S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4913
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 24, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CHANG -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law and the general construction law, in
relation to the identification of Asian Lunar New Year and the decla-
ration of such day 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 15 of the legislative law is amended by adding a
new undesignated paragraph to read as follows:
THE RESPECTIVE SECRETARY AND CLERK SHALL ACCURATELY IDENTIFY THE PROP-
ER DATE OF EACH YEAR'S ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR
CALENDAR. THE RESPECTIVE SECRETARY AND CLERK SHALL CONSULT WITH REPRE-
SENTATIVES OF APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER OFFICIALS IN IDENTIFY-
ING SUCH DATE. BY JANUARY FIRST OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR, THE SECRETARY
AND CLERK SHALL IDENTIFY AND REPORT IN WRITING THE CALENDAR DATES OF THE
NEXT THREE SUCCEEDING LUNAR NEW YEARS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF
STATE, THE STATE COMPTROLLER, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY
LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE
MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
§ 2. 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 ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR AS IDENTIFIED PURSUANT TO
SECTION FIFTEEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE LAW TO BE KNOWN AS LUNAR NEW YEAR;
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08801-01-3
A. 4913 2
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 Decem-
ber, 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.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that section two
of this act shall take effect on the first Asian Lunar New Year identi-
fied by the secretary of the senate and the clerk of the assembly pursu-
ant to section 15 of the legislative law; provided, further, that the
secretary of the senate and the clerk of the assembly shall notify the
legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the enact-
ment of the legislation provided for in section two of this act in order
that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data
base of the official text of the laws of state of New York in further-
ance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law
and section 70-b of the public officers law.