Connecticut Legislature Passes Law Requiring High School Holocaust Education
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(JTA) — Legislation that would require Holocaust and genocide education in Connecticut high schools starting with the coming school year unanimously passed the state legislature.
The Connecticut House of Representatives on Monday voted 147-0 in favor of the bill. It had unanimously passed the Senate on April 24.
The bill will now go to Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his signature.
The legislation requires local and regional school boards to include the Holocaust and other genocides in their social studies curriculum beginning with the 2018-19 school year.
Rabbi Philip Lazowski, the state Senate’s chaplain and a Holocaust survivor, visited the House after the vote to thank the lawmakers, the Connecticut Mirror reported.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is a very important bill. In this, an election year, I wish you all good luck,” Lazowski said. “May God bless you for many years — and be with your family, your friends and have the joy of serving the people of Connecticut. God bless you.”
In March, the Kentucky legislature passed similar legislation. New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and California are other states that require some measure of Holocaust and genocide education.
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