PRINTER'S NO. 2521
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1986
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, MERCURI, HOGAN, GILLEN, GREEN, LABS,
LEADBETER, M. MACKENZIE, R. MACKENZIE, MENTZER, OWLETT,
PICKETT, RAPP AND ROWE, JANUARY 31, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 2024
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
further providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights
violations instruction.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1554(b) and (g) of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
are amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
Violations Instruction.--* * *
(a.1) (1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and each
school year thereafter, a school entity that offers instruction
under subsection (a) shall post the title or Internet link for
every primary resource used by the school entity and a course
syllabus or a written summary of the instruction offered by the
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school entity on the school entity's publicly accessible
Internet website. The information shall be updated no later than
thirty (30) business days after the list of primary resources,
syllabi and course descriptions used by the school entity are
revised.
(2) The chief school administrator or a designee shall
implement the requirements of this subsection.
(3) This subsection shall not be construed to require a
school entity to violate the copyright, trademark or other
intellectual property right of the creator or owner of
curriculum.
(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish
curriculum guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the
effective date of this section. The guidelines shall encourage
the inclusion of all of the following subjects where appropriate
in the instruction:
(i) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,
persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish
resistance and post-World War II trials.
(ii) The definition, history, response and actions taken in
the face of genocide, including the Holocaust and any other
genocide perpetrated against humanity, including the Rwandan
genocide and other genocides committed in Africa, Asia and
Europe.
(iii) Human rights violations.
(iv) Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
rights.
(2) The Department of Education shall work in consultation
with organizations and individuals that provide educational
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expertise and resources related to the Holocaust, genocide and
human rights violations to develop the curriculum guidelines.
The guidelines shall state the minimum amount of instruction
necessary to adequately educate students on the Holocaust,
genocide and human rights violations.
(3) The Department of Education shall post the curriculum
guidelines on the Department of Education's publicly accessible
Internet website.
* * *
(g) [For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
shall mean a] As used in this section, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Chief school administrator." The superintendent of a school
district, administrative director of an area career and
technical school, executive director of an intermediate unit or
chief executive officer of a charter school, cyber charter
school or regional charter school.
"Primary resource." A textbook, resource or online material
approved by the governing board of a school entity that is used
as the basis or primary source of instruction for a course and
consistently by a majority of students in the course.
"School entity." A school district, charter school, regional
charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
career and technical school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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