This bill amends Section 1-3-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday. The bill specifies that Juneteenth, which falls on the nineteenth day of June, will be added to the list of state holidays. Additionally, the bill provides that state offices will no longer close for Jefferson Davis' birthday and Juneteenth, with an insertion allowing employees the option to observe either Jefferson Davis' birthday or Juneteenth as a state holiday. Each agency is required to establish a policy to implement this provision.

The bill also includes minor adjustments to the numbering of the subsections to accommodate the addition of Juneteenth. It maintains the existing provisions for other state holidays and the observance of compensatory leave or paid compensation for state employees working on holidays. The bill is set to become effective on October 1, 2024, and it passed with a significant majority, indicating strong legislative support for the recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday in Alabama.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 1-3-8, 1-3-8
Engrossed: 1-3-8, 1-3-8