Representative Norman K Thurston proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
STATE HOLIDAY MODIFICATIONS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore

5     
House Sponsor: Steve Eliason

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to state holidays.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     modifies annual commemorations to include Diwali.
13     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14          None
15     Other Special Clauses:
16          None
17     Utah Code Sections Affected:
18     AMENDS:
19          63G-1-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 14
20     

21     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22          Section 1. Section 63G-1-401 is amended to read:
23          63G-1-401. Commemorative periods.
24          (1) The following days shall be commemorated annually:
25          (a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth

26     Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to participate in
27     activities that recognize Utah's history;
28          (b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
29     remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
30          (c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
31          (d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
32          (e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
33          (f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
34          (g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
35     are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense of
36     freedom;
37          (h) Juneteenth Freedom Day, on the third Saturday in June, in honor of Union General
38     Gordon Granger proclaiming the freedom of all slaves on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas;
39          (i) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
40          (j) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
41          (k) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
42     anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a playground in
43     Sunset, Utah, to:
44          (i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
45          (ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with their
46     families; and
47          (iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or exploited;
48          (l) Constitution Day, on September 17;
49          (m) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
50          (n) Diwali, on the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik, known as
51     Lakshmi puja, or the Hindu festival of lights;
52          [(n)] (o) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
53          [(o)] (p) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving;
54     and
55          [(p)] (q) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
56          (2) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special

57     programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement relating
58     to Subsections (1)(g) and (m).
59          (3) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine
60     Cabinet Month to:
61          (a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
62     prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and disposal of
63     prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
64          (b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
65     useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
66          (4) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care
67     and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community of
68     the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
69          (5) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week
70     to recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
71          (6) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
72     Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
73          (7) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as
74     Utah Fallen Heroes Days to:
75          (a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
76     sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
77          (b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
78          (8) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
79     Awareness Week to:
80          (a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
81     and
82          (b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
83     recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
84          (9) The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang
85     Prevention Awareness Week.
86          (10) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American
87     Heritage Month.

88          (11) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
89     Heritage Month.
90          (12) The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as Avalanche
91     Awareness Week to:
92          (a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
93          (b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and
94     fatalities; and
95          (c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
96     lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.