Regular Session 2015-2016 House Bill 2341 P.N. 3853

PRINTER'S NO. 3853

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

2341

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY TOOHIL, BOBACK, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, GIBBONS,

GINGRICH, MARSICO, ORTITAY, QUIGLEY AND SANTARSIERO,

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," providing for Italian and Americans

of Italian heritage cultural and educational programs and for

a transfer.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) For the past several decades, Hollywood and the

communications media have continuously portrayed Italians and

Americans of Italian heritage as mobsters, buffoons and other

nefarious characters to such an extent that it appears to be

an orchestrated program of cultural dismemberment and disdain

which can and will promote ethnic bigotry and loss of

cultural identity.

(2) The exposure of our children and others to this

unrelenting barrage of negative images has led to the erosion

and denigration of Italian-American culture, history and

heritage. It has, furthermore, encouraged children to emulate

negative role models and promoted the social acceptability of

disrespect for and bigotry towards Italians and Americans of

Italian heritage and their culture, history and heritage.

(3) The histories of our nation and this Commonwealth

have been significantly enriched by the heritage of Italians

and Americans of Italian heritage. The cultural heritage of

Italy includes the classical civilization of Rome, the fine

arts of the Renaissance, the scientific and artistic genius

of da Vinci, the literary works of Dante and Petrarch, the

operas of Verdi and Puccini and many other contributions that

have ennobled civilization.

(4) More than 5,400,000 Italians emigrated to the United

States between 1820 and 1991. Our nation and this

Commonwealth have benefited substantially from the influences

and contributions of these men, women and children and their

distinctive culture, history and heritage.

(5) It is desirable to educate our citizens about the

positive aspects of the culture, music, art, language,

history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian

Heritage.

(6) It is the policy of the Commonwealth that the

culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of

Italian heritage be a proper concern for all people,

particularly students enrolled in the schools of this

Commonwealth.

(7) It is appropriate and desirable that programs,

workshops, institutes, seminars and other teacher-training

activities for the study of the culture, history and heritage

of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage be conducted at

the various high schools and institutions of higher education

in this Commonwealth.

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(8) It is fitting and proper to establish a permanent

State-level commission to survey, design, encourage and

promote the implementation of Italian and Americans of

Italian heritage cultural and educational programs in this

Commonwealth, with responsibility for the coordination of

events that will provide appropriate awareness and

memorialization of the culture, history, heritage and

language of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage on a

regular basis throughout this Commonwealth.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an

article to read:

ARTICLE XV-H

ITALIAN AND AMERICANS OF ITALIAN HERITAGE

CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Section 1501-H. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this article

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission." The Commission on Italian and Americans of

Italian Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs.

"Department." The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"Institute." The Institute of Italian and Italian American

Heritage Studies.

Section 1502-H. Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian

Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs.

(a) Establishment.--The Commission on Italian and Americans

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of Italian Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs is

established. The commission shall be placed within the

department but shall be independent of supervision or control by

the department.

(b) Composition.--The commission shall consist of the

following members:

(1) The Secretary of Education.

(2) The following:

(i) Nine public members who shall be appointed by

the Governor. At least four of the members appointed

under this subparagraph must, at the time of appointment,

have at least a master's degree in an area of Italian

studies or language.

(ii) Five public members who shall be appointed by

the President pro tempore of the Senate. At least one of

the members appointed under this subparagraph must have a

master's degree in an area of Italian studies or

language.

(iii) Five public members who shall be appointed by

the Speaker of the House of Representatives. At least one

of the members appointed under this subparagraph must

have a master's degree in an area of Italian studies or

language.

Commonwealth who has served prominently as a spokesperson or

leader of an organization in the Italian and Americans of

Italian heritage community which serves members of religious,

ethnic, national heritage or social groups or who are

experienced in the field of Italian and Americans of Italian

heritage education. To the greatest extent practicable, the

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members shall be chosen with due regard to afford the commission

with broad regional representation and ethnic diversity. At

least one-half of the public members must be of Italian descent.

(d) Terms.--

(1) Each public member shall serve for a term of three

years, except that of the initial members appointed:

(i) Two members appointed by the Governor, one

member appointed by the President pro tempore of the

Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the

House of Representatives shall serve for terms of one

year.

(ii) Three members appointed by the Governor, two

members appointed by the President pro tempore of the

Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the

House of Representatives shall serve for terms of two

years.

(iii) Four members appointed by the Governor, two

members appointed by the President pro tempore of the

Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the

House of Representatives shall serve for terms of three

years.

(2) A public member shall be eligible for reappointment.

(3) A public member shall serve until the public

member's successor is appointed and qualified. The term of

the successor of an incumbent member shall be calculated from

the expiration of the term of the incumbent. A vacancy

occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in

the same manner as the original appointment, except for the

unexpired term only.

