Senate Bill No. 647
(By Senators Hunter, Mitchell, Redd, Oliverio, Unger, Edgell, McCabe, Rowe, Burnette, Caldwell, Prezioso and Fanning)
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[Introduced March 26, 2001; referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated article twenty-eight, relating to creating a commission on holocaust education.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated article twenty-eight, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 28. COMMISSION ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.
§5-28-1. Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The holocaust perpetrated by the Nazis during the period between one thousand nine hundred thirty-three and one thousand nine hundred forty-five resulted in the genocide of six million Jews and millions of nonJews as part of a carefully orchestrated central government program;
(2) The holocaust stands as a grim reminder and warning to all generations of genocidal crimes and atrocites committed by man based on ignorance and fear;
(3) Therefore, all people should rededicate themselves to the principles of human rights and equal protection under the laws of a democratic society;
(4) Education can ensure that citizens are knowledgeable about the events leading up to the holocaust and about the organizations and facilities that were created and used purposefully for the systematic destruction of human beings;
(5) The lessons of holistic trust and respect for peoples of various cultures are important for the citizens of West Virginia as we enter the global marketplace and economy;
(6) Programs, workshops, institutes, seminars, exhibits and other teacher training and public awareness activities for the study of the holocaust have taken place during recent years, yet a standardized resource for schools, churches and communities studying the holocaust is needed; and
(7) It is desirable to create a permanent state commission which, as an organized body and on a continuous basis, will survey, design, encourage and promote implementation of holocaust education and awareness programs in West Virginia and will be responsible for organizing and promoting the memorialization of the holocaust on a regular basis throughout the state.
§5-28-2. Commission on holocaust education.
(a) There is created the West Virginia commission on holocaust education. The commission shall be assigned to the office of the governor for administrative purposes only.
(b) The commission is composed of the following members:
(1) Two members of the state board of education, selected by the board;
(2) The state superintendent of schools;
(3) The director of the division of veterans affairs;
(4) One member of the attorney general's civil rights division; and
(5) At least six public members to be appointed by the governor, who must be state residents and shall include:
(A) Individuals who are holocaust scholars or experienced in the field of holocaust education;
(B) One high school and one junior high or middle school holocaust education certified teacher; and
(C) Survivors, second generation, eye-witness/liberators and individuals recommended by the chair of the present holocaust education commission, created by executive order, who, by virtue of their interest, education, or long-term involvement in human rights, prejudice reduction and holocaust education have demonstrated, through their past commitment and cooperation with the existing holocaust commission on education, their willingness to work for holocaust awareness and education in West Virginia.
(c) Public members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of three years each or until their respected successors are appointed and qualified. Public members are eligible for reappointment. The office of any member of the commission who fails to attend more than two consecutive meetings without an approved excuse by a resolution of the commission becomes vacant. All vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment, and the person appointed to fill the vacancy serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson for the commission for a term of three years and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.
(e) The speaker of the House of Delegates shall appoint a member of the House of Delegates and the president of the Senate shall appoint a member of the Senate to serve as advisors to the commission.
§5-28-3. Commission duties.
The commission shall:
(1) Provide, based upon the collective knowledge and experience of its members, assistance and advice to public and private schools, colleges and universities with respect to the implementation of holocaust education and awareness programs;
(2) Meet with appropriate education officials and other interested public and private organizations, including service organizations, for the purpose of providing information, planning, coordination, or modification of courses of study or programs dealing with the subject of the holocaust;
(3) Compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to share their verifiable knowledge and experiences in classrooms, seminars and workshops on the subject of the holocaust. The volunteers may be survivors of the holocaust, liberators of concentration camps, scholars, members of the clergy, community relations professionals or other persons who, by virtue of their experience, education or interest, have experience with the holocaust;
(4) Coordinate events memorializing the holocaust and seek volunteers who are willing and able to participate in commemorative events that will enhance public awareness of the significance of the holocaust; and
(5) Prepare reports for the governor regarding its findings and recommendations to facilitate the inclusion of holocaust studies and special programs memorializing the holocaust in educational systems in this state.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a

Commission on Holocaust Education.

This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.