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VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL DAY

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2019 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson

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Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill designates Victims of Communism Memorial Day.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     designates Victims of Communism Memorial Day;
13          ▸     organizes commemorative days and periods chronologically; and
14          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
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 2018, Chapter 39
22     

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) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15;]
28          [(b) Constitution Day, on September 17;]
29          [(c) Yellow Ribbon Day, on the third Monday in May, in honor of men and women
30     who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense
31     of freedom;]
32          [(d) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;]
33          [(e) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving;]
34          [(f) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;]
35          [(g) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;]
36          [(h)] (a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the
37     fourth Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to participate
38     in activities that recognize Utah's history; [and]
39          (b) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
40          (c) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
41          (d) Yellow Ribbon Day, on the third Monday in May, in honor of men and women who
42     are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense of
43     freedom;
44          [(i)] (e) Juneteenth Freedom Day, on the third Saturday in June, in honor of Union
45     General Gordon Granger proclaiming the freedom of all slaves on June 19, 1865, in Galveston,
46     Texas;
47          [(j)] (f) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30; [and]
48          [(k)] (g) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
49     anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a playground in
50     Sunset, Utah, to:
51          (i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
52          (ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with their
53     families; and
54          (iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or
55     exploited[.];
56          (h) Constitution Day, on September 17;
57          (i) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
58          (j) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
59          (k) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving; and
60          (l) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
61          (2) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special
62     programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement relating
63     to Subsections (1)[(c)](d) and [(d)](i).
64          [(3) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American
65     Heritage Month.]
66          [(4) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
67     Heritage Month.]
68          [(5)] (3) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the
69     Medicine Cabinet Month to:
70          (a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
71     prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and disposal of
72     prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
73          (b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
74     useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
75          (4) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care
76     and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community of
77     the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
78          (5) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
79     Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
80          (6) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week
81     to recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
82          (7) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as
83     Utah Fallen Heroes Days to:
84          (a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
85     sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
86          (b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
87          (8) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
88     Awareness Week to:
89          (a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
90     and
91          (b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
92     recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
93          [(9) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
94     Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.]
95          [(10) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care
96     and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community of
97     the services that animal care and control professionals provide.]
98          (9) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American
99     Heritage Month.
100          (10) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
101     Heritage Month.