ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: JUD DP 6-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 33-26-0-0-1

Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-13-1-0-0

HB 2629: schools; instruction; victims of communism

Sponsor: Representative Toma, LD 27

Vetoed

Overview

Establishes November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day and requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to create a list of recommended resources for mandatory instruction on the topic in certain public school courses. 

History

Current statute establishes certain days as non-legal holidays, including Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day (A.R.S. § 1-319) and 9/11 Education Day (A.R.S. § 1-321). On each of these days, public schools in Arizona are required to dedicate a certain portion of the school day to education on prescribed subjects (A.R.S. §§ 15-710.01, 15-710.02). Moreover, SBE is required to develop a list of recommended resources for civics education on each of these subjects and establish a process for public schools to recommend additional resources (A.R.S. § 15-203).

Provisions

1.   Establishes November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day (a non-legal holiday). (Sec. 1)

2.   Mandates that Victims of Communism Day will be observed by schools the preceding or following day if it falls on a day when school is not in session. (Sec. 1)

3.   Requires SBE to develop a list of recommended resources for instruction about the history of communist regimes that align with academic standards prescribed in A.R.S § 15-701.01, and to establish a process for public schools to recommend additional resources. (Sec. 2)

4.   Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, mandates that any American government course required for graduation from high school include at least 45 minutes of instruction about the history of communist regimes around the world, which may include:

a)   Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution;

b)   Joseph Stalin and the Soviet system;

c) Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution;

d)   Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution;

e)   Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge;

f) Nicolas Maduro and the Chavismo movement. (Sec. 3)

5.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note Makes a technical change. (Sec. 2)

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9.                     HB 2629

10.  Initials JL/MB     Page 0 Vetoed

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