The following are legal holidays: Sunday; the first day
of January, commonly called New Year's Day; the third Monday of
January, being celebrated as the anniversary of the birth of
Martin Luther King, Jr.; the third Monday of February to be known
as Presidents' Day and to be celebrated as the anniversary of the
births of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington; the last Monday
of May, commonly known as Memorial Day; the fourth day of July,
being the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; the
first Monday in September, to be known as Labor Day; the eleventh
day of November, to be known as Veterans' Day; the fourth
Thursday in November, to be known as Thanksgiving Day; the day
immediately following Thanksgiving Day; and the twenty-fifth day
of December, commonly called Christmas Day.
Employees of the state and its political subdivisions,
except employees of school districts and except those
nonclassified employees of institutions of higher education who
hold appointments or are employed under contracts to perform
services for periods of less than twelve consecutive months,
shall be entitled to one paid holiday per calendar year in
addition to those specified in this section. Each employee of
the state or its political subdivisions may select the day on
which the employee desires to take the additional holiday
provided for herein after consultation with the employer pursuant
to guidelines to be promulgated by rule of the appropriate
personnel authority, or in the case of local government by
ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority.
If any of the above specified state legal holidays are also
federal legal holidays but observed on different dates, only the
state legal holidays shall be recognized as a paid legal holiday
for employees of the state and its political subdivisions except
that for port districts and the law enforcement and public
transit employees of municipal corporations, either the federal
or the state legal holiday, but in no case both, may be
recognized as a paid legal holiday for employees.
Whenever any legal holiday, other than Sunday, falls upon a
Sunday, the following Monday shall be the legal holiday.
Whenever any legal holiday falls upon a Saturday, the
preceding Friday shall be the legal holiday.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to have the
effect of adding or deleting the number of paid holidays provided
for in an agreement between employees and employers of political
subdivisions of the state or as established by ordinance or
resolution of the local government legislative authority.
The legislature declares that the thirteenth day of January
shall be recognized as Korean-American day but shall not be
considered a legal holiday for any purposes.
The legislature declares that the twelfth day of October
shall be recognized as Columbus day but shall not be considered a
legal holiday for any purposes.
The legislature declares that the ninth day of April shall
be recognized as former prisoner of war recognition day but shall
not be considered a legal holiday for any purposes.
The legislature declares that the twenty-sixth day of
January shall be recognized as Washington army and air national
guard day but shall not be considered a legal holiday for any
purposes.
The legislature declares that the seventh day of August
shall be recognized as purple heart recipient recognition day but
shall not be considered a legal holiday for any purposes.
The legislature declares that the second Sunday in October
be recognized as Washington state children's day but shall not be
considered a legal holiday for any purposes.
The legislature declares that the sixteenth day of April
shall be recognized as Mother Joseph day and the fourth day of
September as Marcus Whitman day, but neither shall be considered
legal holidays for any purpose.
The legislature declares that the seventh day of December be
recognized as Pearl Harbor remembrance day but shall not be
considered a legal holiday for any purpose.
The legislature declares that the nineteenth day of February
be recognized as civil liberties day of remembrance but shall not
be considered a legal holiday for any purpose.
The legislature declares that the nineteenth day of June be
recognized as Juneteenth, a day of remembrance for the day the
slaves learned of their freedom, but shall not be considered a
legal holiday for any purpose.
[2007 c 61 § 2; 2007 c 19 § 2; 2003 c 68 § 2; 2000 c 60 § 1; 1999 c 26 § 1; 1993 c 129 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 20 § 1; 1991 c 57 § 2; 1989 c 128 § 1; 1985 c 189 § 1; 1979 c 77 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 111 § 1; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 24 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 194 § 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 1; 1969 c 11 § 1; 1955 c 20 § 1; 1927 c 51 § 1; RRS § 61. Prior: 1895 c 3 § 1; 1891 c 41 § 1; 1888 p 107 § 1.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2007 c 19 § 2 and by 2007 c 61 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Finding -- Declaration -- 2007 c 61: "The legislature
recognizes that on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed at
Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and the
slaves were now free; that this was two and a half years after
President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January
1, 1863; that the end of slavery brought on new challenges and
realities in establishing a previously nonexistent status for
African-Americans in the United States; that racism and continued
inequality is the legacy of slavery and acknowledging it is the
first step in its eradication; and that since 1980 June 19th has
been celebrated as Juneteenth across the United States as a day
for people to come together in the spirit of reconciliation to
commemorate the contributions of African-Americans to this
country's history and culture.
The legislature declares that an annual day of recognition
be observed in remembrance of the day the slaves realized they
were free as a reminder that individual rights and freedoms must
never be denied." [2007 c 61 § 1.]
Findings -- 2007 c 19: "The legislature finds that in the more than one hundred years that Koreans have immigrated to the United States, these immigrants and their descendants have made an invaluable contribution to our state and nation. Korean-Americans have worked for many years to better not only their community, but the communities in which they live and the state as a whole. The legislature further finds that due to the close friendship between the people of Korea and the United States, it is fitting to recognize Korean-American contributions to our society in a dignified and fitting manner, and to encourage Korean-Americans to honor the sacrifices made by American citizens during the Korean War." [2007 c 19 § 1.]
Finding -- 1993 c 129: "The legislature finds that
Washington's children are one of our most valuable assets,
representing hope for the future. Children today are at risk for
many things, including drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse,
suicide, peer pressure, and the economic and educational
challenges of a changing world. It is increasingly important for
families, schools, health professionals, caregivers, and workers
at state agencies charged with the protection and help of
children to listen to them, to support and encourage them, and to
help them build their dreams for the future.
To increase recognition of children's issues, a national
children's day is celebrated in October, with ceremonies and
activities devoted to children. Washington state focuses special
attention on its children by establishing a Washington state
children's day." [1993 c 129 § 1.]
Finding -- Declaration -- 1991 c 57: "The legislature finds
that the Washington army and air national guard comprise almost
nine thousand dedicated men and women who serve the state and
nation on a voluntary basis. The legislature also finds that the
state of Washington benefits from that dedication by immediate
access to well-prepared resources in time of natural disasters
and public emergency. The national guard has consistently and
frequently responded to state and local emergencies with people
and equipment to provide enforcement assistance, medical
services, and overall support to emergency management services.
The legislature further declares that an annual day of
commemoration should be observed in honor of the achievements,
sacrifices, and dedication of the men and women of the Washington
army and air national guard." [1991 c 57 § 1.]
Court business on legal holidays: RCW 2.28.100, 2.28.110.
School holidays: RCW 28A.150.050.