def register_date_conversion_handler(date_specifier_patterns):
    """Decorator for registering handlers that convert text dates to dates.

    Args:
        date_specifier_patterns (str): the date specifier (in regex pattern format) for which the handler is registered
    """

    def _decorator(func):
        global DATE_SPECIFIERS_CONVERSION_HANDLERS
        DATE_SPECIFIERS_CONVERSION_HANDLERS[DATE_SPECIFIERS_REGEXES[date_specifier_patterns]] = func
        return func

    return _decorator
Decorator for registering handlers that convert text dates to dates.

    Args:
        date_specifier_patterns (str): the date specifier (in regex pattern format) for which the handler is registered