ENGROSSED

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 4493

(By Delegates Ashley, Anderson, Iaquinta, White,

        Azinger, Armstead, Paxton, Boggs and Pasdon)

(Originating in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security)

[February 15,2012]

A Bill to amend and reenact §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to establishing special memorial observances for military veterans; observing the week in which December 7 falls as a special memorial week to be known as Pearl Harbor and Military Appreciation Week; directing the State Department of Education to implement a program involving students which recognizes the contributions made by West Virginians in the United States military; declaring March 30 as a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day; declaring August 7 as a special memorial day to be known as Purple Heart Recognition Day; and declaring July 27 as a special memorial day to be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition Day.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. LEGAL HOLIDAYS; SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAYS; CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES; DEFINITIONS.

§2-2-1a. Special memorial days.

    (a) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the week beginning with the Sunday before Thanksgiving as a special memorial week to be known as Native American Indian Heritage Week.

    (b) The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November is designated Susan B. Anthony Day and shall only be a legal holiday in all years ending in an even number. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling on all schools, civic organizations, government departments and citizens to undertake activities on the designated day and surrounding days to pay tribute to the accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony in securing the civil and political rights of all Americans, including securing equal voting rights for women.

    (c) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare December 7 as a special memorial day, to be known as Pearl Harbor Day, honoring all West Virginians who fought in World War II and shall encourage all municipalities in the state to do the same.

    (d) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare March 30 as a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning February 28, 1961 and ending May 7, 1975, and shall encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.

    (e) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare August 7 as a special memorial day, to be known as Purple Heart Recognition Day, honoring all West Virginians who, while serving in the United States Armed Forces, have been wounded or killed in action and shall encourage all municipalities and counties in the state to do the same.

    (f) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare July 27 as a special memorial day to be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States Armed Forces in the Korean War, and shall encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.

    NOTE: The purpose of the bill is to make March 30 a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day; to make August 7 a special memorial day to be known as Purple Heart Recognition Day; and declaring July 27 as a special memorial day to be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition Day.

    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.