(e) Compensation.--The members shall:

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(1) Serve without compensation.

(2) Be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses

incurred in the performance of the member's duties.

(f) Chairperson.--The commission shall annually elect a

chairperson from among commission members.

(g) Meetings.--The commission shall meet upon the call of

the chairperson or a majority of the commission members.

(h) Quorum.--The presence of a majority of the authorized

members of the commission shall be required for the conduct of

official business.

(i) Executive director.--The commission shall appoint an

executive director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the

commission and shall be an individual qualified by training and

experience to perform the duties of the office.

Section 1503-H. Duties.

The commission shall have the following duties:

(1) To provide, based upon the collective knowledge and

experience of the members, assistance and advice to the

public and nonpublic schools of this Commonwealth with

respect to the implementation of Italian and Americans of

Italian heritage cultural and educational programs.

(2) To meet with county and local school officials and

other interested public and private organizations for the

purpose of assisting with the planning, coordination or

modification of courses of study dealing with issues, matters

and subjects concerning or relating to the culture, history

and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage.

(3) To survey and catalog the extent and breadth of

Italian and Americans of Italian heritage cultural awareness

and educational programs presently being incorporated into

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the curricula and taught in the school systems of this

Commonwealth.

(4) To inventory Italian and Americans of Italian

heritage exhibits and resources which may be incorporated

into courses of study at various locations throughout this

Commonwealth and, upon request, to assist the department and

other educational agencies in the development and

implementation of Italian and Americans of Italian heritage

cultural awareness and educational programs. In furtherance

of this duty, the commission may contact and cooperate with

existing Italian and Americans of Italian heritage public or

private nonprofit resource organizations and may act as a

liaison concerning issues and topics involving and relating

to the culture, history and heritage of Italians and

Americans of Italian heritage to members of the General

Assembly and the Congress of the United States.

(5) To compile a roster of individual volunteers who are

willing to share their knowledge and experience in

classrooms, seminars and workshops on subjects concerning and

relating to the culture, history and heritage of Italians and

Americans of Italian heritage. The volunteers may be

scholars, members of the clergy, community relations

professionals and other individuals who, by virtue of their

experience, training or interest, have acquired personal or

academic knowledge of the culture, history and heritage of

Italians and Americans of Italian heritage and who are

willing to share that knowledge with students and teachers.

(6) To coordinate events observing the culture, history

and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage

and to seek volunteers who are willing and able to

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participate in commemorative events that enhance student

awareness of the significance of the culture, history and

heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage.

(7) To prepare reports for the Governor and the General

Assembly regarding the commission's findings and

recommendations to facilitate the inclusion of Italian and

Americans of Italian heritage studies and special programs

memorializing the culture, history and heritage of Italians

and Americans of Italian heritage in the educational system

of this Commonwealth.

(8) To develop, in consultation with the department,

curriculum guidelines for the teaching of subjects and topics

concerning and relating to the culture, history and heritage

of Italians and Americans of Italian heritage. To the

greatest extent practicable, each school district shall

incorporate the guidelines as part of the curriculum for the

school district's elementary and secondary school students.

(9) To ask a department or agency of the Commonwealth or

of a municipality or school district to supply data, program

reports and other information, personnel and assistance, as

the commission deems necessary to discharge the commission's

responsibilities under this article. The departments and

agencies shall, to the extent possible, cooperate with the

commission and shall furnish the commission with information,

personnel and assistance as may be necessary or helpful to

accomplish the purposes of this article.

(10) To create, establish and oversee the Institute of

Italian and Italian-American Heritage Studies as an entity

whose purpose is to assist the commission in implementation

of the commission's responsibilities. The commission shall

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function as the board of governors for the institute and

shall appoint an executive director of the institute who

shall serve at the commission's pleasure.

(11) To survey the four-year universities and colleges

in this Commonwealth that have an advanced degree program in

the field of Italian and Italian-American studies and select

one to serve as host to the institute. The institute shall

not be administered by the college or university selected as

the host site. The institute must collaborate with and

otherwise engage, share and exchange resources with the

higher education community of this Commonwealth and work to

establish mutually beneficial public service programs and

activities consistent with the mission of the commission. The

institute may raise private funds and obtain public funds to

be used towards scholarships, grants and studies in the field

of Italian and Italian-American studies.

(12) To appoint an advisory council to the commission

and institute. The advisory council shall consist of

individuals who have served prominently as spokespersons for,

or as leaders of, organizations in the Italian and Americans

of Italian heritage community which serve members of

religious, ethnic, national heritage or social groups or who

are experienced in the field of Italian and Americans of

Italian heritage education.

Section 2. The amount of $250,000 is transferred from the

General Fund to the Department of Education to enable the

Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Cultural

and Educational Programs to effectuate the purposes of Article

XV-H of the act.

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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