Enrolled Copy S.B. 186
1 STATE COMMEMORATIVE PERIOD AMENDMENTS
2024 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Daniel McCay House Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox
2
3 LONG TITLE
4 General Description:
5 This bill amends provisions related to commemorative periods.
6 Highlighted Provisions:
7 This bill:
8 ▸ modifies annual commemorations to include a day of remembrance for the first
9 responders and persons killed and injured in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
10 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
11 None
12 Other Special Clauses:
13 None
14 Utah Code Sections Affected:
15 AMENDS:
16 63G-1-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 57, 351 and 472
17
18 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
19 Section 1. Section 63G-1-401 is amended to read:
20 63G-1-401 . Commemorative periods.
21 (1) As used in this section, "commemorative period" means a special observance declared
22 by the governor that annually recognizes and honors a culturally or historically
23 significant day, week, month, or other time period in the state.
24 (2) (a) The governor may declare a commemorative period by issuing a declaration.
25 (b) The governor shall maintain a list of all commemorative periods declared by the
26 governor.
27 (3) (a) The governor's declaration of a commemorative period expires the year
28 immediately following the day on which the governor issues the declaration.
S.B. 186 Enrolled Copy
29 (b) Subsection (3)(a) does not prevent the governor from redeclaring a commemorative
30 period before or after the commemorative period expires.
31 (4) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) and (3), the following days shall be commemorated
32 annually:
33 (a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth
34 Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to
35 participate in activities that recognize Utah's history;
36 (b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
37 remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
38 (c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
39 (d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
40 (e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
41 (f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
42 (g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
43 are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in
44 defense of freedom;
45 (h) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
46 (i) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
47 (j) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
48 anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a
49 playground in Sunset, Utah, to:
50 (i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
51 (ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with
52 their families; and
53 (iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or
54 exploited;
55 (k) September 11th Day of Remembrance, on September 11, in honor and remembrance
56 of the first responders and persons killed and injured in the terrorist attacks on
57 September 11, 2001;
58 [(k)] (l) Constitution Day, on September 17, to invite all Utah adults and Utah school
59 children to read directly from the United States Constitution and other primary
60 sources, and for students to be taught principles from the United States Constitution
61 that include federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular
62 sovereignty, limited government, and the necessary and proper, commerce, and
-2-
Enrolled Copy S.B. 186
63 supremacy clauses;
64 [(l)] (m) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
65 [(m)] (n) Diwali, on the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik, known as
66 Lakshmi puja, or the Hindu festival of lights;
67 [(n)] (o) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
68 [(o)] (p) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving;
69 and
70 [(p)] (q) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
71 (5) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special
72 programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement
73 relating to Subsections (4)(g) and [(l)] (m).
74 (6) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine
75 Cabinet Month to:
76 (a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
77 prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and
78 disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
79 (b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
80 useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
81 (7) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care and
82 Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community
83 of the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
84 (8) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week to
85 recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
86 (9) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
87 Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
88 (10) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as Utah
89 Fallen Heroes Days to:
90 (a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
91 sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
92 (b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
93 (11) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
94 Awareness Week to:
95 (a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
96 and
-3-
S.B. 186 Enrolled Copy
97 (b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
98 recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
99 (12) The month of September shall be commemorated annually as American Founders and
100 Constitution Month to:
101 (a) encourage all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and public and private
102 educational institutions, to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate
103 programs, teaching, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and
104 local governmental officials are invited to participate; and
105 (b) invite all Utah school children to read directly from the United States Constitution
106 and other primary sources, and to be taught principles from the United States
107 Constitution that include federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers,
108 popular sovereignty, limited government, and the necessary and proper, commerce,
109 and supremacy clauses.
110 (13) The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang Prevention
111 Awareness Week.
112 (14) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American Heritage
113 Month.
114 (15) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
115 Heritage Month.
116 (16) The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as Avalanche
117 Awareness Week to:
118 (a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
119 (b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and fatalities;
120 and
121 (c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
122 lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.
123 Section 2. Effective date.
124 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
-4-
Statutes affected: Introduced: 63G-1-401
Amended: 63G-1-401
Enrolled: 63G-1-401