Bill Text: FL S1500 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Special Days of Observance

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2022-03-14 - Died in Education [S1500 Detail]

Download: Florida-2022-S1500-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1500
       
       
        
       By Senator Bracy
       
       
       
       
       
       11-00772A-22                                          20221500__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to special days of observance;
    3         creating s. 683.20, F.S.; designating “Emancipation
    4         Day” to officially commemorate the freeing of enslaved
    5         African Americans in Florida; authorizing the Governor
    6         to issue an annual proclamation honoring the
    7         significance of Emancipation Day; amending s. 683.21,
    8         F.S.; specifying that Juneteenth Day officially
    9         commemorates the freeing of all remaining enslaved
   10         African Americans in the United States; amending s.
   11         1003.4282, F.S.; requiring high school students
   12         enrolled in a United States History course to receive
   13         specified instruction on the significance of
   14         Emancipation Day and Juneteenth Day; providing an
   15         effective date.
   16  
   17         WHEREAS, on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln
   18  issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which afforded free status
   19  under federal law to the millions of enslaved African Americans
   20  who resided in states that had seceded from the Union, including
   21  Florida, and
   22         WHEREAS, despite the issuance of the Emancipation
   23  Proclamation, it was not fully enforced in certain regions of
   24  the United States for more than 2 years afterward, and
   25         WHEREAS, emancipation in Florida was proclaimed in
   26  Tallahassee on May 20, 1865, and for this reason Floridians
   27  traditionally celebrate Emancipation Day on May 20 of each year,
   28  and
   29         WHEREAS, on or about June 19, 1865, federal authorities
   30  arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation
   31  Proclamation and inform the remaining enslaved African Americans
   32  that the Civil War had ended and that they were now free, and
   33         WHEREAS, thereafter, former slaves and their descendants
   34  continued to commemorate each June 19 as a celebration of
   35  freedom and the emancipation of all slaves in the United States,
   36  and
   37         WHEREAS, in 1991, the Florida Legislature officially
   38  designated June 19 as “Juneteenth Day” to annually commemorate
   39  the freeing of slaves, and
   40         WHEREAS, this act designates Emancipation Day as a special
   41  day of observance in this state to commemorate the announcement
   42  of the abolition of slavery and to recognize the significant
   43  contributions of African Americans to this state and our nation,
   44  NOW, THEREFORE,
   45  
   46  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   47  
   48         Section 1. Section 683.20, Florida Statutes, is created to
   49  read:
   50         683.20 Emancipation Day.—
   51         (1) May 20 is hereby designated “Emancipation Day” to
   52  annually commemorate the traditional observance of the day that
   53  the enslaved African Americans of this state were notified of
   54  the Emancipation Proclamation.
   55         (2) The Governor may issue a proclamation each year which
   56  designates May 20 as Emancipation Day and calls on public
   57  officials, schools, private organizations, and all residents to
   58  honor the significance of the day.
   59         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 683.21, Florida
   60  Statutes, is amended to read:
   61         683.21 Juneteenth Day.—
   62         (1) June 19th of each year is hereby designated “Juneteenth
   63  Day” to commemorate the traditional observance of the day all
   64  remaining enslaved African Americans the slaves in Florida were
   65  notified of the Emancipation Proclamation.
   66         Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
   67  1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   68         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
   69         (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
   70  REQUIREMENTS.—
   71         (d) Three credits in social studies.—A student must earn
   72  one credit in United States History, which, beginning in the
   73  2023-2024 school year, must include at least 45 minutes of
   74  instruction on the significance of Emancipation Day and
   75  Juneteenth Day as designated in ss. 683.20 and 683.21,
   76  respectively; one credit in World History; one-half credit in
   77  economics; and one-half credit in United States Government,
   78  which must include a comparative discussion of political
   79  ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict
   80  with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the
   81  founding principles of the United States. The United States
   82  History EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s
   83  final course grade. Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year,
   84  students taking the United States Government course are required
   85  to take the assessment of civic literacy identified by the State
   86  Board of Education pursuant to s. 1007.25(4). Students earning a
   87  passing score on the assessment are exempt from the
   88  postsecondary civic literacy assessment required by s.
   89  1007.25(4).
   90         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.