Drafting a State Holiday Bill

In most years, there is a legislative effort to add one or more holidays in this state. Several existing laws designate specific days as holidays in the State of California. This includes the designation of holidays for state employees, bank holidays, and holidays on which public schools are required to close in this state. Legislation in this area of law would add a designated day to these lists of holidays.

Because a bill requiring a state holiday would increase the duties of local officials, such a bill would impose a state-mandated local program. In addition, these bills usually contain a provision specifying that the bill would provide, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by this State, then reimbursement for those costs must be made pursuant to the statutory provision that requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.

A bill that would create a new state holiday would have to amend the following code sections:

• Civil Code Section 7.1, related to optional bank holidays.

• Education Code Section 37220, related to public schools being closed on specified holidays.

• Education Code Section 45203, related to employees in a paid status.

• Education Code Section 79020, related to community college holidays.

• Education Code Section 88203, related to employee who are part of the classified service.

• Education Code Section 89005.7, related to California State University holidays.

• Government Code Section 6700, related to state holidays.

• Government Code Section 19853, related to state employees.

• Government Code Section 19853.1, related to state employees in State Bargaining Unit 5.