A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the addition of genocide against Native
Page 1, Line 102Americans to the Holocaust and genocide studies in
Page 1, Line 103public school statute.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill expands the Holocaust and genocide studies curriculum taught in public schools to include the genocide against Native Americans, the Sand Creek massacre and other massacres, and the Colorado Native American residential and boarding schools.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) The Sand Creek Massacre of peaceful Arapaho and Cheyenne
Page 2, Line 4Peoples by the United States Army led by John Milton Chivington on
Page 2, Line 5November 29, 1864, remains the bloodiest day in Colorado history. It
Page 2, Line 6drove entire tribes from the state, leaving their descendants to deal with the intergenerational effects of genocide.
Page 2, Line 7(b) While it was investigated by the authorities at the time and
Page 2, Line 8found to have been a massacre that targeted innocent Indigenous women,
Page 2, Line 9children, and men, it was not until the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of
Page 2, Line 10the massacre that then Governor John Hickenlooper provided Colorado's first official apology for the Sand Creek Massacre;
Page 2, Line 11(c) The Ute Tribes were also subject to massacres, such as the
Page 2, Line 12Meeker and Beaver Creek Massacres, as they were exercising their rights
Page 2, Line 13and protecting their way of life. It is important to recognize other
Page 2, Line 14massacres of Native Americans in the Holocaust and genocide studies in Colorado public schools statute.
Page 2, Line 15(d) Section 22-1-104.7, Colorado Revised Statutes, requiring the
Page 2, Line 16teaching of the Holocaust and genocide studies in Colorado public
Page 2, Line 17schools, was passed in 2022 after the official apology for the Sand Creek
Page 2, Line 18Massacre, but it was not specifically listed in the statute. This amendment rectifies this omission.
Page 2, Line 19(e) On October 25, 2024, then President Biden officially
Page 2, Line 20apologized to Native Americans for Indian boarding schools. Colorado
Page 2, Line 21Governor Polis and Lieutenant Governor Primavera concurred and
Page 3, Line 1referred to the work under House Bill 22-1327, which created the federal
Page 3, Line 2Indian boarding school research program and House Bill 24-1444, which
Page 3, Line 3recreated the federal Indian boarding school research program,
Page 3, Line 4confirming that this constituted genocide and should be taught in public
Page 3, Line 5schools alongside other massacres and crimes committed against Native Americans in this land.
Page 3, Line 6(f) The forcible removal of children from one group to another, in
Page 3, Line 7this case Indigenous children to boarding schools, meets the international
Page 3, Line 8definition of genocide under the United Nations Convention on the
Page 3, Line 9Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which is also
Page 3, Line 10replicated in the underlying section 22-1-104.7, Colorado Revised Statutes, concerning the Holocaust and genocide studies; and
Page 3, Line 11(g) This act gives meaning and recognition to the ongoing
Page 3, Line 12suffering of Native Americans and their communities from the intergenerational effects of genocide against them.
Page 3, Line 13(2) (a) The general assembly therefore declares that it is in the
Page 3, Line 14public interest of Colorado to add genocide against Native Americans to
Page 3, Line 15the statute requiring the Holocaust and genocide studies by explicitly
Page 3, Line 16listing genocide against Native Americans; the Sand Creek Massacre and
Page 3, Line 17other massacres of Native Americans; and Native American boarding and residential schools.
Page 3, Line 18(b) The act also directs the setting of standards that identify the
Page 3, Line 19knowledge and skills that students must acquire and the inclusion of materials in the resource bank.
Page 3, Line 20SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-1-104.7, amend (1)(c) and (2)(b) as follows:
Page 3, Line 2122-1-104.7. Teaching of Holocaust and genocide studies -
Page 4, Line 1applicability - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 2(c) "Holocaust and genocide studies" means studies on the
Page 4, Line 3Holocaust, genocide, and other acts of mass violence, including, but not limited to:
Page 4, Line 4(I) The Armenian Genocide;
(II) The genocide against Native Americans;
Page 4, Line 5(III) The Sand Creek massacre and other massacres; and
Page 4, Line 6(IV) The Native American residential and boarding schools.
Page 4, Line 7(2) (b) (I)
The provisions ofPage 4, Line 8applies only if the standards are adopted by the state board on or before July 1, 2023.
Page 4, Line 9(II) Subsections (1)(c)(II) to (1)(c)(IV) of this section apply
Page 4, Line 10only if the standards are adopted by the state board on or before July 1, 2026.
Page 4, Line 11SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-2-127.3, amend (2)(a)(V) and (2)(c); and add (2)(d) as follows:
Page 4, Line 1222-2-127.3. Holocaust and genocide studies - resource bank -
Page 4, Line 13technical assistance - definitions. (2) (a) The department shall create
Page 4, Line 14and maintain a publicly available resource bank of materials pertaining
Page 4, Line 15to Holocaust and genocide courses and programs. At a minimum, the resource bank must include:
Page 4, Line 16(V) Case studies on the Holocaust and genocides, including, but not limited to:
Page 4, Line 17(A) The Armenian Genocide;
Page 4, Line 18(B) The genocide against Native Americans;
(C) The Sand Creek massacre and other massacres; and
Page 5, Line 1(D) The Native American residential and boarding schools.
Page 5, Line 2(c) (I) The department shall ensure that the resource bank is
Page 5, Line 3available for access by school districts, charter schools, boards of cooperative services, and the public by July 1, 2021.
Page 5, Line 4(II) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(c)(I) of this section,
Page 5, Line 5the department shall ensure that the resource bank available
Page 5, Line 6for access by school districts, charter schools, boards of
Page 5, Line 7cooperative services, and the public includes the resources
Page 5, Line 8described in subsections (2)(a)(V)(B) to (2)(a)(V)(D) of this sectionby July 1, 2027.
Page 5, Line 9(d) The materials and case studies developed regarding
Page 5, Line 10subsections (2)(a)(V)(B) to (2)(a)(V)(D) of this section must be
Page 5, Line 11created in consultation with Native Americans affected by
Page 5, Line 12genocide, including the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes.
Page 5, Line 13SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1005, amend (2.7)(a) as follows:
Page 5, Line 1422-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary
Page 5, Line 15education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions. (2.7) (a) (I) On
Page 5, Line 16or before July 1, 2021, the state board shall adopt standards that identify
Page 5, Line 17the knowledge and skills that students
shouldPage 5, Line 18of high school graduation related to Holocaust and genocide studies in
Page 5, Line 19subsection (2.7)(a)(I)(A) of this section, as defined in section 22-1-104.7 (1), including, but not limited to:
Page 5, Line 20(A) The Armenian Genocide;
(B) The genocide against Native Americans;
Page 6, Line 1(C) The Sand Creek massacre and other massacres; and
Page 6, Line 2(D) The Native American residential and boarding schools.
Page 6, Line 3(II) Notwithstanding subsection (2.7)(a)(I) of this section,
Page 6, Line 4on or before January 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt
Page 6, Line 5standards that identify the knowledge and skills that students
Page 6, Line 6must acquire as a condition of high school graduation related to subsections (2.7)(a)(I)(B) to (2.7)(a)(I)(D) of this section.
Page 6, Line 7SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 8takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 6, Line 9ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 6, Line 10that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 6, Line 11of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 6, Line 12act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 6, Line 13effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 6, Line 14November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.