The California Senate, with a vote of 36-0, unanimously passed the Armenian Genocide Education Act, which adds Armenian Genocide survivor and witness oral testimonies into the teachings of human rights in California public schools and encourages state and local professional development activities to provide teachers with resources to teach about the Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.

This bill, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, builds upon the first legislation passed in 1985, AB 1273, which incorporated the Armenian Genocide in the Social Studies Curriculum, Asbarez reported.

The ANCA WR welcomed California State Senate for their steadfast support on this critical education bill and Senators De Leon and Mark Wyland along with co-authors Assemblymembers Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian for their unwavering commitment and leadership.

“I am so glad that my colleagues in the Senate unanimously voted for AB 1915. As this bill comes back to the Assembly, and ultimately advances to Governor Brown’s desk, I look forward to its swift implementation. The teaching of human rights and more specifically, the Armenian Genocide is significant in ensuring that future generations of Californians are educated about our past, in hopes of deterring such acts in the future by being better informed,“ stated Author of AB 1915, Assemblymember Nazarian.