House Bill 641

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF JANUARY IN MISSISSIPPI AS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, more than 55 years ago, January was designated as National Blood Donor Month, as an annual observance to honor voluntary blood donors and encourage more people to donate blood at a time when blood supplies are historically low; and

WHEREAS, Vitalant has been serving the community with the collection and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products to patients for more than 85 years; and

WHEREAS, in our communities, the need for a diverse blood supply is constant, but the supply is not, making volunteer blood donors the foundation for ensuring a safe and stable supply of blood available to help meet the medical needs of patients; and

WHEREAS, a blood transfusion occurs in the United States every two seconds, but only 3% of the age-eligible population donates blood; and

WHEREAS, type O blood is often used in trauma situations, making it the most needed blood type and most likely to be in short supply during a blood emergency; and

WHEREAS, patients requiring blood transfusions include cancer patients, accident, burn, and trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi hereby recognizes the month of January as National Blood Donor Month in the State of Mississippi, and urge all citizens to celebrate the cause of blood donation and recognize volunteer blood donors for their generous gifts, and we further urge all eligible blood donors to donate regularly, and encourage businesses and organizations throughout the State of Mississippi to sponsor community-based blood drives with Vitalant, among other blood centers, and provide citizens of our state with the opportunity to give; NOW, THEREFORE,

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

SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' birthday); the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas Day). In the event any holiday hereinbefore declared legal shall fall on Sunday, then the next following day shall be a legal holiday.

(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality or county may declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal holiday.

(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice (Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any program credit by participating students and without loss of leave by participating school personnel.

(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in honoring our musicians and their contributions.

(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(8) The month of January is declared to be National Blood Donor Month as an annual observance to honor voluntary blood donors, and encourage more people to donate blood at a time when blood supplies are historically low.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.