1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a new state holiday to recognize Hmong 
1.3 	people who assisted the United States during the Vietnam War; proposing coding 
1.4 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [10.5805] HMONG VETERANS DAY; STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
1.7 	May 14 of each year is designated as Hmong Veterans Day in honor of Hmong people 
1.8 	who served, suffered, sacrificed, or died in the Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War 
1.9 	in the years 1961 to 1975 in support of the armed forces of the United States, and in 
1.10 	recognition of the significance of May 14, 1975, the last day of airlift evacuation of officers 
1.11 	and their families from the covert headquarters in Long Tieng, Laos, to the Nam Phong 
1.12 	refugee camp in Thailand. Each year, the governor shall issue a proclamation honoring the 
1.13 	observance. Schools are encouraged to read a passage about Hmong history or this statute 
1.14 	to students in honor of this day on May 14 or, if May 14 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on 
1.15 	the Friday preceding May 14. Businesses may close in honor of this day and an employee 
1.16 	may request the day off without pay with two weeks' notice to the employer in observance 
1.17 	of this day. The governor shall order the American flag and Minnesota flag flown on the 
1.18 	grounds of the Capitol area and other state property to be flown at half-staff on May 14. 
1.19 	Local governments, private businesses, and public and private schools are encouraged to 
1.20 	fly American and Minnesota flags at half-staff on May 14.