S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3331
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 29, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALKER -- 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 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 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
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 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. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3204-a to
read as follows:
§ 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05938-01-9
A. 3331 2
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-c to read as follows:
7-C. 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.