2014 -- H 7446

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE EMBLEMS

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Tanzi, Walsh, Ruggiero, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings—The legislature finds and declares that:

     (1) Rhode Island is the east coast capital of squid, and accounts for about fifty percent

(50%) of all squid landings along the eastern seaboard; and

     (2) Squid is to Rhode Island what lobster is to Maine and cod is to Massachusetts; and

     (3) Rhode Island's twenty-three million five hundred thousand (23,500,000) pounds of

annual squid landings are valued at eighteen and one-half million dollars ($18,500,000), which

makes squid Rhode Island's most valuable commercial fishery; and

     (4) More pounds of squid are brought to store in Rhode Island than any other seafood;

and

     (5) Rhode Island has the largest squid-fishing fleet along the eastern seaboard; and

     (6) The fishing, hospitality and tourism industry is crucial to the economy of the state;

and

     (7) Rhode Island has some of the finest restaurants in the country; and

     (8) The appetizer known as “Rhode Island style calamari” (squid) is prepared and served

nationwide; and

     (9) The legislature hereby declares it is in the best interest of the state and its local

economy to officially recognize the importance of the squid fishing industry to our economy and

the unique and delicious appetizer know as calamari.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-4 of the General Laws entitled "State Emblems" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-4-19. State appetizer. -- Calamari is hereby designated as the official state appetizer.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE EMBLEMS

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     This act would designate calamari as the official state appetizer.

     The act would take effect upon passage.

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