.
The bill also repeals the prior 1988 act that had established a different State fossil designation, thereby updating Pennsylvania’s official fossil symbol. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment and would amend state law only in this symbolic and educational respect, without creating regulatory or fiscal programs.
Impact
HB1554 would amend Pennsylvania law to replace the existing official State fossil designation with Hynerpeton bassetti and repeal the 1988 statute that previously governed that designation. Its practical effect is limited to state symbolism, education, and public recognition, with no direct regulatory requirements, enforcement provisions, or substantive obligations imposed on agencies, schools, or private parties.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a low-conflict, commemorative measure. The stated purpose is educational and celebratory, emphasizing Pennsylvania’s paleontological heritage and the uniqueness of the fossil discovery. No opposition, amendments, or recorded controversy are shown in the available context.
Contention
No specific points of contention are evident in the provided record because there are no committee transcripts, recorded votes, or documented amendments. If any disagreement were to arise, it would most likely concern whether the Commonwealth should replace its existing State fossil designation and whether the new designation is the most appropriate symbol for Pennsylvania’s natural history, but such concerns are not reflected in the materials provided.