LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS The hynerpeton is pictured at Clinton County’s America250 kickoff.

HARRISBURG — A years-long endeavor by current and former students at Bucktail High School to have the Hynerpeton bassetti named the official state fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may take longer to become reality.

State Senator Cris Dush (R-25) sponsored Senate Bill 829 which was unanimously passed by the senate and referred and reviewed by the House of Representatives State Government Committee.

However, during its meeting on Feb. 3, the bill was referred to the Commerce Committee.

Chair of the State Government Committee, State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans (D-York) announced State Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), who chairs the Commerce Committee, had submitted a request to have the bill referred to his committee, according to reports.

The referral, which will delay a vote on the bill, was approved in a 14-12 vote, with 14 Democrats voting in favor and 12 Republicans voting against.

At the meeting, State Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie) spoke out against the decision. Instead, Roae spoke in favor of reviewing the bill immediately.

While the Senate Bill was referred to another committee this week, matching House Bill 1554, sponsored by State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton/Union) is currently awaiting review in the State Government Committee. A vote for the bill has not been scheduled at this time.

With multiple students who originally championed the placement of the Hynerpeton as the state fossil have graduated, and the remainder set to graduating this June, concerns have been raised by the community on whether their dream will become a reality before all have crossed the stage at Bucktail.

Requests for comment from Conklin were not answered as of press time Friday night.