S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8597
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 12, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. RAJKUMAR, ANDERSON -- 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 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 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  Thurs-
 day  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  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. 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.
                                                            LBD04378-01-3