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HF 2685

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/16/2023 05:21pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring Holocaust and genocide education in social studies
curriculum for middle and high school students; creating a Holocaust and Genocide
Education Task Force; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [120B.25] HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) "Holocaust and genocide education" means
interdisciplinary teaching and learning about the causes, impacts, and legacies of the
Holocaust, other genocides, and incidents of mass violence.
new text end

new text begin (b) The "Holocaust" was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of
6,000,000 Jews by the Nazi regime and its allies and collaborators.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Genocide" means an internationally recognized crime where acts are committed
with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
Acts of genocide, as defined by the United Nations and the Rome Statute, include the
following categories:
new text end

new text begin (1) killing members of the group;
new text end

new text begin (2) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
new text end

new text begin (3) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its
physical destruction in whole or in part;
new text end

new text begin (4) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or
new text end

new text begin (5) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
new text end

new text begin Genocide also means a series of purposeful actions by a perpetrator or perpetrators to destroy
a collectivity through mass or selective murders of group members and suppressing the
biological and social reproduction of the collectivity. The perpetrator or perpetrators may
represent the state of the victim, another state, or another collectivity.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Incidents of mass violence" means extreme violence deliberately inflicted on a large
scale on civilians or noncombatants by state or nonstate actors. Incidents of mass violence
encompass the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and
terrorism.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies" means the Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) A school district must, at a minimum, offer Holocaust and
genocide education as part of its social studies curriculum for middle and high school.
new text end

new text begin (b) As part of the social studies curriculum, students in middle school must:
new text end

new text begin (1) analyze connections between World War II, fascism, and the Holocaust, and identify
the relationship between individuals' experiences of these events and broader historical
contexts;
new text end

new text begin (2) use primary and secondary sources to analyze how individuals, groups, and societies
around the world have been affected by genocide, such as the genocide in German Southwest
Africa; Armenian genocide; the genocide of the Ukranian people from 1932 to 1933, also
known as the Holodomor; the Holocaust, including non-Jewish victims of Nazi persecution
and genocide; Cambodian genocide; Rwandan genocide; and genocide in Darfur; and mass
violence, including communities resettled in Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (3) construct a narrative about why and how people have migrated to Minnesota as a
result of either warfare, genocide, or both, including the genocide in German Southwest
Africa; Armenian genocide; the genocide of the Ukranian people from 1932 to 1933, also
known as the Holodomor; the Holocaust, including non-Jewish victims of Nazi persecution
and genocide; Cambodian genocide; Rwandan genocide; and genocide in Darfur; using
primary sources about immigrant experiences.
new text end

new text begin (c) As part of the social studies curriculum, students in high school must:
new text end

new text begin (1) analyze the connections between nationalism, fascism, World War II, and the
Holocaust on a global scale and in the United States; and
new text end

new text begin (2) describe and evaluate different responses to human rights violations, including the
Holocaust and genocides.
new text end

new text begin (d) School districts are strongly encouraged to include Holocaust and genocide education
in their English language arts curriculum and focus on other genocides and incidents of
mass violence not related to the Holocaust, including but not limited to the displacement
and genocide of Indigenous peoples; genocide in German Southwest Africa; Armenian
genocide; the genocide of the Ukranian people from 1932 to 1933, also known as the
Holodomor; non-Jewish victims of Nazi persecution and genocide; Cambodian genocide;
Rwandan genocide; and genocide in Darfur.
new text end

new text begin (e) Public schools are strongly encouraged to include context about the history, culture,
and traditions of the communities devastated by the Holocaust, other genocides, and incidents
of mass violence.
new text end

new text begin (f) A school district must provide Holocaust and genocide education as part of its
curriculum in middle school and high school by the 2024-2025 school year in accordance
with Department of Education rulemaking on social studies standards and benchmarks.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Task force established. new text end

new text begin (a) The Holocaust and Genocide Education Task
Force is established to advise the commissioner of education on Holocaust and genocide
education and develop resources necessary to implement Holocaust and genocide education
requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25. The commissioner must appoint
members of the task force by April 1, 2024, based on the guidance and recommendations
from the cochairs of the task force.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Holocaust and Genocide Education Task Force must have a minimum of 12
members, but no more than 21 members, consisting of the following members:
new text end

new text begin (1) at least one representative, who shall cochair the task force, from the Center for
Holocaust and Genocide Studies;
new text end

new text begin (2) at least one representative, who shall cochair the task force, from a Minnesota-based
nonprofit organization designated by Minnesota's Jewish community to provide Holocaust
education and honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust;
new text end

new text begin (3) at least one additional representative from a Minnesota college or university other
than the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies with academic expertise in Holocaust
and genocide studies;
new text end

