CHAPTER 683

683.01 Legal holidays.

(1) The legal holidays, which are also public holidays, are the following:

(2) Whenever any legal holiday shall fall upon a Sunday, the Monday next following shall be deemed a public holiday for all and any of the purposes aforesaid.

History. — RS 2315, 2316; s. 1, ch. 4198, 1893; s. 1, ch. 4487, 1895; s. 1, ch. 4488, 1895; s. 1, ch. 5275, 1903; s. 1, ch. 5392, 1905; GS 3102; s. 1, ch. 6872, 1915; RGS 4846; CGL 6932; s. 1, ch. 16067, 1933; s. 1, ch. 20250, 1941; s. 1, ch. 20525, 1941; s. 1, ch. 22610, 1945; s. 1, ch. 29926, 1955; s. 1, ch. 69-24; s. 1, ch. 73-44; s. 1, ch. 75-158; s. 1, ch. 77-423; s. 1, ch. 78-30; s. 1, ch. 78-298; s. 1, ch. 90-59.

683.02 Meaning of term “legal holidays” as used in contracts.

History. — s. 1, ch. 5392, 1905; s. 1, ch. 6872, 1915; RGS 4847; CGL 6933; s. 2, ch. 16067, 1933; s. 2, ch. 29926, 1955; s. 2, ch. 69-24.

683.04 Arbor Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 22538, 1945.

683.05 Pan-American Day.

(1) The Governor shall proclaim April 14 of each year to be “Pan-American Day,” which day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the state as a day honoring the republics of Latin America, and which day shall otherwise be suitably observed by such public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate. If April 14 shall fall on a day which is not a school day, “Pan-American Day” shall be observed in the schools on the school day next preceding or on such preceding day as may be designated by local school authorities.

(2) The purpose of the law is to establish a day on which the mutually friendly relationship between the state and the Pan-American Republics will be recognized and perpetuated.

History. — ss. 1, 2, ch. 22975, 1945.

683.06 Pascua Florida Day.

(1) April 2 of each year is hereby designated as “Florida State Day.” The day to be known as “Pascua Florida Day.”

(2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating April 2 as said State Day and designating the week of March 27 to April 2 as “Pascua Florida Week” and calling upon public schools and citizens of Florida to observe the same as a patriotic occasion.

History. — ss. 1, 2, ch. 28063, 1953; s. 2, ch. 77-423.

683.08 Gasparilla Day, legal holiday in Hillsborough County.

History. — s. 1, ch. 63-419.

683.09 DeSoto Day, legal holiday in Manatee County.

History. — s. 1, ch. 69-258; s. 1, ch. 69-289.

683.10 Grandparents’ and Family Caregivers’ Day.

(1) The first Sunday after Labor Day of each year is designated “Grandparents’ and Family Caregivers’ Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents’ and Family Caregivers’ Day and calling upon public schools and citizens of the state to observe the occasion.

History. — s. 1, ch. 71-188; s. 15, ch. 2009-43.

683.11 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.

(1) May 1 of each year is hereby designated as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.”

(2) The month of May of each year is hereby designated as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.”

(3) The Governor and the mayor of each municipality may issue annually a proclamation designating May 1 as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” and the month of May as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Month” and urging all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations and public and private educational institutions to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate programs, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and local law enforcement officers are invited to participate.

History. — s. 1, ch. 72-322; s. 5, ch. 2022-23.

683.115 Law Enforcement Memorial Day.

(1) May 15 of each year is hereby designated as “Law Enforcement Memorial Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation declaring May 15 to be a day of mourning throughout the state.

History. — s. 1, ch. 78-46.

683.12 Parade Day, Hillsborough County.

History. — s. 1, ch. 73-160.

683.13 State observance of national day of mourning.

History. — s. 1, ch. 74-16.

683.14 Patriots’ Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 76-198.

683.145 I Am An American Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 87-410.

683.1455 American Founders’ Month.

(1) The month of September of each year is designated as “American Founders’ Month.”

(2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating the month of September as “American Founders’ Month” and urging all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations and public and private educational institutions to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate programs, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and local governmental officials are invited to participate.

History. — s. 14, ch. 2017-116.

683.146 Purple Heart Day.

(1) August 7 of each year is designated as “Purple Heart Day.”

