HB 395 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0395-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to "Victims of Communism Day"; 2
creating s. 683.334, F.S.; requiring the Governor to 3
proclaim November 7 of each year as "Victims of 4
Communism Day"; requiring the day to be observed in 5
public schools and by public exercise; requiring a day 6
other than November 7 to be observed by public schools 7
under a specified circumstance; requiring certain high 8
school students to receive specified instruction; 9
providing an effective date. 10
11
WHEREAS, over 100 years have passed since the Bolshevik 12
Revolution in Russia and the formation of the first communist 13
government under Vladimir Lenin, leading to decades of 14
oppression and violence under communist regimes throughout the 15
world, and 16
WHEREAS, based on the economic philosophies of Karl Marx, 17
communism has proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty, 18
prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given rise to such 19
infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph S talin, Vladimir 20
Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, and 21
WHEREAS, communist regimes worldwide have killed more than 22
100 million people and subjected countless others to 23
exploitation and unspeakable atrocities, with victims 24
representing many different ethniciti es, creeds, and 25
HB 395 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0395-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
backgrounds, and 26
WHEREAS, through false promises of equality and liberation 27
or through coercion, brutality, and fear, communist regimes have 28
systematically robbed their own citizens of the rights of 29
freedom of worship, freedom of speech, a nd freedom of 30
association, and 31
WHEREAS, many victims of communism were persecuted as 32
political prisoners for speaking out against these regimes, and 33
others were killed in genocidal state -sponsored purges of 34
undesirable groups, and 35
WHEREAS, in addition to violating basic human rights, 36
communist regimes have suppressed intellectual freedom, cultural 37
life, and self-determination movements in more than 40 nations, 38
NOW, THEREFORE, 39
40
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 41
42
Section 1. Section 683.334, Florida Statutes, is created 43
to read: 44
683.334 Victims of Communism Day. — 45
(1) The Governor shall proclaim November 7 of each year as 46
"Victims of Communism Day," which shall be suitably observed in 47
the public schools of the state as a day h onoring the 100 48
million people who have fallen victim to communist regimes 49
across the world and which shall be suitably observed by public 50
HB 395 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0395-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
exercise in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may 51
designate. 52
(2) If November 7 falls on a day that is not a school day, 53
"Victims of Communism Day" shall be observed in the public 54
schools in the state on the preceding school day or on such 55
school day as may be designated by local school authorities. 56
(3) Beginning in the 2023 -2024 school year, high school 57
students enrolled in the United States Government class required 58
by s. 1003.4282 must receive at least 45 minutes of instruction 59
on "Victims of Communism Day" on topics such as Mao Zedong and 60
the Cultural Revolution, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet System, 61
Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the 62
Russian Revolution, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and Nicolás 63
Maduro and the Chavismo movement, and how victims suffered under 64
these regimes through suppression of speech, poverty, 65
starvation, migration, and systemic lethal violence. 66
Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 67