new text begin (4) at least one representative from a Minnesota teacher licensure program with expertise
in Holocaust and genocide studies;
new text end

new text begin (5) at least three representatives from Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations,
community groups, sovereign nations, or institutions of higher education whose missions
include educating about and honoring the victims and survivors of the displacement and
genocide of Indigenous peoples; genocide in German Southwest Africa; Armenian genocide;
the genocide of the Ukranian people from 1932 to 1933, also known as the Holodomor;
non-Jewish victims of Nazi persecution and genocide; Cambodian genocide; Rwandan
genocide; and genocide in Darfur;
new text end

new text begin (6) at least one public middle school social studies teacher with experience teaching the
Holocaust or other genocides in the classroom;
new text end

new text begin (7) at least one public high school social studies teacher with experience teaching the
Holocaust or other genocides in the classroom;
new text end

new text begin (8) at least one public middle school English language arts teacher with experience
teaching the Holocaust or other genocides in the classroom;
new text end

new text begin (9) at least one public high school English language arts teacher with experience teaching
the Holocaust or other genocides in the classroom; and
new text end

new text begin (10) at least one public middle school student or high school student with a demonstrated
interest in learning about the Holocaust or other genocides.
new text end

new text begin (c) At the discretion of the task force cochairs, the task force may add additional experts
in the field of Holocaust and genocide studies, Minnesota history, social studies education,
English language arts education, and community members with a particular interest in
Holocaust and genocide education.
new text end

new text begin (d) The task force must make every effort to be inclusive and represent the breadth of
Minnesota communities impacted by the Holocaust, other genocides, and incidents of mass
violence.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Task force duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) advise the commissioner during the development of the social studies glossary
regarding the definitions of "Holocaust," "genocide," and "incidents of mass violence";
new text end

new text begin (2) identify professional learning opportunities for teachers and public school district
staff, including opportunities for continuing education to facilitate implementation of
Holocaust and genocide education requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25;
new text end

new text begin (3) identify training materials, strategies, skills, content, and resources for teachers and
public school district staff to successfully implement the Holocaust and genocide education
requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25;
new text end

new text begin (4) develop model lesson plans that teachers and public-school district staff may use to
successfully implement the Holocaust and genocide education requirements under Minnesota
Statutes, section 120B.25;
new text end

new text begin (5) create a work plan that outlines the timeline to fulfill its duties under this subdivision;
new text end

new text begin (6) provide to the commissioner of education a list of recommended professional learning
opportunities, resources, strategies, skills, content, model lesson plans, and other materials
developed under this subdivision by May 1, 2025;
new text end

new text begin (7) coordinate with the commissioner to update the material and resources. The
commissioner must make all reasonable efforts to make the recommended materials publicly
available on the department's website by September 1, 2025; and
new text end

new text begin (8) by November 15, 2025, submit to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
committees of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over
kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and finance a report containing a list of
resources and materials provided to the commissioner of education for the commissioner
to make available to public school districts implementing Holocaust and genocide education
requirements.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force may:
new text end

new text begin (1) conduct a survey of the current state of Holocaust and genocide education in
Minnesota public school districts with a focus on teacher preparedness, access and utilization
of resources, and additional surveys of the state of Holocaust and genocide education
following the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year;
new text end

new text begin (2) carry out any other tasks that it considers pertinent to support the ability of teachers
and public school district staff to facilitate the successful implementation of Holocaust and
genocide education requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25; and
new text end

new text begin (3) apply for and accept grants and receive gifts, donations, and other financial support
from private sources for the purposes of carrying out its work under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Task force meetings and compensation. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must convene on
at least a bimonthly basis and must hold the first meeting no later than September 1, 2023.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members of the task force shall receive a stipend of $500 per month for their time,
work, and expertise.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must provide meeting space and technical
assistance for the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires November 16, 2025, or after the task force
report is submitted under subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Holocaust and Genocide Education Task Force. new text end

new text begin For the Holocaust and
Genocide Education Task Force under section 2:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2024
new text end
new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2025
new text end

new text begin Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Holocaust and genocide education implementation. new text end

new text begin For implementation of
state Holocaust and genocide education requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section
120B.25:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2024
new text end
new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2025
new text end

new text begin The base for fiscal year 2026 is $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Holocaust and genocide education professional learning grants. new text end

new text begin (a) For
grants to fund professional learning opportunities and resources for educators and public
school district staff to facilitate the successful implementation of Holocaust and genocide
education requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2024
new text end
new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2025
new text end

new text begin (b) The grants must be awarded by the commissioner for professional learning
opportunities and resources recommended by the Holocaust and Genocide Education Task
Force established under section 2.
new text end

new text begin (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 is $........
new text end