2021 -- S 0840

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LC002049

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE

EDUCATION COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Miller, Gallo, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: April 23, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative Findings.

     The general assembly finds and declares that:

     (1) In 2000, the Rhode Island general assembly passed, and the governor signed into law,

00 H 7397 "Genocide and human rights education," requiring the Rhode Island department of

education to "develop curricular material on genocide and human rights issues and guidelines for

the teaching of that material”.

     (2) In 2011, the state of Rhode Island passed into law "Genocide Education in Secondary

Schools" (P.L. 2011, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 70, § 1) which emphasized a need to adhere to

making genocide curriculum materials available including, but not limited to, the Holocaust,

Armenia, Cambodia, and Darfur.

      (3) In 2016, the Rhode Island general assembly passed, and the governor signed into law,

16 H 7488 SUBSTITUTE A and 16 S 2396 SUBSTITUTE A to require that the Holocaust and

genocide be taught in public middle and high schools.

     (4) Throughout the years, the general assembly has consistently passed resolutions

condemning the Holocaust and genocides. Since the passage of the legislation into law, to require

Holocaust and genocide education in its schools, the general assembly has recognized its

importance by honoring its passage with continued resolutions of its observance.

     (5) The governor, legislators, and community leaders have always made it a priority to

attend and participate in Holocaust and genocide memorial and other related events to emphasize

the continued need to recognize the horrible tragedies and atrocities committed to ancestors of the

Rhode Island state community members.

     SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 93.1

THE RHODE ISLAND HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION COMMISSION [SEE

TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

     16-93.1-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Rhode Island Holocaust and

Genocide Education Commission".

     16-93.1-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings

unless the context shall clearly indicate another or different meaning or intent:

     (1) "Genocide" means any act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in substantial

part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group such as:

     (i) Killing members of that group;

     (ii) Causing serious bodily injury to members of that group;

     (iii) Causing permanent impairment of the mental faculties of members of the group

through drugs, torture or similar techniques;

     (iv) Subjecting the group to conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical

destruction of the group in whole or in part;

     (v) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or

     (vi) Forcibly transferring or attempting to transfer children of the group to another group,

as defined by the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (18 USC 1091).

     (2) "Holocaust" means the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and

murder of approximately six million (6,000,000) Jews and five million (5,000,000) other

individuals by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

     16-93.1-3. Holocaust and genocide education commission.

     (a) There is hereby created a permanent commission to be known as the Rhode Island

Holocaust and genocide education commission to consist of fifteen (15) members; two (2) of whom

shall be from the house of representatives, with one member from each political party, to be

appointed by the governor after consultation with the speaker of the house; two (2) of whom shall

be from the senate, with one member from each political party, to be appointed by the governor

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after consultation with the senate president; eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the governor

to serve a term of three (3) years, at least three (3) of whom shall be involved in Holocaust and

genocide education or have a personal connection or experience with the Holocaust or genocide; at

least three (3) of whom shall have expertise in investigating, analyzing, or researching the

Holocaust or genocide; three (3) nonvoting ex officio members, comprised of any combination of

the following individuals, to serve until the ex officio member ceases to hold the applicable position

as follows:

     (1) A superintendent of schools duly certified pursuant to §16-2-10 and employed in any

city or town;

     (2) The Rhode Island postsecondary commissioner;

     (3) A member of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals;

     (4) A member of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals.

     (b)(i) Appointed representatives may delegate to a responsible person knowledgeable in

the Holocaust and genocide education to attend meetings and vote in place of the representative.

The designee will be responsible for keeping the representative informed of details of the meetings

and other commission details.

     (ii) Appointed senators may delegate to a responsible person knowledgeable in the

Holocaust and genocide education to attend meetings and vote in place of the senator. The designee

will be responsible for keeping the senator informed of details of the meetings and other

commission details.

     (iii) Ex officio members may appoint a responsible individual from their organization to

attend meetings. The designee will be responsible for keeping the ex officio member informed of

details of the meetings and other commission details.

     (c) A member of the commission may be removed by the governor for inefficiency, neglect

of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after being given a written statement of the charges

and an opportunity to be publicly heard on such charges by the general assembly.

