Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/10/24
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5409
AN ACT DESIGNATING VARIOUS DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the governor to proclaim the following:
1. April 11 of each year as Parkinson’s Awareness Day, to raise
awareness of the neurological condition of Parkinson’s disease
and available treatments for it;
2. April 26 of each year as Tuskegee Airmen Day, to recognize the
significant contributions of the first African American military
fighter pilots in American history who served during World War
II, and whose impressive performance earned them more than
150 Distinguished Flying Crosses;
3. May 5 of each year as Red Dress Day, to commemorate missing
or murdered indigenous people;
4. May 13 to May 19 of each year as Face Equity Week, and May 19
of each year as Face Equity Day, to recognize those with
craniofacial abnormalities;
5. June 1 of each year as Barber Recognition Day, to honor barbers
in the state;
6. September 15 of each year as Dystonia Awareness Day, to raise
awareness of the movement disorder of dystonia that causes
muscles to contract involuntarily and available treatments for it;
and
7. November of each year as Epilepsy Awareness Month, to raise
awareness of the neurological disease and available treatments
for it. 2024HB-05409-R000412-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/10/24
Under the bill, suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the governor designates.
The bill also amends two previous designations as follows:
1. Free Enterprise Day (September 14), to recognize the innovative
spirit of entrepreneurs and the contributions they have made to
the state’s economy, instead of recognizing the contributions of
free enterprise and
2. Constitution Day (September 17), to also recognize Connecticut
as having the first written constitution of a democratic
government.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2024)