(2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating August 7 as “Purple Heart Day.” Public officials, schools, private organizations, and all residents of the state are encouraged to commemorate Purple Heart Day and honor those wounded or killed while serving in any branch of the United States Armed Services.

History. — s. 15, ch. 2012-159; s. 2, ch. 2012-199.

683.147 Medal of Honor Day.

(1) March 25 of each year is designated as “Medal of Honor Day.”

(2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating March 25 as Medal of Honor Day and calling upon public officials, schools, private organizations, and all residents of the state to commemorate Medal of Honor Day and honor recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor who distinguished themselves through their conspicuous bravery and gallantry during wartime, and at considerable risk to their own lives, while serving as members of the United States Armed Forces.

History. — s. 49, ch. 2018-7.

683.15 Teacher’s Day.

(1) The third Friday in May of each year is designated as Teacher’s Day.

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating the third Friday in May as Teacher’s Day and calling upon public schools and citizens of the state to observe the occasion.

History. — s. 1, ch. 78-203.

683.16 Retired Teachers’ Day.

(1) The Sunday commencing the third week of November of each year is hereby designated as “Retired Teachers’ Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating the Sunday commencing the third week of November of each year as Retired Teachers’ Day and calling upon public schools and citizens of the state to observe the occasion and to take the opportunity to honor the retired teachers of the state.

History. — s. 1, ch. 81-16.

683.17 Parents’ and Children’s Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 88-114; s. 1, ch. 2002-10.

683.18 Save the Florida Panther Day.

(1) The third Saturday of March of each year is designated as “Save the Florida Panther Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating the third Saturday of March as Save the Florida Panther Day and calling upon public schools and citizens of the state to observe the occasion.

History. — s. 1, ch. 90-58.

683.185 Everglades Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2012-47.

683.19 Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Good Friday; designation as legal holiday by chief circuit judges.

History. — s. 4, ch. 90-269; s. 4, ch. 93-161.

683.195 Florida Jewish History Month.

(1) The month of January of each year is designated as “Florida Jewish History Month.”

(2) The Governor may issue a proclamation annually designating the month of January as “Florida Jewish History Month” and calling upon the citizens of the state to observe the occasion.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2003-7.

683.21 Juneteenth Day.

(1) June 19th of each year is hereby designated “Juneteenth Day” to commemorate the traditional observance of the day the slaves in Florida were notified of the Emancipation Proclamation.

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating June 19th as Juneteenth Day and calling on public officials, schools, private organizations, and all citizens to honor the historic significance of the day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 91-252.

683.22 Law Day and Law Week.

(1) May 1 of each year is designated as “Law Day,” and the week starting with the Sunday preceding May 1 is proclaimed “Law Week” in Florida. If May 1 falls on a Sunday, Law Week begins on that day. During the week, all residents, schools, businesses, and clubs and the mass media are invited to commemorate the role of law in our lives. The theme to be celebrated will be determined by the Supreme Court of Florida and publicized and supported by the lawyers of Florida through The Florida Bar.

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation celebrating these events, with a theme to be determined by the Supreme Court of Florida and supported by the lawyers of Florida through The Florida Bar.

History. — s. 1, ch. 98-23.

683.23 Florida Missing Children’s Day.

History. — s. 87, ch. 2000-139.

683.231 Citizen support organization for Florida Missing Children’s Day.

(1) The Department of Law Enforcement may establish a citizen support organization to provide assistance, funding, and promotional support for activities authorized for Florida Missing Children’s Day under s. 683.23.

(2) As used in this section, the term “citizen support organization” means an organization that is:

(3) The citizen support organization is not a registered lobbyist within the meaning of s. 11.045.

(4) The citizen support organization is specifically authorized to collect and expend funds to be used for awards; public awareness and awards ceremonies, workshops, and other meetings, including distribution materials for public education and awareness; travel; Internet and web-hosting services; administrative costs, including personnel costs; costs of audits; and costs of facilities rental.

(5) The activities of the citizen support organization must be determined by the department to be consistent with the goals and mission of the department and in the best interests of the state and approved in writing by the department to operate for the direct or indirect benefit of the department. The approval shall be given in a letter of agreement from the department.