     (d) Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in the manner provided under subsection

(a) of this section. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the

term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that

term. Any appointed member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of that member's

term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty (60) days has elapsed,

whichever occurs first.

     16-93.1-4. Meetings and by-laws.

     (a) The commission shall meet at least six (6) times during a calendar year.

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     (b) At the first meeting, the commission shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and

other officers from the voting members.

     (c) The commission shall adopt by-laws governing the commission.

     16-93.1-5. Quorum.

     A quorum at the meeting shall consist of eight (8) voting members present. No action of

the commission shall be taken without the affirmative vote of eight (8) voting members.

     16-93.1-6. Expenses.

     Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for

expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

     16-93.1-7. Duties and responsibilities of the commission.

     The commission shall:

     (1) Gather and disseminate Holocaust and genocide information throughout this state;

     (2) Take inventory of current statewide Holocaust and genocide memorial and education

programs and initiatives, and partner with the department of elementary and secondary education

to prepare a comprehensive educational program to fill program and initiative gaps;

     (3) Promote public awareness of issues relating to the Holocaust and genocide education

through public education programs;

     (4) Advise and educate the governor, general assembly, and state departments and agencies

regarding the nature, magnitude and priorities of Holocaust and genocide memorial education, and

develop policies and programs to address those needs;

     (5) Seek opportunities to provide resources for schools to effectively teach about the

Holocaust and genocide;

     (6) Review and approve grants that are administered or subcontracted by the commission;

and

     (7) Submit a written annual report of the commission's activities, accomplishments, and

recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and the representatives and senators appointed pursuant to §16-93.1-3.

     16-93.1-8. Holocaust and genocide memorial and education office.

     (a) There is hereby created the Holocaust and genocide memorial and education office to

serve the commission.

     (b) The director of the Holocaust and genocide memorial and education office shall be

appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the commission. The director shall, with the

commission's approval, appoint employees as necessary to carry out the duties of the office. The

employees shall serve at the director's pleasure.

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     16-93.1-9. Duties and responsibilities of the office.

     The Holocaust and genocide memorial and education office shall do the following:

     (1) Advise and provide information to the commission on statewide programs and new

opportunities to further Holocaust and genocide memorial and education;

     (2) Serve as a clearinghouse to review, comment on, and propose initiatives submitted to

the office that meet Holocaust and genocide memorial and education needs;

     (3) Apply for and accept grants and gifts from public and private sources to be administered

by the office or subcontracted to local public or nonprofit agencies that shall use the grants and

gifts for the purpose intended;

     (4) Monitor and evaluate all programs subcontracted to local public or nonprofit agencies

and ensure that any grants or gifts are being used for the purpose intended;

     (5) Endeavor to ensure that Holocaust and genocide survivors, liberators, educators, and

others involved in Holocaust and genocide education and memorial have access to decision-making

bodies in local, state, national, and international departments, agencies, and genocide education and

memorial organizations;

     (6)(i) Establish advisory committees for special subjects, as needed, to facilitate and

maximize community participation and subject matter expertise in the operation of the commission;

     (ii) Advisory committees shall be comprised of members representing community

organizations, charitable institutions, elementary and secondary schools, higher education

institutions, faith-based organizations, public officials, and other persons as determined by the

office;

     (7) Establish relationships with local and state governments, federal officials, nonprofit

organizations, and the private sector to promote and ensure the highest standards of Holocaust and

genocide memorial and education; and

     (8) Prepare a written annual report of the commission's activities, accomplishments, and

recommendations to the commission for the commission’s submittal to the governor, the president

of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the representatives and senators

appointed pursuant to §16-93.1-3.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE

EDUCATION COMMISSION

***

     This act would create the Holocaust and genocide education commission to:

     (1) Gather and disseminate Holocaust and genocide information;

     (2) Review current statewide Holocaust and genocide memorial and education programs

and initiatives, and partner with the state department of elementary and secondary education to

prepare a program;

     (3) Promote public awareness of issues relating to Holocaust and genocide education;

     (4) Advise and educate the governor, general assembly, and state departments and agencies

regarding the nature, magnitude and priorities of Holocaust and genocide memorial education, and

develop policies and programs to address those needs; and

     (5) Seek opportunities to provide resources for schools to effectively teach about the

Holocaust and genocide.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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