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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses the recognition of the country's founders and the United States
10 Constitution.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ designates the month of September as American Founders Month; and
14 ▸ describes the purpose of Constitution Day.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 63G-1-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 14
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23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 63G-1-401 is amended to read:
25 63G-1-401. Commemorative periods.
26 (1) The following days shall be commemorated annually:
27 (a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth
28 Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to participate in
29 activities that recognize Utah's history;
30 (b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
31 remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
32 (c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
33 (d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
34 (e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
35 (f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
36 (g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
37 are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense of
38 freedom;
39 (h) Juneteenth Freedom Day, on the third Saturday in June, in honor of Union General
40 Gordon Granger proclaiming the freedom of all slaves on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas;
41 (i) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
42 (j) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
43 (k) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
44 anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a playground in
45 Sunset, Utah, to:
46 (i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
47 (ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with their
48 families; and
49 (iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or exploited;
50 (l) Constitution Day, on September 17, to invite all Utah adults and Utah school
51 children to read directly from the United States Constitution and other primary sources, and for
52 students to be taught principles from the United States Constitution that include federalism,
53 checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, limited government, and the
54 necessary and proper, commerce, and supremacy clauses;
55 (m) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
56 (n) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
57 (o) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving; and
58 (p) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
59 (2) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special
60 programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement relating
61 to Subsections (1)(g) and (m).
62 (3) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine
63 Cabinet Month to:
64 (a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
65 prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and disposal of
66 prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
67 (b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
68 useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
69 (4) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care
70 and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community of
71 the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
72 (5) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week
73 to recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
74 (6) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
75 Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
76 (7) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as
77 Utah Fallen Heroes Days to:
78 (a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
79 sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
80 (b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
81 (8) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
82 Awareness Week to:
83 (a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
84 and
85 (b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
86 recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
87 (9) The month of September shall be commemorated annually as American Founders
88 and Constitution Month to:
89 (a) encourage all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and public and private
90 educational institutions, to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate programs,
91 teaching, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and local governmental
92 officials are invited to participate; and
93 (b) invite all Utah school children to read directly from the United States Constitution
94 and other primary sources, and to be taught principles from the United States Constitution that
95 include federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, limited
96 government, and the necessary and proper, commerce, and supremacy clauses.
97 [
98 Prevention Awareness Week.
99 [
100 Heritage Month.
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102 Indian Heritage Month.
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104 Avalanche Awareness Week to:
105 (a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
106 (b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and
107 fatalities; and
108 (c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
109 lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.