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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 history and instruction of 2
political and socio-economic systems; amending s. 3
1003.42, F.S.; beginning in a specified school year, 4
requiring students to receive instruction on the 5
history of Communism; providing requirements for such 6
instruction; requiring the Department of Education to 7
prepare and offer standards for such instruction; 8
authorizing the department to seek specified input for 9
such standards; requiring the Department of State, in 10
collaboration with the Department of Education, to 11
provide a recommendation to the Legislature by a 12
specified date relating to the creation of a museum of 13
the history of Communism; providing for the future 14
expiration of such requirements; amending s. 15
1004.6496, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes ma de 16
by the act; amending s. 1004.64991, F.S.; renaming the 17
Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom as 18
the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom; revising 19
the goals of the center; creating s. 1004.89, F.S.; 20
creating the Institute for Freedom in the Americas at 21
Miami Dade College for specified purposes; providing 22
requirements for the institute; requiring Miami Dade 23
College to approve a direct -support organization for 24
the institute; providing membership requirements for 25
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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
the direct-support organization; providing an 26
effective date. 27
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 29
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Section 1. Paragraph (v) is added to subsection (2) of 31
section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, to read: 32
1003.42 Required instruction. — 33
(2) Members of the i nstructional staff of the public 34
schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 35
and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 36
faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 37
highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 38
following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 39
approved methods of instruction, the following: 40
(v)1. Beginning in the 2026 -2027 school year, the History 41
of Communism. Such instruction must be age appropriate and 42
developmentally appropriate and include: 43
a. The history of Communism in the United States and 44
domestic Communist movements, including their histories and 45
tactics. 46
b. Atrocities committed in foreign countries under the 47
guidance of Communism. 48
c. Comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as 49
Communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles 50
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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
of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of 51
the United States. 52
d. The increasing threat of Communism in the United States 53
and our allies through the 20th Century, including the events of 54
the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China and 55
other mass killings from Communist regimes. 56
e. The economic, industrial, and political events that 57
have preceded and anticipa ted Communist revolutions. 58
f. The Communist policies of Cuba and the spread of 59
Communist ideologies throughout Latin America, including the 60
roots of the Communist Party of Cuba and guerilla forces 61
throughout Latin America. 62
2. The department shall prep are and offer standards for 63
the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input 64
from any individuals who were victims of Communism or any state 65
or nationally recognized organizations dedicated to the victims 66
of Communism. 67
68
The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 69
and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 70
Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 71
recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 72
offered as part of a social st udies, English Language Arts, or 73
other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 74
initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 75
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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
Section 2. The Department of State shall, in collaboration 76
with the Department of Education, consult with sta te and 77
national stakeholders to provide a recommendation to the 78
Legislature, no later than December 1, 2024, on the creation of 79
a museum of the history of Communism. This section expires July 80
1, 2025. 81
Section 3. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of secti on 82
1004.6496, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 83
1004.6496 Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic 84
Education.— 85
(3) The goals of the center are to: 86
(e) Coordinate with the Florida Institute for Governance 87
and Civics created pursuant to s. 1004.6499 and the Adam Smith 88
Center for the Study of Economic Freedom created pursuant to s. 89
1004.64991 and assist in the curation and implementation of 90
Portraits in Patriotism created pursuant to s. 1003.44. 91
Section 4. Section 1004.64991, Florida Statutes, is 92
amended to read: 93
1004.64991 The Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic 94
Freedom.— 95
(1) The Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic 96
Freedom at Florida International University is hereby created. 97
(2) The goals of the center are to: 98
(a) Study the effect of government and free market 99
economies on individual freedom , educational freedom, and human 100
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prosperity. 101
(b) Conduct and promote research on the effect of 102
political and economic systems on human prosperity. 103
(c) Plan and host research workshops, symposiums, and 104
conferences to allow students, scholars, and guests to exchange 105
in civil discussion of democracy and capitalism. 106
(d) Provide fellowship and mentoring opportunities to 107
students engaged in scholarly studies of the effect of political 108
and economic systems on human prosperity. 109
(e) Partner with the Institute for Freedom in the Americas 110
to support its mission, which includes promoting economic and 111
individual freedoms as a means for advancing human progress with 112
an emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. 113
(3) In order to carry out the purpose set forth in this 114
section, the center institute is authorized to: 115
(a) Hire necessary faculty and staff pursuant to s. 116
1001.741; 117
(b) Enroll students; 118
(c) Develop curriculum and offer new cou rses, including 119
honors courses, certificates, degrees, and major and minor 120
programs; 121
(d) Hold events, including fundraisers; 122
(e) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the 123
university; and 124
(f) Generate resources based on student credit hou r 125
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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
enrollment, in the same manner as any college within the 126
institution. 127
Section 5. Section 1004.89, Florida Statutes, is created 128
to read: 129
1004.89 Institute for Freedom in the Americas. — 130
(1) The Institute for Freedom in the Americas is created 131
at Miami Dade College to preserve the ideals of a free society 132
and promote democracy in the Americas. The institute shall be 133
located at the Freedom Tower and shall: 134
(a) Partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic 135
Freedom to hold workshops, symposiums, and conferences that 136
provide networking opportunities for leaders throughout the 137
region to gain new insights and ideas for promoting democracy, 138
including knowledge and insight to the intellectual, political, 139
and economic freedoms that are foundational to a de mocratic 140
society. 141
(b) Enter into an agreement with the Adam Smith Center for 142
Economic Freedom to provide participants with academic 143
coursework and programs that advance democratic practices and 144
economic and legal reforms. 145
(c) Provide educational and e xperiential opportunities for 146
regional leaders committed to careers in democracy and 147
governance. 148
(2) Miami Dade College, in accordance with s. 1004.70, 149
shall approve a direct -support organization to support the 150
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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
institute in its mission to develop partner ships throughout the 151
Americas. The board of the direct -support organization shall 152
consist of five members as follows: 153
(a) Three members appointed by the Governor which shall 154
include a representative from Miami Dade College and the Adam 155
Smith Center for Economic Freedom. 156
(b) One member appointed by the President of the Senate. 157
(c) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 158
Representatives. 159
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 160