State employees would choose each year whether they take as a paid holiday Jefferson Davis’ birthday or Juneteenth under a bill unanimously approved in a House committee recently.
Originally, House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, would have created Juneteenth, celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S., as the state’s 14th paid holiday. Skeptical that the added holiday would cost taxpayers, Republicans pushed for a substitute bill giving state employees the option to choose between Juneteenth and the existing Jefferson Davis Day in June, honoring the president of the Confederacy.
State offices would remain open both days.
“So they have an option between Juneteenth and Jefferson Davis Day in lieu of closing and, or adding another paid holiday,” Givan said in the House State Government Committee last week.
Givan worked with Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, to create the substitute bill, allowing for the choice between holidays. Sells had sponsored a similar bill.
“I would say even though we’re moving in this direction, I still would say that we do a lot of things in this house that cost the taxpayers a lot of money,” said committee member Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville. “So I wouldn’t see how giving the employees another paid holiday would really hurt.”
Democrats in the State House have tried for a few years to make Juneteenth a paid state holiday.
“I really wanted it to be a standalone (bill), but right now unfortunately, it was probably going to be this or nothing,” Givan said. “I think this was going to be the best that we were going to get.”
“I’m glad that we had that opportunity.”
The bill awaits a vote in the House.