(6)(

a) The department may fix and collect charges for the rental of facilities and properties managed by the department and may permit, without charge, appropriate use of administrative services, property, and facilities of the department by the citizen support organization, subject to this section. The use must be directly in keeping with the approved purposes of the citizen support organization and may not be made at times or places that would unreasonably interfere with opportunities for the public to use such facilities for established purposes.

Any money received from rentals of facilities and properties managed by the department may be held in the Operating Trust Fund of the department or in a separate depository account in the name of the citizen support organization and subject to the provisions of the letter of agreement with the department. The letter of agreement must provide that any funds held in the separate depository account in the name of the citizen support organization must revert to the department if the citizen support organization is no longer approved by the department to operate in the best interests of the state.

(7) The citizen support organization shall provide for an independent annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the department, the Office of Policy and Budget in the Executive Office of the Governor, and the Cabinet.

History. — s. 10, ch. 2008-249; s. 24, ch. 2014-96; s. 1, ch. 2018-54.

683.24 Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Day.

History. — s. 25, ch. 2000-163; s. 66, ch. 2000-318; s. 28, ch. 2000-367.

683.25 Bill of Rights Day.

(1) December 15 of each year is designated as “Bill of Rights Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating December 15 as “Bill of Rights Day” and calling upon all citizens of the state to observe the occasion.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2001-88.

683.26 Ronald Reagan Day.

(1) February 6 of each year is designated as “Ronald Reagan Day.”

(2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation designating February 6 as “Ronald Reagan Day.” Public officials, schools, private organizations, and all citizens are encouraged to honor the legacy of opportunity and optimism left by America’s 40th President by commemorating Ronald Reagan Day on February 6 of each year.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2007-34.

683.325 Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.

History. — s. 17, ch. 2001-98.

683.33 Three Kings Day.

(1) January 6 of each year is designated as “Three Kings Day.”

(2) Local governments may annually issue a proclamation commemorating January 6 as “Three Kings Day” and recognize that many residents of the state celebrate the occasion as a time to be with their family and friends, attend services, exchange gifts, and celebrate their cultural heritage.

History. — s. 2, ch. 2007-34.

683.331 Child Welfare Professionals Recognition Day.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2008-157; s. 282, ch. 2014-19.

683.332 Ronshay Dugans Act.

(1) This

section may be cited as the “Ronshay Dugans Act.”

(2) The first week of September is designated as “Drowsy Driving Prevention Week” in this state. During Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transportation are encouraged to educate the law enforcement community and the public about the relationship between fatigue and performance and the research showing fatigue to be as much of an impairment as alcohol and as dangerous while operating a motor vehicle.

History. — s. 48, ch. 2010-223.

683.333 Foster Family Appreciation Week.

(1) The second week of February of each year is designated as “Foster Family Appreciation Week” to recognize the enduring and invaluable contributions that foster parents provide to the children in their care and, thus, to the future of this state.

(2) The Department of Children and Families, local governments, and other agencies are encouraged to sponsor events to promote awareness of the contributions made by foster families to the vitality of the state.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2016-73.

683.334 Victims of Communism Day.

(1) The Governor shall proclaim November 7 of each year as “Victims of Communism Day,” which shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the state as a day honoring the 100 million people who have fallen victim to communist regimes across the world and which shall be suitably observed by public exercise in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate.

(2) If November 7 falls on a day that is not a school day, “Victims of Communism Day” shall be observed in the public schools in the state on the preceding school day or on such school day as may be designated by local school authorities.

(3)(

a) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, high school students enrolled in the United States Government class required by s. 1003.4282(3)(

d) must receive at least 45 minutes of instruction on “Victims of Communism Day” to include topics such as Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet System, Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and Nicolás Maduro and the Chavismo movement, and how victims suffered under these regimes through poverty, starvation, migration, systemic lethal violence, and suppression of speech.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2022-98.

683.3341 Responsible Fatherhood Month.

(1) The Legislature designates the month of June as “Responsible Fatherhood Month” to recognize the importance of fathers in their children’s lives, how fathers contribute to their children’s safety and stability, and the direct link between positive father involvement and child well-being.

(2) The Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, local governments, and other agencies are encouraged to sponsor events to promote awareness of responsible fatherhood engagement and the contributions fathers make in the lives of their children.

History. — s. 18, ch. 2022-67.