BILL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In the 86th Session, S.B. 1828 created Holocaust Remembrance Week, in which school districts could opt in to teaching children age-appropriate lessons around the atrocities of the Holocaust and genocide of Jewish communities.  This is a huge step in ensuring future generations understand world history and the impacts of intolerance, so that we never repeat this.  This has come with overwhelmingly positive feedback in Senate District 26 and across the state, with letters of appreciation from students and teachers from as young as elementary school discussing how these lessons relate to bullying prevention, and the practice of acceptance and tolerance for each other. 

After four years of implementation, it is important to reflect on utilization and lessons learned.  The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission offers resources to assist school districts that participate, and opportunities for feedback; however there is no statewide review on the benefits or needed improvements to this programming.

S.B. 2482 creates a survey intended to be sent to superintendents, social studies and language arts curriculum coordinators, and principals to understand the utilization of Holocaust Remembrance Week.  This will help bridge resources available from the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission and inform long-term education and policy initiatives.

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.B. 2482 amends current law relating to a survey of public schools regarding Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.90725, as follows:

Sec. 29.90725. SURVEY ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE WEEK INSTRUCTION. (a) Provides that "advisory commission" means the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.

(b) Requires the advisory commission, with the assistance of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), to conduct a survey of school districts to review the implementation at each district of Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction under Section 29.9072 (Holocaust Remembrance Week).

(c) Requires that the survey request information from at least half of the campuses in a surveyed school district regarding Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction, including:

(1) the extent to which the campus participates in Holocaust Remembrance Week;

(2) the familiarity of the educators and administrators at each campus with the materials and resources available from the advisory commission and other local institutions dedicated to Holocaust education to support instruction during Holocaust Remembrance Week; and

(3) any additional materials or resources the campus would find useful to support instruction during Holocaust Remembrance Week, including professional development for educators, lessons plans, or other classroom resources.

(d) Requires the advisory commission, not later than December 1, 2024, to submit to the legislature a written report that includes the survey's findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

(e) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2025.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023. �