The Overview
If you are a Muslim student or state employee in California, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are now official state holidays. California's State holidays: Eid, AB 2017 became law when Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed it Sept. 27. Muslim students who observed Eid without a school closure previously had to choose between attending classes and celebrating with family and at the mosque, according to Al Jazeera. The law took effect immediately upon signing.
What the Law Does
The law adds Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to California's list of state holidays, amending the existing state holidays law. Community colleges and public schools may close on both days, and neither counts as a judicial holiday. State employees may elect to receive holiday credit for either day; because the dates shift each year, employees may make that election on the date their employee group designates.
Legislative Status
Asm. Matt Haney (D-CA-17) authored the bill, joined by principal coauthors Asm. Ash Kalra (D-CA-25), Asm. Stephanie Nguyen (D-CA-10) and Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-CA-10), and eight additional coauthors.
The full Assembly passed the bill 64–1 on May 26; the Senate passed it 29–4 on Aug. 30; and the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments the same day, 62–3.
When he introduced the bill in March, Assemblymember Matt Haney said the traditions of California's Muslim community "deserve recognition and respect," The Press Democrat reported. CAIR-California said the law addresses a longstanding challenge for Muslim Californians and added: "We commend Governor Newsom for signing AB 2017 and sending a powerful message that amid growing hostility, California stands firmly with its Muslim community," according to CAIR-California.
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