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The Florida Senate

CS/CS/HB 741 — Anti-Semitism

by Education Committee; Criminal Justice Committee; and Reps. Fine, Caruso, and others (CS/SB 1272 by Judiciary Committee and Senators Gruters, Galvano, Albritton, Baxley, Bean, Benaquisto, Berman, Book, Bracy, Bradley, Brandes, Braynon, Broxson, Diaz, Farmer, Flores, Gainer, Gibson, Harrell, Hooper, Hutson, Lee, Mayfield, Montford, Passidomo, Perry, Pizzo, Powell, Rader, Rodriguez, Rouson, Simmons, Simpson, Stargel, Stewart, Taddeo, Thurston, Torres, Wright, and Cruz)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Judiciary Committee (JU)

The bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion in the K-20 public school system. Additionally, the bill requires public K-20 educational institutions to treat discrimination “by students or employees or resulting from institutional policies motivated by anti-Semitic intent in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race.” The bill provides that, for the purposes of the anti-Semitism provision, anti-Semitism includes:

  • A certain perception of the Jewish people, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jewish people.
  • Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism directed toward a person, his or her property, or toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities.

The bill also provides many examples of anti-Semitism, including:

  • Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews, often in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
  • Accusing Jews as a people or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
  • Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interest of their own nations.

The bill also provides that examples of anti-Semitism related to Israel include:

  • Applying a double standard to Israel by requiring behavior of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on Israel.
  • Delegitimizing Israel by denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination and denying Israel the right to exist.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.

Vote: Senate 40-0; House 114-0