An Act To Require Instruction on the History of Genocide and the Holocaust
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0215
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: FECTEAU, WOODSOME, DOLLOFF, FAULKINGHAM, LIBBY, ROCHE, SAMPSON, STEARNS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4706

Legislative Document
No. 215
H.P. 150
House of Representatives, January 27, 2021
An Act To Require Instruction on the History of Genocide and the 
Holocaust
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 25, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator WOODSOME of York and
Representatives: DOLLOFF of Milton Township, FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, 
LIBBY of Auburn, ROCHE of Wells, SAMPSON of Alfred, STEARNS of Guilford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4706, as amended by PL 2009, c. 313, §§8 and 9, is further 
amended to read:
§4706.  Instruction in American history, Maine studies and, Maine Native American 
history and the history of genocide
Instruction in American history, government, citizenship and, Maine studies and the 
history of genocide must be aligned with the parameters for essential instruction and 
graduation requirements established under section 6209.
1.  American history.  American history, government and citizenship, including the 
Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the importance of 
voting and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, must be taught in and required 
for graduation from all elementary and secondary schools, both public and private.
2.  Maine studies.  Maine history, including the Constitution of Maine, Maine 
geography and environment and the natural, industrial and economic resources of Maine 
and Maine's cultural and ethnic heritage, must be taught.  A required component of Maine 
studies is Maine Native American studies, which must be included in the review of content 
standards and performance indicators of the learning results conducted in accordance with 
section 6209, subsection 4.  The Maine Native American studies must address the following 
topics:
A.  Maine tribal governments and political systems and their relationship with local, 
state, national and international governments;
B.  Maine Native American cultural systems and the experience of Maine tribal people 
throughout history;
C.  Maine Native American territories; and
D.  Maine Native American economic systems.
3.  History of genocide.  The history of genocide, including the Holocaust, must be 
taught and must be included in the review of content standards and performance indicators 
of the system of learning results conducted in accordance with section 6209, subsection 4.  
For purposes of this subsection, "Holocaust" means the program of discriminatory and 
genocidal laws, policies or actions targeted against discrete groups of individuals based on 
race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical disability or national origin, from 
January 1, 1933 to December 31, 1945, in Nazi Germany or in any European country allied 
with or occupied by Nazi Germany.  The teaching of the history of genocide does not have 
to be a separate course of study.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that the history of genocide, including the Holocaust, be taught in 
schools, aligned with the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements 
and included in the review of content standards and performance indicators of the system 
of learning results.