HB110 By Representatives Brown (C), Stringer, Wilcox, Drummond, McMillan, Jones (S), Shiver, Simpson, Clarke, Bracy, Easterbrook, Baker and Gaston RFD State Government Rd 1 04-FEB-20

SYNOPSIS: House Joint Resolution 239 of the 2019 Regular Session designated the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Alabama Aquarium as the Official Aquarium of Alabama.

This bill would codify that designation in the Code of Alabama 1975.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to public aquariums; to designate the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Alabama Aquarium as the official Aquarium of Alabama.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:

Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The research and educational programs of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, established by act of the Legislature in 1971 as the administrative home for the Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, serve the citizens of all of Alabama's counties.

(2) The mission of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is to serve the general needs of these citizens, all levels of government, and the academic community by improving ocean literacy and providing the best available science for coastal policy, including the production and dissemination of knowledge regarding world oceans, coastal zones, and watersheds; the training of future generations of oceanic and coastal scientists; and the enhancement of public understanding and stewardship of oceanic and coastal resources.

(3) The Dauphin Island Sea Lab serves its mission, in part, by providing an exciting and educational public aquarium whose visual and virtual interactive exhibits, public events, and public excursions highlighting the remarkable diversity of life have been observed by over one million students and other visitors since its opening in 1998.

(4) Designating the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's "Alabama Aquarium" as the official Aquarium of Alabama is the proper manner of recognizing the benefit and importance of the education offered by the Sea Lab.

Section 2. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Alabama Aquarium is designated the official Aquarium of Alabama.

Section 3. The appropriate officials shall place and maintain signs or markers reflecting the designation provided in this act.

Section 4. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Aquariums

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Codification of Acts