Senate Bill No. 113

(By Senators Yost, Jenkins, Miller, D. Facemire, Foster, Klempa and Unger)

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[Introduced January 11, 2012; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to observing the week in which December 7 falls as a special memorial week to be known as Pearl Harbor and Military Appreciation Week; and directing the State Department of Education to implement a program involving students which recognizes the contributions made by West Virginians in the United States military.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

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 as a special memorial day week, to be known as Pearl Harbor Day 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.

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    (NOTE: The purpose of the bill is to make the week in which December 7 fall a special memorial week. The bill directs the state Department of Education to develop a program involving students which will educate them about the contributions made by West Virginians in the United States Military.

    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)