S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4331

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Governmental Operations

AN  ACT to amend the general construction law, in relation to the desig-
  nation of Diwali as a public holiday

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Section 24 of the general construction law, as amended by
chapter 347 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
  S 24. Public holidays; half-holidays. The term public holiday includes
the following days in each year:  the first day of January, known as New
Year's day; the third Monday of January,  known  as  Dr.  Martin  Luther
King, Jr. day; the twelfth day of February, known as Lincoln's birthday;
the  third  Monday in February, known as Washington's birthday; the last
Monday in May, known as Memorial day; the second Sunday in  June,  known
as  Flag  day;  the  fourth  day of July, known as Independence day; the
first Monday in September, known as Labor  day;  the  second  Monday  in
October,  known  as Columbus day; the eleventh day of November, known as
Veterans' day; the fourth Thursday in November,  known  as  Thanksgiving
day; [and] the twenty-fifth day of December, known as Christmas day; AND
THE  FIFTEENTH  DAY  OF  THE  HINDU  LUNISOLAR MONTH OF KARTIK, KNOWN AS
LAKSHMI PUJA, OR THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, and if any of  such  days
except  Flag  day  is  Sunday,  the  next  day  thereafter; each general
election day, and each day appointed by  the  president  of  the  United
States  or  by the governor of this state as a day of general thanksgiv-
ing, general fasting and prayer, or other general religious observances.
The term half-holiday includes the period from noon to midnight of  each
Saturday which is not a public holiday.
  S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07977-01-5