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1998 SESSION

987573666
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 191
Offered January 26, 1998
Establishing a joint subcommittee to recommend a new official state song of the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Hanger, Bolling, Edwards, Lambert, Lucas, Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Potts, Quayle, Ticer and Wampler; Delegates: Landes and Weatherholtz
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has no official song because "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," declared official song of the Commonwealth in 1940, has been declared the official song emeritus of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the official song should reference the rich history and tradition of the Commonwealth and invoke images of the natural and scenic beauty its citizens celebrate; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth needs an official song that can be sung on all occasions with pride and affection; and

WHEREAS, numerous proposals to adopt a new state song have been considered by the General Assembly, but none have received resounding support; and

WHEREAS, numerous proposals continue to be introduced for consideration by the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, it has been over ten years since a joint subcommittee held hearings to solicit suggestions from the citizens of the Commonwealth on a new state song; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to recommend the new official state song. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of eleven members, to include Virginia's Poet Laureate and six legislative members and five nonlegislative members, as follows: two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two citizens of the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and two citizens of the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. Citizen members should have some particular knowledge of or expertise in music, literature, or Virginia history.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 9,250.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.