PRINTER'S NO. 693
No. 628 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY F. TAYLOR, KASUNIC, TANGRETTI, DALEY, STUBAN,
ROBINSON, STISH, CAPPABIANCA, CORRIGAN, WAMBACH, McCALL,
HANNA AND CAWLEY, MARCH 12, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 12, 1991
AN ACT
1 Designating the month of April as "Pennsylvania Special Olympics
2 Month."
3 WHEREAS, The mission of Pennsylvania Special Olympics, a
4 chapter of Special Olympics International, is to provide year-
5 round training and athletic competition in a variety of well-
6 coached Olympic-type sports for all individuals with mental
7 retardation by providing them with continuing opportunities to
8 develop physical fitness skills, express courage, experience joy
9 and to participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and
10 friendship with their families, other Special Olympians and with
11 the community; and
12 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Special Olympics competitions are
13 offered year-round at the local, sectional and State levels with
14 the possibility of athletes advancing to regional, national and
15 international sports competitions; and
16 WHEREAS, Numerous competitions feature sports clinics as well
17 as cultural activities for participants; and
1 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Special Olympics has grown from a
2 track-and-field event for 135 athletes in 1970 to over 600
3 events for more than 20,000 athletes in 1989; and
4 WHEREAS, Through successful experiences in sports,
5 individuals with mental retardation gain confidence and build a
6 positive self-image which carries over into the classroom, the
7 home, the job and the community; and
8 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Special Olympics contributes to the
9 physical, social and psychological development of people with
10 mental retardation.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. Pennsylvania Special Olympics Month.
14 In recognition of the contributions made by Pennsylvania
15 Special Olympics to the citizens of this Commonwealth, of the
16 tremendous dedication of all Pennsylvania Special Olympics
17 Volunteers, and of the outstanding effort put forth by all
18 Pennsylvania Special Olympians, the month of April of each year
19 is hereby designated as "Pennsylvania Special Olympics Month."
20 Section 2. Effective date.
21 This act shall take effect immediately.
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