BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SR 81|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 81
Author: Hall (D), Mitchell (D), and Huff (R)
Introduced:6/15/16
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT: Juneteenth Day celebrations
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution encourages all Californians to join together
in celebrating Juneteenth.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1)The state of Texas is widely considered the first state to
begin Juneteenth celebrations. Informal observances have taken
place there for over a century, and it has been an official
state holiday in Texas since 1980. Thirty-nine states,
including California since 2003, and the District of Columbia
have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or a
state holiday observance.
2)Though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation on September 22, 1862, to become effective
January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most
slaves' day-to-day lives, particularly in the Confederate
States of America.
3)Texas, as a part of the Confederacy, was resistant to the
Emancipation Proclamation. But on June 18, 1865, Union troops
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arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state
and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. Former slaves in
Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations.
The following day, June 19th, became known as "Juneteenth," a
name derived from a portmanteau of the words "June" and
"nineteenth." Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the
following year.
4)For former slaves, the Juneteenth celebration was a time for
reassuring each other, praying, and gathering remaining family
members together. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in
Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants
making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.
Juneteenth education and celebrations declined in America in
the early part of the 20th century. But the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw a resurgence of interest
in Juneteenth, along with renewed community celebrations of
the day.
5)Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and
emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and
in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest
speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for
reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment,
self-improvement, and for planning the future.
This resolution encourages all Californians to join together in
celebrating Juneteenth, and recognize that the "Modern
Juneteenth Movement" continues to work to pass legislation in
the United States Congress to establish Juneteenth Independence
Day as a National Day of Observance.
Related/Prior Legislation
SR 78 (Huff, 2016) marks the 151st anniversary of Juneteenth.
The resolution is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.
ACR 87 (Ridley-Thomas, Resolution Chapter 121, Statutes of 2015)
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recognized June 19, 2015, as the 150th anniversary of
Juneteenth.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified6/20/16)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified6/20/16)
None received
Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
6/22/16 15:15:11
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