What's happening
This bill designates September 17th as "Constitution Day" for annual commemoration in New York State.
Why it matters
Promotes civic education and awareness. By officially recognizing Constitution Day, the bill encourages New Yorkers to reflect on and learn about the U.S. Constitution, potentially leading to increased public understanding of foundational rights and government structure.
Elevates the importance of constitutional principles. Annual commemoration may inspire schools, communities, and organizations to hold events or discussions, reinforcing the relevance of constitutional values in daily life.
Aligns New York with national observances. Several states and the federal government already recognize Constitution Day (September 17th); this move ensures New York participates in a broader, unified national effort to honor the nation’s foundational document.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Constitution Day Holiday
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add Constitution Day Holiday
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1989
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, AKSHAR, BOYLE, ORTT, RITCHIE, SAVINO, SERINO, SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to commemorating constitution day
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 168-a of the executive law, as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
3. The following days shall be days of commemoration in each year: January sixth, to be known as "Haym Salomon Day", January twenty-seventh, to be known as "Holocaust Remembrance Day", February fourth, to be known as "Rosa Parks Day", February fifteenth, to be known as "Susan B. Anthony Day", February sixteenth, to be known as "Lithuanian Independence Day", February twenty-eighth, to be known as "Gulf War Veterans' Day", March fourth, to be known as "Pulaski Day", March tenth, to be known as "Harriet Tubman Day", March twenty-ninth, to be known as "Vietnam Veterans' Day", April ninth, to be known as "POW Recognition Day", April twenty-seventh, to be known as "Coretta Scott King Day", April twenty-eighth, to be known as "Workers' Memorial Day", the first Tuesday in May to be known as "New York State Teacher Day", May seventeenth, to be known as "Thurgood Marshall Day", the first Sunday in June, to be known as "Children's Day", June second, to be known as "Italian Independence Day", June twelfth, to be known as "Women Veterans Recognition Day", June nineteenth, to be known as "Juneteenth Freedom Day", June twenty-fifth, to be known as "Korean War Veterans' Day", August twentyfourth, to be known as "Ukrainian Independence Day", August twentysixth, to be known as "Women's Equality Day", September eleventh, to be known as "Battle of Plattsburgh Day" and also to be known as "September 11th Remembrance Day", September thirteenth, to be known as "John Barry
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01735-01-9
S. 1989 2
Day" and also to be known as "Uncle Sam Day in the State of New York", September seventeenth, to be known as "Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Memorial Day" and also to be known as "Constitution Day", the third Friday in September to be known as "New York State POW/MIA Recognition Day" except if such date of commemoration cannot be observed due to a religious holiday, such observances shall then be conducted on the second Friday of September, the last Saturday in September, to be known as "War of 1812 Day", the fourth Saturday of September, known as "Native-American Day", the last Sunday in September, to be known as "Gold Star Mothers' Day", October fifth, to be known as "Raoul Wallenberg Day", October eleventh, to be known as "New Netherland Day in the State of New York", October eighteenth, to be known as "Disabilities History Day", October twenty-seventh, to be known as "Theodore Roosevelt Day", November ninth, to be known as "Witness for Tolerance Day", November twelfth, to be known as "Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day", the third Tuesday in November to be known as "New York State School-Related Professionals Recognition Day", November thirtieth, to be known as "Shirley Chisholm Day", December third, to be known as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities", December seventh, to be known as "Pearl Harbor Day", December sixteenth, to be known as "Bastogne Day" and that day of the Asian lunar calendar designated as new year to be known as "Asian New Year".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to commemorating consti- tution day
Purpose
To designate September seventeenth of each year as "Constitution Day"
Summary of provisions
Amends subdivision three of § 168-a of the Executive Law to designate September seventeenth of each year as Constitution Day.
Existing law
Section 168-a lists various days of commemoration during the year.
Justification
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It represented, and with its later amendments continues to represent, the foundation of our system of government and our fundamental values. It is appropriate that we pause each year to commemorate this important docu- ment.
Legislative history
2017-18 - S.4627/A.8208 - RULES/Gov't Ops
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.