Representative Norman Thurston proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
STATE COMMEMORATIVE PERIODS AMENDMENTS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Norman Thurston

5     
Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to commemorative periods.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     provides for the establishment of commemorative periods by the governor; and
14          ▸     requires the governor's office to maintain a list of commemorative periods.
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
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) As used in this section, "commemorative period" means a special observance
27     declared by the governor that annually recognizes and honors a culturally or historically
28     significant day, week, month, or other time period in the state.
29          (2) (a) The governor may declare a commemorative period by issuing a declaration.
30          (b) The governor shall maintain a list of all commemorative periods declared by the
31     governor.
32          (3) (a) The governor's declaration of a commemorative period expires the year
33     immediately following the day on which the governor issues the declaration.
34          (b) Subsection (3)(a) does not prevent the governor from redeclaring a commemorative
35     period before or after the commemorative period expires.
36          [(1)] (4) [The] Notwithstanding Subsections (2) and (3), the following days shall be
37     commemorated annually:
38          (a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth
39     Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to participate in
40     activities that recognize Utah's history;
41          (b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
42     remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
43          (c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
44          (d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
45          (e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
46          (f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
47          (g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
48     are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense of
49     freedom;
50          [(h) Juneteenth Freedom Day, on the third Saturday in June, in honor of Union General
51     Gordon Granger proclaiming the freedom of all slaves on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas;]
52          [(i)] (h) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
53          [(j)] (i) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
54          [(k)] (j) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
55     anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a playground in
56     Sunset, Utah, to:
57          (i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
58          (ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with their
59     families; and
60          (iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or exploited;
61          [(l)] (k) Constitution Day, on September 17;
62          [(m)] (l) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
63          [(n)] (m) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
64          [(o)] (n) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving;
65     and
66          [(p)] (o) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
67          [(2)] (5) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities,
68     special programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement
69     relating to Subsections [(1)(g) and (m)] (4)(g) and (l).
70          [(3)] (6) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the
71     Medicine Cabinet Month to:
72          (a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
73     prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and disposal of
74     prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
75          (b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
76     useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
77          [(4)] (7) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal
78     Care and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the
79     community of the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
80          [(5)] (8) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water
81     Week to recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
82          [(6)] (9) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace
83     Safety Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
84          [(7)] (10) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually
85     as Utah Fallen Heroes Days to:
86          (a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
87     sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
88          (b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
89          [(8)] (11) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy
90     Driving Awareness Week to:
91          (a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
92     and
93          (b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
94     recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
95          [(9)] (12) The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang
96     Prevention Awareness Week.
97          [(10)] (13) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American
98     Heritage Month.
99          [(11)] (14) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American
100     Indian Heritage Month.
101          [(12)] (15) The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as
102     Avalanche Awareness Week to:
103          (a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
104          (b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and
105     fatalities; and
106          (c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
107     lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.