Juneteenth bill would give California state workers 12th paid holiday, cost up to $20 million

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A proposal to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for California state workers has passed the Assembly and moved to the Senate.

The measure, introduced earlier this year by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, would make June 19 a paid holiday starting next year for civil service employees along with those who work for California State University and California Community Colleges.

If approved by the Senate and Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 1655 would create the 12th paid holiday for state employees and the first new one since Cesar Chavez Day in 2000.