New York State has many official state symbols defined in law. We have a state tree, a state beverage, a state flower, a state insect, a state bird, a state animal, a state freshwater and saltwater fish, state fossil, state gem, state reptile, state shell, and a state bush.

Many states have state butterflies. New York does not.

A very articulate 3rd grader, Katrina Franke from Cortlandt Manor, was determined to change it. In her advanced studies program at her school, she researched the most endangered butterfly in our state—the Karner Blue Butterfly that only exists on a few hundred acres in the Pine Bush in suburban Albany and Clifton Park.

She felt she had to do something to preserve the butterfly. After many hours of research, she came to the conclusion that New York State should make the Karner Blue Butterfly the State Butterfly. She decided to write her State Assemblywomen, Sandra Galef about making the Karner Blue Butterfly the state butterfly. Assemblywomen Galef was impressed with Katrina’s research, and agreed that making the Karner Blue a State Butterfly would be an important protection for this endangered butterfly.

When naming a state symbol, New York State has a long tradition of getting elementary students involved. The Assembly Government Operations Committee requires that all new state symbols proposed must first be selected by elementary students in various schools who choose to hold a student election on this matter. Students had to choose between 5 different butterflies – although only one is on the federal endangered species list. See the facts about each butterfly and the ballot given out to students.

If the students select the Blue Karner Butterfly, then it is almost certain to ensure that the State Assembly will pass the legislation in their chamber. In addition, Senator Neil Breslin has already introduced Karner Blue Butterfly legislation to his chamber as S.6037. It’s not as clear about the fortunes of this bill in this chamber, particularly due to a recent upset over another state symbol bill – corn as the state vegetable.

Senator Nozillo got the corn as a state vegetable through his chamber last year. Assemblyman Kolb introduced the bill in the State Assembly, which will not move on it until he has students participate in a similar election. He to this date has not done any thing similar so that bill has been stalled in the Government Operations Chamber. Senate Republicans probably claim politics, but this may lead them to hold any state symbol bills as hostage in the Assembly Chamber.

If Katrina gets her legislation passed, then it will be a major step forward in the preservation of the butterfly. Let’s hope that petty politics and her fellow 3rd graders don’t derail her. More at Karner Blue for State Butterfly.org.