Senate Bill S8039

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8039

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state law, in relation to designating Lactarius
peckii as the official state fungus of the state

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to designate a state fungus.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the state law by adding a new section 93 to designate
the Lactarius peckii as the official fungus of the state.

Section two states the effective date.


 
EXISTING LAW:
              

Under the current law, the state has designated a state flower, tree,
gem, bird, animal, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, fruit, beverage,
fossil, muffin, shell, insect, reptile, bush, slogan, snack, dog, and
hymn.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Lactarius peckii is a common beautiful mushroom that can be found in
wooded areas throughout the state. The mushroom was first described by
Gertrude Simmons Burlingham in 1908. A native New Yorker, Burlingham is
a notable figure in North American mycology. She named this Lactarius
for Charles Horton Peck, the New York State botanist from 1867 to 1915,
who himself described over 2700 species of North America fungi. Lactari-
us peckii is neither edible nor poisonous; it is noteworthy not just for
its tie to New York State's predominant naturalists but because it
serves a vital role in maintaining a healthy and vibrant forest ecosys-
tem through its symbiotic (my corrhizal) partnership with oaks and other
hardwoods. Its presence is an indicator of forest health. Its recogni-
tion as a state symbol may inculcate greater awareness of the health of
our forests.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.