Bill Text: WV HB4254 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: To create a bill to designate February 3 as “Freedom Day,” to memorialize the February 3, 1865 Act by the Legislature that abolished slavery in West Virginia.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-01-10 - To House Government Organization [HB4254 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-HB4254-Introduced.html
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4254
By Delegate Rowe
[Introduced January 10, 2024; Referred to
the Committee on Government Organization]
A BILL to amend and reenact §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to declaring February 3 as a special memorial day to be known as Freedom Day to memorialize the February 3, 1865, Act by the Legislature that abolished slavery in West Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 2. LEGAL HOLIDAYS; SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAYS; CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES; DEFINITIONS.
§2-2-1a. Special memorial days.
(a) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the week beginning with the Sunday before Thanksgiving as a special memorial week to be known as Native American Indian Heritage Week.
(b) The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November is designated Susan B. Anthony Day and shall only be a legal holiday in all years ending in an even number. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling on all schools, civic organizations, government departments and citizens to undertake activities on the designated day and surrounding days to pay tribute to the accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony in securing the civil and political rights of all Americans, including securing equal voting rights for women.
(c) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the week during which December 7 falls to be a special memorial week, to be known as Pearl Harbor and Military Appreciation week, honoring all West Virginians who fought in World War II and all other military conflicts and shall encourage all municipalities in the state to do the same. The State Department of Education is directed to implement a program involving activities in which students shall participate which shall recognize the contributions West Virginians have made to their country through service in the United States Military.
(d) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare March 30 as a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975, and shall encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.
(e) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare August 7 as a special memorial day, to be known as Purple Heart Recognition Day, honoring all West Virginians who, while serving in the United States Armed Forces, have been wounded or killed in action and shall encourage all municipalities and counties in the state to do the same.
(f) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare July 27 as a special memorial day to be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States Armed Forces in the Korean War, and shall encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.
(g) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the first Thursday in May as the West Virginia Day of Prayer. The West Virginia Day of Prayer corresponds with the National Day of Prayer, 36 U.S.C. §119, on which the people of West Virginia may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.
(h) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare November 14 as a special memorial day to be known as Marshall University 75 Memorial Day honoring the 75 persons who were killed in that tragic crash, and shall encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.
(i) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare February 3 as a special memorial day to be known as Freedom Day to memorialize the February 3, 1865, Act by the Legislature that abolished slavery in West Virginia.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to declare February 3 as a special memorial day to be known as Freedom Day to memorialize the February 3, 1865, Act by the Legislature that abolished slavery in West Virginia.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
