The jackalope statue in Douglas, Wyo, showcases the Equality State’s favorite furry (mythical) creature.
Mythical creature history is taking place in Wyoming’s 62nd legislative session.
Legislators are planning to review House Bill 149, which would designate the jackalope as Wyoming’s state mythical creature. The jackalope, a jackrabbit with deer antlers, is a common symbol of Wyoming culture.
It would be officially known as the Richard Edwards Memorial Act after Rep. Edwards, who was the original sponsor for making the jackalope Wyoming’s official mythical creature. If passed, it will take effect on July 1, 2013.
In addition to the designation of a state mythical creature, the legislature also is considering more dire concerns such as education and the revision of Hathaway scholarship requirements, which would be instituted by House Bill 177.
The revisions incorporated by House Bill 177 would be in effect beginning with the 2015-16 school year and would require two years of fine or performing arts classes, two years of career and vocational education, or two years of the same foreign language, including American Sign Language.
Vocational and career courses are considered to be automotive technology, engineering and architectural design, business technology and cosmetology courses, among many others.
One of Gov. Matt Mead’s main concerns for this legislative session is to ensure students have better opportunities to be successful to graduate high school.
“We owe it to our kids and to our state.,” Mead said. “There needs to be a clear message to people, administrators, everyone – that Wyoming will not accept the status quo and that Wyoming will have a predictable, accountable, long-term path to educational excellence.”
The legislature is also showing concerns for education and is taking at look at education beginning at a younger age with House Bill 144, which would institute kindergarten readiness programs in the state. Kindergarten readiness would be defined as a comprehensive system providing clear and comprehensive guidelines to ensure children entering school are ready for kindergarten.
The bill would require that the Department of Family Services to develop early literacy programs. The programs would include a rubric for helping with cognitive language, speech, and motor development.
A bill considering redefining the state’s definition of marriage is also being considered. House Bill 169 would define marriage as a civil contract “between two natural persons”, whereas it was originally defined as a contract between a “male and a female.”
“Legally speaking I would prefer the gay-marriage bill,” Republican Rep. Keith Gingery told The Jackson Hole and News Guide. “We already know how it works.”
Gingery is co-sponsoring the bill, which would give more rights to same-sex couples. If the bill passes, it would also take effect on July 1, 2013.
