| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to Juneteenth Independence Day; amending |
| 3 | s. 683.21, F.S.; renaming Juneteenth Day as "Juneteenth |
| 4 | Independence Day"; requiring the Governor to annually |
| 5 | issue a proclamation concerning Juneteenth Independence |
| 6 | Day; providing criteria concerning the petition's |
| 7 | contents; providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. Section 683.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
| 12 | read: |
| 13 | 683.21 Juneteenth Independence Day.-- |
| 14 | (1) June 19th of each year is hereby designated |
| 15 | "Juneteenth Independence Day" to commemorate the traditional |
| 16 | observance of the day the slaves in Florida were notified of the |
| 17 | Emancipation Proclamation and in recognition of June 19, 1865, |
| 18 | when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all |
| 19 | slaves in the southwestern United States. |
| 20 | (2) The Governor shall annually may issue annually a |
| 21 | proclamation designating June 19th as Juneteenth Independence |
| 22 | Day, to be observed on the Saturday that is closest to June |
| 23 | 19th, recognizing the end of slavery in the United States and |
| 24 | the significant contributions that individuals of African |
| 25 | descent have made to this state and the United States, and |
| 26 | calling on public officials, schools, private organizations, and |
| 27 | all members of the public citizens to honor the historic |
| 28 | significance of the day and observe the day in an appropriate |
| 29 | manner. |
| 30 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |