05
LC 28 1909
Senate
Bill 41
By: Senator Smith of the 52nd
By: Senator Smith of the 52nd
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to state symbols, so as to designate the green tree frog as
the official state amphibian; to provide for legislative findings; to provide
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds and determines that:
(1)
The green tree frog´s (hyla cinerea) habitat includes nearly all of
Georgia, so virtually all Georgians are familiar with it or have a great
opportunity to see its conspicuous bright color and striped
markings;
(2)
Large aggregations of calling males create conspicuous and characteristic
nighttime choruses during the warm months;
(3)
All other major groups of wildlife, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish,
insects, trees, and wildflowers, are represented by state symbols, and
amphibians are a crucial link in the state´s ecosystem;
(4)
Official recognition of a state amphibian could help correct the false
impression that amphibians and reptiles are one and the same;
(5)
The State of Georgia is home to 85 different species of amphibians, which gives
it the distinction of having the second greatest amphibian diversity of any
state in the United States behind North Carolina;
(6)
Well_publicized world_wide decline of amphibians has become a major conservation
concern and the exclusion of amphibians from our official state symbols list
could possibly contribute to a sense of complacency towards this loss of
biota;
(7)
Amphibians are excellent indicators of water and air quality due to their porous
skin and habit of moving between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and declines
in their numbers can serve as early warning signs that environmental conditions
may be deteriorating in localized areas; and
(8)
Establishing an official state amphibian is necessary to fully recognize our
diverse wildlife and the green tree frog is deserving of the attention and
appreciation of the citizens of this state by designation as the official state
amphibian.
SECTION
2.
Article
3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to state symbols, is amended by adding a new Code Section 50_3_81 to read as
follows:
"50_3_81.
The
green tree frog is designated as the official Georgia state
amphibian."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.