S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4274
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  WALKER,  FALL,  BARRON, RODRIGUEZ, COLTON --
   Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ASHBY, DE LA ROSA, MIKULIN -- read once
   and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the general construction law and the education  law,  in
   relation to the designation of Good Friday 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 249 of the laws of 2020, 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 FRIDAY
 IMMEDIATELY BEFORE EASTER, KNOWN AS GOOD FRIDAY; the last Monday in May,
 known as Memorial day; the second Sunday in June, known as Flag day; the
 nineteenth  day  of  June,  known as Juneteenth; 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 Novem-
 ber, known as Thanksgiving day; and the twenty-fifth  day  of  December,
 known  as  Christmas  day,  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 thanksgiving, 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.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 3204-a to
 read as follows:

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07857-01-1
              

 A. 4274                             2
 
   § 3204-A. GOOD FRIDAY SCHOOL HOLIDAY. 1. THE FRIDAY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
 EASTER, COMMONLY KNOWN AS GOOD FRIDAY, SHALL BE DECLARED A  HOLIDAY  FOR
 ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
   2.  THE  TERM  "GOOD FRIDAY" SHALL REPLACE "SPRING RECESS" AND SIMILAR
 TERMINOLOGY ON ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDARS  AND  COMMUNICATIONS
 THAT REFERENCE GOOD FRIDAY.
   §  3.  Section  3604  of  the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 7-a to read as follows:
   7-A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, FOR PURPOSES  OF  ANY
 CALCULATION  UNDER  SUBDIVISION  SEVEN  OR  EIGHT  OF  THIS SECTION, THE
 COMMISSIONER SHALL DISREGARD ANY REDUCTION RESULTING FROM THE OBSERVANCE
 OF GOOD FRIDAY AND, IF NECESSARY, SUCH OBSERVED HOLIDAY SHALL BE  CALCU-
 LATED AS A SESSION DAY.
   §  4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.