Authorizes and directs the commissioner of education and the regents of the university of the state of New York to improve Holocaust education, make funds available for more Holocaust related events, conduct studies on Holocaust education levels, and to republish certain textbooks on the Holocaust.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5431
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 1, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT authorizing and directing the commissioner of education and the
regents of the university of the state of New York to study and
improve Holocaust education within the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of education is authorized and directed
2 to:
3 (a) provide outreach, and additional resources to school districts
4 across the state concerning course work, instruction, and curriculum
5 related to the Holocaust;
6 (b) make funds available via grants to school districts for guest
7 speakers, events, lectures, field trips, and other items related to
8 enhancing education concerning the Holocaust;
9 (c) engage in a public education campaign relating to the Holocaust;
10 (d) conduct a study to determine the general public's knowledge and
11 understanding concerning the events of the Holocaust and issue a report
12 detailing such findings and recommendations concerning the citizenry's
13 familiarity with the facts and history surrounding the Holocaust. The
14 commissioner shall issue such report to the governor, the temporary
15 president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority lead-
16 er of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly by the first of
17 January following the effective date of this act;
18 (e) conduct a study regarding courses of study on the Holocaust in
19 educational institutions within the state. Such study shall focus on
20 identifying whether school districts are providing a course of study or
21 instruction on the Holocaust. A report of the findings of such study and
22 recommendations of the commissioner of education shall be delivered to
23 the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the
24 assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06766-01-9
S. 5431 2
1 the assembly by the first of January following the effective date of
2 this act; and
3 (f) promulgate regulations to ensure instruction on the Holocaust is
4 provided in schools in compliance with section 801 of the education law.
5 § 2. The board of regents of the university of the state of New York
6 is authorized and directed to:
7 (a) update the prescribed courses for Holocaust education as required
8 by section 801 of the education law; and
9 (b) fully fund the republication of volumes I and II of the "Teaching
10 About The Holocaust and Genocide" text books, and make available for
11 distribution to all school districts in New York.
12 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
