Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) was recognized on Sunday, May 5 by the Albany chapter of the Asian Pacific Islanders Public Affairs Association (APAPA), with a legislative achievement award for championing recognition of the start of the Lunar New Year as a school holiday across New York State.

Assemblyman Colton was the prime sponsor of the Lunar New Year legislation, which was signed into law in 2023. The law adds the first day of the Asian Lunar New Year to the state’s calendar of public school holidays.

“I am deeply honored to have been recognized by the Albany chapter of APAPA,” Assemblyman Colton said. “It was my great pleasure to author this legislation, which was an important priority for so many of my constituents. This is a very significant occasion for many of the state’s residents and now, across the state, those who celebrate will no longer have to choose between marking the holiday as a family and sending their children to school.”

The event was held at Albany’s Empire State Plaza to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which occurs in May. Other lawmakers honored at the event were State Senators Brian Kavanaugh and Joe Addabbo and Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar.

Nearly two million people of Asian heritage live in New York State, which has the second largest population of Asians in the country. The holiday, which marks the first new moon of the lunar calendar, usually falls between January 21 and February 20. The first day of Lunar New Year was designated a public school holiday in New York City in 2015.

Assemblyman Colton had previous received APAPA’s Community Champion Award, in recognition of his work as a champion in fighting for the goals of community engagement and leadership development, and in advancing diverse cultural awareness.