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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to Juneteenth Independence Day; amending

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s. 683.21, F.S.; renaming Juneteenth Day as "Juneteenth

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Independence Day"; requiring the Governor to annually

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issue a proclamation concerning Juneteenth Independence

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Day; providing criteria concerning the petition's

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contents; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 683.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     683.21 Juneteenth Independence Day.--

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     (1) June 19th of each year is hereby designated "Juneteenth

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Independence Day" to commemorate the traditional observance of

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the day the slaves in Florida were notified of the Emancipation

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Proclamation and in recognition of June 19, 1865, when Union

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General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the

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southwestern United States.

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     (2) The Governor shall annually may issue annually a

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proclamation designating June 19th as Juneteenth Independence

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Day, to be observed on the Saturday that is closest to June 19th,

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recognizing the end of slavery in the United States and the

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significant contributions that individuals of African descent

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have made to this state and the United States, and calling on

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public officials, schools, private organizations, and all members

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of the public citizens to honor the historic significance of the

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day and observe the day in an appropriate manner.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.