S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7367
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             September 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and the parks, recreation and historic
   preservation law, in relation to establishing the  Frederick  Douglass
   heritage trail commission

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  233-d
 to read as follows:
   § 233-D. FREDERICK DOUGLASS HERITAGE TRAIL COMMISSION. 1. A.  THERE IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS HERITAGE
 TRAIL  COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF TWELVE MEMBERS REPRE-
 SENTATIVE OF ACADEMIC OR PUBLIC HISTORIANS,  CORPORATIONS,  FOUNDATIONS,
 HISTORICAL  SOCIETIES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS,
 TO BE APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:
   I. THREE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   II. THREE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS;
   III. TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE
 SENATE;
   IV. ONE MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE;
   V. TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND
   VI. ONE MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   IN  ADDITION,  THE FOLLOWING STATE OFFICERS, OR THEIR DESIGNEES, SHALL
 SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION: THE COMMISSIONER OF  EDUCATION,  THE
 HEAD  OF  THE  STATE MUSEUM, THE HEAD OF THE STATE ARCHIVES, THE HEAD OF
 THE OFFICE OF STATE HISTORY, THE COMMISSIONER OF  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,
 THE  HEAD OF THE STATE TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF
 PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
   B. THE COMMISSION SHALL BEGIN FUNCTIONING UPON THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  A
 MAJORITY  OF ITS MEMBERS. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE CHOSEN BY
 THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM. COMMISSION MEMBERS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13121-01-1

 S. 7367                             2
 
 OTHER THAN EX OFFICIO MEMBERS, SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS OF FIVE  YEARS  AND
 VACANCIES SHALL BE APPOINTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL
 APPOINTMENTS.
   C.  THE  DEPARTMENT  AND  THE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC
 PRESERVATION MAY PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH SUCH STAFF, EQUIPMENT,  AND
 FACILITIES AS IT MAY NEED.
   2.  THE  COMMISSION SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT
 BE LIMITED TO, DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY  OF  FREDERICK  DOUGLASS'  TRAVEL
 WITHIN  THE STATE INCLUDING IDENTIFYING SITES MOST LIKELY TO BE ELIGIBLE
 FOR INCLUSION ON THE NATIONAL OR STATE REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES,  OR
 BOTH; PROVIDING FOR THE HISTORIC RESEARCH AND COMPILATION OF CONTEMPORA-
 NEOUS  REPORTS  AND  RECORDS NECESSARY TO DOCUMENT THE SITES IN NEW YORK
 STATE WHERE DOUGLASS STAYED OR GAVE SPEECHES, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS AND
 ORGANIZATIONS WHO HE MET WITH IN HIS TRAVELS;  AND  DEVELOPING  CULTURAL
 AND  HISTORIC  GUIDEBOOKS, LOCAL HISTORIES AND THE PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC
 AND PRIVATE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS' TIME IN THE STATE.
   3. AS PART OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  BE  CHARGED
 WITH  DEVELOPING  AND  IMPLEMENTING  A  MASTER  PLAN; SPONSORING COMMEM-
 ORATIONS, LINKAGES, SEMINARS AND PUBLIC FORUM;  ASSISTING,  ENCOURAGING,
 AND  PROMOTING  THE MAKING OF APPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NATIONAL
 OR STATE REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES BY THE PARTIES ELIGIBLE TO  DO  SO
 AND  THE  INCLUSION  OF SUCH PLACES THEREIN; AND DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS
 AND SEEKING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDS TO CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT,
 PRESERVE, AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANT  LEGACY  AND  LESSONS  OF  FREDERICK
 DOUGLASS  AND CREATE A HERITAGE TRAIL THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE CHARTING
 WHERE DOUGLASS TRAVELED IN THE STATE.
   4. THE COMMISSION SHALL REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR, THE  LEGISLA-
 TURE,  AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE
 OF ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION, BUT  BEGINNING  NO  LATER  THAN  THE
 FIRST OF JANUARY NEXT SUCCEEDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   §  2. Section 19.03 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation
 law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
   5. COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE FREDERICK  DOUG-
 LASS  HERITAGE  TRAIL  COMMISSION  IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES IN
 CONNECTION WITH THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS HERITAGE TRAIL.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.