BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES | 2009-2010 Regular |
| |Session |
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SENATOR Darrell Steinberg , CHAIRMAN
_____________________staff analysis
Fiscal: Yes
Hearing: May 26, 2010
Urgency: No
BILL NO: SB 1057
AUTHOR: Denham
AMENDED: May 10, 2010
SUBJECT : Veterans Day, state office closure.
SOURCE : Author
SUMMARY : This bill would require that public offices of
the state and state institutions including, but not limited
to, all state agencies and the Legislature, be closed on
November 11 for Veterans Day, except as specified. The
bill would also state the Legislature's intent that the
University of California also be closed on November 11,
Veterans Day.
BACKGROUND : Though the Treaty of Versailles was signed on
June 28, 1919, November 11 remained in the public
imagination as the date that marked the end of the Great
War. In November 1918, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of
Armistice Day. The day's observation included parades and
public gatherings, as well as a brief pause in business
activities at 11 a.m.
On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the
"recurring anniversary of November 11, 1918, should be
commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises
designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual
understanding between nations. By that time, 27 state
legislatures had made November 11 a legal holiday.
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SB 1057
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An act approved on May 13, 1938, made November 11 a legal
Federal holiday, "dedicated to the cause of world peace and
to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'"
In 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that
had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word
"Armistice" in favor of "Veterans." President Dwight D.
Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954, and from
then on, November 11 became a day to honor American
veterans of all wars.
The Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress in 1968,
which sought to ensure three-day weekends for federal
employees by celebrating four national holidays
(Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and
Columbus Day) on Mondays. It was thought that these
extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and
cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and
commercial production. The observation of Veterans Day was
set as the fourth Monday in October. Many states
disapproved of this change and continued to observe the
holiday on its original date.
In 1975, after it became evident that the actual date of
Veterans Day carried historical and patriotic significance
to many Americans, President Gerald R. Ford signed a new
law returning the observation of Veterans Day to November
11, starting in 1978. If November 11 falls on a Saturday
or Sunday, the federal government observes the holiday on
the previous Friday or following Monday, respectively.
There are no U.S. national holidays because the states
retain the right to designate their own, and the federal
government can only designate holidays for federal
employees and for the District of Columbia. In practice,
however, states almost always follow the federal lead.
CURRENT LAW: Government Code Section 6700 outlines the
holidays in this state as follows:
(a) Every Sunday.
(b) January 1st.
(c) The Third Monday in January, known as "Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day."
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(d) February 12th, known as "Lincoln Day."
(e) The third Monday in February.
(f) March 31st known as "Cesar Chavez Day."
(g) The last Monday in May.
(h) July 4th.
(i) The first Monday in September.
(j) September 9th, known as "Admission Day."
(aa) The second Monday in October, known as "Columbus
Day."
(bb) November 11, known as "Veterans Day."
(m) December 25th.
(n) Good Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
(o) Every day appointed by the President or Governor for
a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.
Current law also states that if the provisions regarding
state holidays are in conflict with provisions of a
memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12
(commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, of
the Government Code, the memorandum of understand shall be
controlling without further legislative action.
The Committee on Rules is charged with the general
responsibility for the administrative functioning of the
Senate, including the determination of holidays to be
observed by the Senate. The holiday schedule adopted by
the Committee on Rules for 2010 lists Thursday, November
11, as the day the Senate will be observing Veterans Day.
This bill would require that all state agencies and the
Legislature, be closed on November 11, for Veterans Day.
If November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday
will be observed on the previous Friday or following
Monday, respectively.
This bill also states it is the intent of the Legislature
that the University of California also be closed on the
Veterans Day holiday.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "SB 1057 was inspired
by a letter-to-the-editor in the Sacramento Bee (11/16/09)
from Marian Forness of Rancho Cordova, whose late husband
served this country in the United States Air Force for 20
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years. She noted in her letter that the State Senate took
Friday, November 13, 2009 off instead of Veterans Day on
Wednesday, November 11, so it could have a three-day
weekend."
SUPPORT : (Verified on 05/19/10)
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
OPPOSE : (Verified on 05/19/10)
None received
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE: Sandy Wood/651-4153
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