HB 792 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations instruction.

PRINTER'S NO.    816

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 792
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, SOLOMON, WAXMAN, GIRAL, FREEMAN, MADDEN,
        HOHENSTEIN, GUENST, MALAGARI, PUGH, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, KHAN,
        BANTA, SHUSTERMAN, GROVE AND ZIMMERMAN, MARCH 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
 6      further providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights
 7      violations instruction.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 1554(f)(1) of the act of March 10, 1949
11   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12   amended to read:
13      Section 1554.    Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
14   Violations Instruction.--* * *
15      (f)   [The] Following the 2025-2026 school year and every five
16   (5) years thereafter, the State Board of Education shall:
17      (1)   Conduct a study regarding the manner in which
18   instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
19   violations is offered by school entities in this Commonwealth.
20   In conducting the study, the State Board of Education shall
 1   request that each school entity provide the State Board of
 2   Education with information concerning whether the school entity
 3   offers such instruction and the manner in which such instruction
 4   is offered. Each school entity shall provide information to the
 5   State Board of Education in response to a request under this
 6   paragraph. [Following the 2016-2017 school year, but not later
 7   than November 30, 2017,] No later than November 30, 2027, and
 8   every five (5) years thereafter, the State Board of Education
 9   shall issue a report to the Governor, the Secretary of
10   Education, the Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Education
11   Committee of the Senate and the Chairman and Minority Chairman
12   of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives
13   addressing the following:
14      (i)    The number of school entities offering instruction in
15   the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations.
16      (ii)    The number of school entities using the curriculum
17   guidelines established by the Department of Education under
18   subsection (b).
19      (iii)    The number of school entities using the in-service
20   training programs made available by the Department of Education
21   under subsection (c).
22      (iv)    A description of the manner in which school entities
23   are offering instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human
24   rights violations, including the number of hours of instruction
25   offered, the grade levels at which such instruction is offered
26   and the course within such instruction is integrated.
27      (v)    The recommendations for improvements to the offering of
28   instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
29   violations, including updated curriculum guidelines and
30   recommended legislation.

20250HB0792PN0816                   - 2 -
1     * * *
2     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB0792PN0816                 - 3 -