BILL NUMBER: S5214
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general construction law, in relation to designating
September eleventh as a public holiday
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To designate September 11th as a public holiday in the state of New York
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: amends section 24 of the general construction law to include
September 11th Memorial and Remembrance Day as a public holiday.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
On September 11, 2001, our state and our nation suffered the worst
attack in our Nation's history. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA; nearly
3,000 Americans lost their lives, including approximately 400 New York
City police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other rescue personnel.
The impact on our city, state, and nation cannot be understated. As
citizens, we come together to mourn the passing of family, friends and
loved ones, but as a nation we unite in our strength and in our perse-
verance.
Although we will never forget the events of that fateful Tuesday morn-
ing, this bill calls for a special day to take time out of our daily
routines to pause and to reflect. As with other national and state holi-
days in which we reflect upon those who bravely defended our country and
our freedoms, so too should we gather to recognize the courage of those
members of the NYPD, FDNY, the EMT's, and all other rescue personnel who
threw themselves into harm's way to save lives. New Yorkers will set
September 11th aside to give recognition to emergency service personnel
who continue to serve as a beacon of hope to the rest of the county, and
indeed to the rest of the world.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024; Held in Judiciary Senate Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the state
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S5214: 24 general construction law