SF 104

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/30/2023 08:42am

A bill for an act
relating to holiday observances; requiring school observance of Indigenous Peoples'
Day; establishing Indigenous Peoples' Day as a state holiday and eliminating
Christopher Columbus Day as a state holiday; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022,
sections 120A.42; 645.44, subdivision 5.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120A.42, is amended to read:

120A.42 CONDUCT OF SCHOOL ON CERTAIN HOLIDAYS.

(a) The governing body of any district may contract with any of the teachers of the
district for the conduct of schools, and may conduct schools, on either, or any, of the
following holidays, provided that a clause to this effect is inserted in the teacher's contract:
Martin Luther King's birthday, Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays, deleted text begin Columbus Day deleted text end new text begin
Indigenous Peoples' Day, new text end and Veterans' Day. On Martin Luther King's birthday, Washington's
birthday, Lincoln's birthday, and Veterans' Day at least one hour of the school program
must be devoted to a patriotic observance of the day. new text begin On Indigenous Peoples' Day, at least
one hour of the school program must be devoted to observance of the day. As part of its
observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, a district may provide professional development
to teachers and staff, or instruction to students, on the following topics:
new text end

new text begin (1) the history of treaties between the United States and Indigenous peoples;
new text end

new text begin (2) the history of federal boarding schools for Indigenous children;
new text end

new text begin (3) Indigenous languages;
new text end

new text begin (4) Indigenous traditional medicines and cultural or spiritual practices;
new text end

new text begin (5) the sovereignty of Tribal nations;
new text end

new text begin (6) the contributions of Indigenous people to American culture, literature, and society;
and
new text end

new text begin (7) current issues affecting Indigenous communities.
new text end

(b) A district may conduct a school program to honor Constitution Day and Citizenship
Day by providing opportunities for students to learn about the principles of American
democracy, the American system of government, American citizens' rights and
responsibilities, American history, and American geography, symbols, and holidays. Among
other activities under this paragraph, districts may administer to students the test questions
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officers pose to applicants for
naturalization.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 645.44, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Holiday.

"Holiday" includes New Year's Day, January 1; Martin Luther King's
Birthday, the third Monday in January; Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday, the third
Monday in February; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May; Independence Day, July 4;
Labor Day, the first Monday in September; deleted text begin Christopher Columbus Day deleted text end new text begin Indigenous Peoples'
Day new text end , the second Monday in October; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, the
fourth Thursday in November; and Christmas Day, December 25; provided, when New
Year's Day, January 1; or Independence Day, July 4; or Veterans Day, November 11; or
Christmas Day, December 25; falls on Sunday, the following day shall be a holiday and,
provided, when New Year's Day, January 1; or Independence Day, July 4; or Veterans Day,
November 11; or Christmas Day, December 25; falls on Saturday, the preceding day shall
be a holiday. No public business shall be transacted on any holiday, except in cases of
necessity and except in cases of public business transacted by the legislature, nor shall any
civil process be served thereon. However, for the executive branch of the state of Minnesota,
"holiday" also includes the Friday after Thanksgiving deleted text begin but does not include Christopher
Columbus Day deleted text end . Other branches of state government and political subdivisions shall have
the option of determining whether deleted text begin Christopher Columbus Day and deleted text end the Friday after
Thanksgiving shall be deleted text begin holidays deleted text end new text begin a holiday new text end . Where it is determined that deleted text begin Columbus Day or deleted text end the
Friday after Thanksgiving is not a holiday, public business may be conducted thereon.

Any agreement between a public employer and an employee organization citing Veterans
Day as the fourth Monday in October shall be amended to cite Veterans Day as November
11.