Except as otherwise provided the community colleges shall continue in session or close on specified holidays as follows:

(a) The community colleges shall close on January 1, the third Monday in January, commencing in the 1989-90 fiscal year, known as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” February 12 known as “Lincoln Day,” the third Monday in February known as “Washington Day,” the last Monday in May known as “Memorial Day,” July 4, the first Monday in September known as “Labor Day,” November 11 known as “Veterans Day,” that Thursday in November proclaimed by the President as “Thanksgiving Day,” and December 25.

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(b) Any contractual provision between any community college district and its employees in effect on the effective date of the act that adds this subdivision shall prevail over any conflict regarding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day until the termination date of the contract or upon termination by mutual agreement of the parties, whichever occurs first.

(c) The Governor in appointing any other day for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday may provide whether the community colleges shall close on the day. If the Governor does not provide whether the community colleges shall close, they shall continue in session on all special or limited holidays appointed by the Governor, but shall close on all other days appointed by the Governor for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.

(d) (1) The community colleges shall close on every day appointed by the President as a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday, unless it is a special or limited holiday.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “appointed by the President” includes the President signing into law legislation that creates a nationwide federal holiday, including the legal public holidays listed in subsection (a) of Section 6103 of Title 5 of the United States Code, but does not include Columbus Day. This definition is declaratory of existing law.

(e) The community colleges shall continue in session on all legal holidays other than those designated by or pursuant to this section, and shall hold proper exercises commemorating the day.

(f) When any of the holidays on which the schools would be closed fall on Sunday, the community colleges shall close on the Monday following, except that (1) if Lincoln Day falls on a Sunday, the community colleges may observe this holiday on the preceding or following Friday, the following Monday, or the following Tuesday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a) where applicable, or (2) if Lincoln Day falls on a Monday, the community colleges may observe this holiday on the preceding or following Friday, that Monday, or the following Tuesday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a) where applicable.

(g) When any of the holidays on which the schools would be closed, except Lincoln Day, fall on Saturday, the community colleges shall close on the preceding Friday, and that Friday shall be declared a state holiday.

(h) If any holiday on which the community colleges are required to close pursuant to subdivision (a) occurs under federal law on a date different than the date specified in subdivision (a), the governing board of any community college district may close the community colleges of the district on the date recognized by federal law and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a).

(i) When Veterans Day would fall on Tuesday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the preceding Monday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a). When Veterans Day would fall on Wednesday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on either the preceding Monday or the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a). When Veterans Day would fall on Thursday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a).

(j) When Lincoln Day would fall on Tuesday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the preceding Monday, the preceding Friday, or the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a) where appropriate. When Lincoln Day would fall on Wednesday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the preceding Monday, the preceding Friday, or the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a). When Lincoln Day would fall on Thursday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the preceding Friday or the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a). When Lincoln Day falls on Saturday, the governing board of a community college district may close the colleges on the preceding Friday or the following Friday, and maintain classes on the date specified in subdivision (a) where appropriate.

(k) In addition to the holidays specified in subdivision (a), a community college may close on March 31, known as “Cesar Chavez Day,” if the governing board, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, agrees to close the community college for that purpose.

(l) In addition to the holidays specified in subdivision (a), a community college may close on April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” and the fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day,” if the governing board, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, agrees to close the community college for that purpose.

(m) In addition to the holidays specified in subdivision (a), Glendale Community College may close on April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” if the governing board, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, agrees to close the community college for that purpose.

(n) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a community college may replace closing on February 12, Lincoln Day, or the third Monday in February, Washington Day, with the date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year,” if the governing board of the community college district, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, agrees to close the community college for that purpose. When Lunar New Year falls on another holiday, the community college shall observe Lunar New Year on a preceding or following weekday.

(o) This section shall not be interpreted as authorizing a community college district governing board to maintain community colleges in its district for a lesser number of days during the college year than the minimum established by law.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 517, Sec. 1. (AB 264) Effective January 1, 2024.)