1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a new state holiday to recognize Hmong 
1.3 	people who assisted the United States during the Vietnam War; proposing coding 
1.4 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [10.5805] HMONG VETERANS DAY; STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
1.7 	(a) May 14 of each year is designated as Hmong Veterans Memorial Day in honor of 
1.8 	Southeast Asians, Americans, and their allies who served, suffered, sacrificed, or died in 
1.9 	the Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War in the years 1961 to 1975 in support of the 
1.10 	armed forces of the United States, and in recognition of the significance of May 14, 1975, 
1.11 	the last day that the overall American-trained Hmong command structure over the Special 
1.12 	Guerilla Units in Laos was operational. At least 35,000 Hmong Special Guerilla soldiers 
1.13 	lost their lives protecting trapped, lost, or captured American soldiers and pilots in Laos 
1.14 	and Vietnam. One-half of the Hmong population in Laos perished as a result of the American 
1.15 	Secret War in Laos. Ethnic Hmong men, women, and children in Laos faced persecution 
1.16 	and forced re-education in seminar camps after their American support ended. Despite the 
1.17 	tremendous cost and sacrifices in the war, the Hmong remain proud to stand by the values 
1.18 	of freedom and justice that America symbolizes. Those who survived escaped to western 
1.19 	countries to start a new life. Each year, the governor shall issue a proclamation honoring 
1.20 	the observance.
1.21 	(b) Schools are encouraged to read a passage about Hmong history or this statute to 
1.22 	students in honor of this day on May 14 or, if May 14 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on the 
1.23 	Friday preceding May 14. Businesses may close in honor of this day and an employee may 
2.1 	request the day off without pay with two weeks' notice to the employer in observance of 
2.2 	this day.
2.3 	(c) The governor shall order the American flag and Minnesota flag flown on the grounds 
2.4 	of the Capitol area and other state property to be flown at half-staff on May 14. Local 
2.5 	governments, private businesses, and public and private schools are encouraged to fly 
2.6 	American and Minnesotan flags at half-staff on May 14.