S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7583
I N S E N A T E
May 15, 2014
___________
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to create a temporary New York state women's suffrage 100th anni-
versary commemoration commission, and providing for its powers and
duties; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and
declares there is a need to create a New York state women's suffrage
100th anniversary commemoration commission to promote the 100th anniver-
sary of women's suffrage, which will take place between the years 2017
and 2020. The primary focus of the New York state women's suffrage 100th
anniversary commemoration commission will be to plan and execute an
organized series of statewide conversations and programs that celebrate
the accomplishment of women's suffrage and the central role of New York-
ers and New York state in this national and international milestone,
while also helping shape the future to ensure a more just and equitable
society for all. The legislature finds that the creation of a New York
state women's suffrage 100th anniversary commemoration commission is
necessary to bring together persons qualified by experience and/or by
powers vested in them by their offices to coordinate and facilitate such
a multi-year event.
S 2. New York state women's suffrage 100th anniversary commemoration
commission; created. (a) There is hereby created a temporary state
commission to be known as the "New York state women's suffrage 100th
anniversary commemoration commission".
(b) As used in this act, "commission" means the New York state women's
suffrage 100th anniversary commemoration commission.
(c) (1) The commission shall consist of 13 members as follows:
(i) the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation,
or his or her duly designated representative;
(ii) the commissioner of education, or his or her duly designated
representative;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15256-01-4
S. 7583 2
(iii) the commissioner of economic development, or his or her duly
designated representative;
(iv) the president of the League of Women Voters of New York State;
(v) the superintendent of the Women's Rights National Historical Park;
(vi) the president of the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House;
(vii) the director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation;
(viii) a member of the board of the New York Council for the Humani-
ties as a non-voting member;
(ix) one member appointed by the governor;
(x) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(xi) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(xii) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
(xiii) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly.
The five appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the appoint-
ing official. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for
original appointments.
(2) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(3) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special
or local law, ordinance, resolution or charter, no officer, member or
employee of the state or of any public corporation shall forfeit his or
her office or employment by reason of his or her acceptance of appoint-
ment as a member of the commission, nor shall service as such commission
member be deemed incompatible or in conflict with such office or employ-
ment.
(4) The commission shall appoint such staff as may be necessary to
carry out its duties.
S 3. Powers and duties of the commission. The commission shall have
the following powers and duties:
(a) To coordinate the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of
women's suffrage for the years 2017 through 2020;
(b) To plan and execute an organized series of conversations surround-
ing women's suffrage starting in 2015;
(c) To utilize a portfolio of public humanities programs to engage the
citizens of New York with the important issues inherent to the women's
suffrage initiative; and
(d) Hold lectures exploring how women have shaped history and continue
to form the history of New York state.
S 4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and fix
their compensation within the amounts made available by appropriation
therefor. The commission may meet and hold public and/or private hear-
ings within or without the state, and shall have all the powers of
legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
S 5. The commission may request and shall receive from any subdivi-
sion, department, board, commission, office, agency, or other instrumen-
tality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof such facili-
ties, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable for the
proper execution of its powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes
set forth in this act.
S 6. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into
any agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,
desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this
act. The commission shall contract with the New York Council for the
S. 7583 3
Humanities for the grant and re-granting of programs to develop and
implement the above.
S 7. The commission shall continue in existence until December 31,
2020.
S 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed December 31, 2020.