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Juneteenth would become a paid holiday for California state workers under new proposal

Juneteenth could become a California state holiday under a new proposal from Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles.

Jones-Sawyer on Friday introduced the proposal, which would give state workers a 12th paid holiday. California has recognized Juneteenth as a holiday since 2003, but hasn’t given state workers the day off.

The holiday would fall on June 19, the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas learned they had been freed.