HB 615

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to Juneteenth Independence Day; amending
3s. 683.21, F.S.; renaming Juneteenth Day as "Juneteenth
4Independence Day"; requiring the Governor to annually
5issue a proclamation concerning Juneteenth Independence
6Day; providing criteria concerning the petition's
7contents; providing an effective date.
8
9Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11     Section 1.  Section 683.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to
12read:
13     683.21  Juneteenth Independence Day.--
14     (1)  June 19th of each year is hereby designated
15"Juneteenth Independence Day" to commemorate the traditional
16observance of the day the slaves in Florida were notified of the
17Emancipation Proclamation and in recognition of June 19, 1865,
18when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all
19slaves in the southwestern United States.
20     (2)  The Governor shall annually may issue annually a
21proclamation designating June 19th as Juneteenth Independence
22Day, to be observed on the Saturday that is closest to June
2319th, recognizing the end of slavery in the United States and
24the significant contributions that individuals of African
25descent have made to this state and the United States, and
26calling on public officials, schools, private organizations, and
27all members of the public citizens to honor the historic
28significance of the day and observe the day in an appropriate
29manner.
30     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.