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PRINTER'S NO. 614
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
619
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY HELM, BERNSTINE, BIZZARRO, BOBACK, BROWN, BURNS,
CALTAGIRONE, DAVIDSON, DiGIROLAMO, FREEMAN, HENNESSEY, HILL-
EVANS, KINSEY, KORTZ, KULIK, LONGIETTI, MEHAFFIE, MILLARD,
NEILSON, OBERLANDER, RABB, READSHAW, ROTHMAN, RYAN, SAYLOR,
SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SONNEY AND WHEELAND, FEBRUARY 28, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 28, 2019
AN ACT
Providing for the annual designation and holiday observance June
19 as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in this Commonwealth.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
(1) Originating in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865,
when slaves in that state learned that they had been freed,
"Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is the oldest African-
American holiday observance in the United States.
(2) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" commemorates the
survival instinct of Africans who endured a transatlantic
journey, known as the Middle Passage, on slave ships from
their homeland to this country.
(3) Approximately 11.5 million Africans survived the
harsh voyage to slave markets in the New World, and the slave
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population in America grew quickly.
(4) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" further
commemorates the impact of slavery, the abolition movement
and African-American emancipation in the United States and
has become a traditional celebration of independence, human
rights and African-American culture in many communities.
(5) Recognition of "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in
this Commonwealth would encourage all governmental entities,
civic organizations, schools and institutions of higher
education in this Commonwealth to observe the day in a manner
that emphasizes the meaning and importance of the end of
slavery in the United States and to recognize and celebrate
the importance of this day to every person who cherishes
liberty and equality for all people.
(6) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is celebrated
annually in at least 37 states nationwide.
Section 2. Designation.
June 19 is designated as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in
this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Construction.
Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring an
employer to treat June 19 as a legal or official holiday or to
provide paid leave to an employee on June 19 solely by virtue of
the date being designated under this act.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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