S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    651
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. M. G. 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:
   § 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.
   § 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.
                                                            LBD00217-01-7