Legislation · General Assembly 150

SB 257

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 1 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MAKING JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY A LEGAL HOLIDAY.

Synopsis

Juneteenth National Freedom Day commemorates June 19, 1865, the date news finally reached African Americans in Galveston, Texas that Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves living in Confederate states. In 2000, Chapter 269 of Volume 72 of the Laws of Delaware designated the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, a special day to be commemorated in this State by appropriate ceremonies. This Act designates the third Friday in June, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, as a legal holiday. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.