HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1142        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3124

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Marcus S. Vaughn

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing Diwali as a state holiday.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Marcus S. Vaughn

9th Norfolk

1/18/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1142        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3124

By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3124) of Marcus S. Vaughn for legislation to designate Diwali as a legal holiday in the Commonwealth.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE [Refile Branch], NO.          OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act establishing Diwali as a state holiday.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Clause eighteenth of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “October,” in line 100, the following word:- Diwali.

SECTION 2. Chapter 9 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 32. The state secretary shall annually, no later than July first, publish the date on which Diwali shall be observed as a legal holiday during the following calendar year. The date of Diwali’s observance shall be based on the date of the new moon during the Hindu month of Kartik.

SECTION 3. Section 13 of chapter 136 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “noon,” in line 6, the following word:- Diwali.

SECTION 4. Section 16 of said chapter 136, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “and labor day” and inserting in place thereof the following words: , labor day and Diwali.

SECTION 5. Said section 16 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 18, the words “or Labor Day” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , Labor Day or Diwali.

SECTION 6. Said section 16 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 23, the words ““July Fourth” and “Labor Day”” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “July Fourth,” “Labor Day” and “Diwali”.