An Act To Establish Indigenous People's Day
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0914
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: HAMANN, BAILEY, BLUME, CHAPMAN, HICKMAN, RYKERSON, WARREN, JACKSON, SAVIELLO
Amends: 1 MRSA §150-N, 4 MRSA §1051, 9-B MRSA §145, 20-A MRSA §4802, 32 MRSA §4691

Legislative Document
No. 914
H.P. 642
House of Representatives, March 7, 2017
An Act To Establish Indigenous People's Day
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HAMANN of South Portland.
Cosponsored by Representative BAILEY of Saco and
Representatives: BLUME of York, CHAPMAN of Brooksville, HICKMAN of Winthrop, 
RYKERSON of Kittery, WARREN of Hallowell, Senators: JACKSON of Aroostook, 
SAVIELLO of Franklin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  1 MRSA §150-N is enacted to read: 
§150-N.  Indigenous People's Day 
In recognition of the historic, cultural and contemporary significance of the 
indigenous peoples of the lands that later became known as the Americas, including 
Maine, and the many contributions of these peoples, the State designates the 2nd Monday 
in October of each year as Indigenous People's Day.  The Governor shall annually issue a 
proclamation urging the people of the State to observe the day with appropriate 
celebration and activity. 
Sec. 2.  4 MRSA §1051, as repealed and replaced by PL 1985, c. 819, Pt. A, §1, is 
amended to read: 
§1051.  Legal holidays 
No court Court may not be held on Sunday or any day designated for the annual 
Thanksgiving; New Year's Day, January 1st; Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the 3rd 
Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, the 3rd Monday in February; Patriot's Day, 
the 3rd Monday in April; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, but if the Federal 
Government designates May 30th as the date for observance of Memorial Day, the 30th 
of May; the 4th of July; Labor Day, the first Monday of September; Columbus 
Indigenous People's Day, the 2nd Monday in October; Veterans' Day, November 11th; or 
on Christmas Day. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may order that court 
be held on a legal holiday when he the Chief Justice finds that the interests of justice and 
judicial economy in any particular case will be served. The public offices in county 
buildings may be closed to business on the holidays named in this section. When any one 
of the holidays named in this section falls on Sunday, the Monday following shall must 
be observed as a holiday, with all the privileges applying to any of the days named in this 
section. 
Sec. 3.  9-B MRSA §145, sub-§1, ¶I, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 398, Pt. B, §2, is 
amended to read: 
I.    The 2nd Monday in October, Columbus Indigenous People's Day; 
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §4802, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 
8, is amended to read: 
E.    Columbus Indigenous People's Day, the 2nd Monday in October; 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §4691, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 571, is amended to 
read: 
2.  Business day. "Business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or the 
following national holidays: New Year's Day; Washington's Birthday; Memorial Day; 
Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Indigenous People's Day, the 2nd Monday in 
October; Veteran's Veterans' Day; Thanksgiving; and Christmas. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the 2nd Monday in October as Indigenous People's Day and 
changes references in the Maine Revised Statutes to the federally named Columbus Day 
to Indigenous People's Day for use in the State.