NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER A3451 REVISE
SPONSOR: Wertz (MS) SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: To establish Good Friday as a public holiday and
to amend the General Construction Law in such a way that Good Friday is
afforded the same privileges that are observed on all other public holi-
days. This bill will alter section 24 of the general construction law
as amended by chapter 347 of the Laws of 1984.
PURPOSE AND JUSTIFICATION: In the Christian religions, the last Friday
in Lent, the Friday before Easter, Good Friday is considered a high holy
day and acknowledged as the anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ.
In thirteen states, Good Friday is a legal public holiday. Out of the
thirteen states, three have laws mandating schools be closed on this
day. In January 2000, the Supreme Court supported the concept and
rejected an appeal in Maryland that would have required schools to
remain open on Good Friday.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3451
1999-2000 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 1999
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WERTZ, ORTLOFF -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
DORAN, KIRWAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general construction law, in relation to making Good
Friday a public holiday
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 24 of the general construction law, as amended by
2 chapter 347 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 24. Public holidays; half-holidays. The term public holiday includes
4 the following days in each year: the first day of January, known as New
5 Year's day; the third Monday of January, known as Dr. Martin Luther
6 King, Jr. day; the twelfth day of February, known as Lincoln's birthday;
7 the third Monday in February, known as Washington's birthday; the last
8 Friday in Lent, known as Good Friday; the last Monday in May, known as
9 Memorial day; the second Sunday in June, known as Flag day; the fourth
10 day of July, known as Independence day; the first Monday in September,
11 known as Labor day; the second Monday in October, known as Columbus day;
12 the eleventh day of November, known as Veterans' day; the fourth Thurs-
13 day in November, known as Thanksgiving day; and the twenty-fifth day of
14 December, known as Christmas day, and if any of such days except Flag
15 day is Sunday, the next day thereafter; each general election day, and
16 each day appointed by the president of the United States or by the
17 governor of this state as a day of general thanksgiving, general fasting
18 and prayer, or other general religious observances. The term half-holi-
19 day includes the period from noon to midnight of each Saturday which is
20 not a public holiday.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06403-01-9
