Florida Senate - 2023 SB 348
By Senator Hooper
21-00925-23 2023348__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to 9/11 Heroes Day; creating s.
3 683.335, F.S.; requiring the Governor to proclaim
4 September 11 of each year as “9/11 Heroes Day”;
5 requiring that the day be observed in public schools
6 and by public exercise; requiring certain middle and
7 high school students to receive specified instruction;
8 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt
9 certain revised social studies standards; providing an
10 effective date.
11
12 WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four
13 civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the towers of the
14 World Trade Center in New York City, and a third into the
15 Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and
16 WHEREAS, the fourth hijacked aircraft crashed in
17 southwestern Pennsylvania after passengers tried to take control
18 of the aircraft to prevent the hijackers from crashing the
19 aircraft into an important symbol of democracy and freedom, and
20 WHEREAS, these attacks were by far the deadliest terrorist
21 attacks ever launched against the United States, killing
22 thousands of innocent people, and
23 WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the attacks, the people of the
24 United States stood united in providing support for those in
25 need, NOW, THEREFORE,
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. Section 683.335, Florida Statutes, is created to
30 read:
31 683.335 9/11 Heroes Day.—
32 (1) The Governor shall proclaim September 11 of each year
33 as “9/11 Heroes Day,” which shall be suitably observed in the
34 public schools of this state as a day honoring those who
35 perished in the September 11, 2001, attacks, including 2,763
36 people at the World Trade Center, 189 people at the Pentagon,
37 and 44 people on United Airlines Flight 93, and the 25,000
38 people maimed or fatally injured on or after that date, and
39 which shall be suitably observed by public exercise in the State
40 Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate.
41 (2) If September 11 falls on a day that is not a school
42 day, 9/11 Heroes Day must be observed in the public schools in
43 this state on the preceding school day or on such school day as
44 may be designated by local school authorities.
45 (3) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, middle school
46 and high school students enrolled in the civics education class
47 required by s. 1003.4156 or the United States Government class
48 required by s. 1003.4282(3)(d), respectively, must receive at
49 least 45 minutes of instruction on 9/11 Heroes Day topics
50 involving the history and significance of September 11, 2001,
51 including remembering the sacrifices of military personnel,
52 government employees, civilians, and emergency responders who
53 were killed, wounded, or suffered sickness due to the terrorist
54 attacks on or after that date, including, but not limited to:
55 (a) The historical context of global terrorism.
56 (b) A timeline of events on September 11, 2001, including
57 the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United
58 Airlines Flight 93.
59 (c) The selfless heroism of police officers, firefighters,
60 paramedics, other first responders, and civilians involved in
61 the rescue and recovery of victims and the heroic actions taken
62 by the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93.
63 (d) The unprecedented outpouring of humanitarian,
64 charitable, and volunteer aid occurring after the events of
65 September 11, 2001.
66 (e) The global response to terrorism and the importance of
67 respecting civil liberties while ensuring safety and security.
68 (4) The State Board of Education shall adopt revised social
69 studies standards for inclusion in the civics education course
70 required by s. 1003.4156 and the United States Government class
71 required by s. 1003.4282(3)(d) which incorporate the
72 requirements of this section.
73 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.