An Act To Establish Indigenous People's Day

Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §150-N  is enacted to read:

§ 150-N.  Indigenous People's Day

In recognition of the historic, cultural and contemporary significance of the indigenous peoples of the lands that later became known as the Americas, including Maine, and the many contributions of these peoples, the State designates the 2nd Monday in October of each year as Indigenous People's Day. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation urging the people of the State to observe the day with appropriate celebration and activity.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §1051,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1985, c. 819, Pt. A, §1, is amended to read:

§ 1051. Legal holidays

No court Court may not be held on Sunday or any day designated for the annual Thanksgiving; New Year's Day, January 1st; Martin Luther King, Jr. , Day, the 3rd Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, the 3rd Monday in February; Patriot's Day, the 3rd Monday in April; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, but if the Federal Government designates May 30th as the date for observance of Memorial Day, the 30th of May; the 4th of July; Labor Day, the first Monday of September; Columbus Indigenous People's Day, the 2nd Monday in October; Veterans' Day, November 11th; or on Christmas Day. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may order that court be held on a legal holiday when he the Chief Justice finds that the interests of justice and judicial economy in any particular case will be served. The public offices in county buildings may be closed to business on the holidays named in this section. When any one of the holidays named in this section falls on Sunday, the Monday following shall must be observed as a holiday, with all the privileges applying to any of the days named in this section.

Sec. 3. 9-B MRSA §145, sub-§1, ¶I,  as enacted by PL 1997, c. 398, Pt. B, §2, is amended to read:

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4802, sub-§1, ¶E,  as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:

Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §4691, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 1979, c. 571, is amended to read:

summary

This bill establishes the 2nd Monday in October as Indigenous People's Day and changes references in the Maine Revised Statutes to the federally named Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day for use in the State.