S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7667
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 14, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. RAYNOR -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 AN  ACT  establishing  the 400 Years of African-American History Commis-
   sion; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon  expiration
   thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The 400 Years of African-American History Commission, here-
 inafter the "commission", is hereby established within the department of
 state. The commission shall develop and carry out activities  throughout
 the  state  to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Afri-
 cans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.
   § 2. (a) The commission shall consist of thirteen  members,  including
 the  secretary  of  state,  or  his or her designee, the commissioner of
 education, or his or her designee, three members appointed by the gover-
 nor, three members appointed by the temporary president of  the  senate,
 three  members  appointed  by  the  speaker  of the assembly, one member
 appointed by the senate minority leader, and one member appointed by the
 assembly minority leader. Appointed members shall  include  but  not  be
 limited  to  historians  and those with a background in African-American
 history, arts, or culture. Such appointments shall  be  made  within  30
 days of the effective date of this act.
   (b)  A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner in
 which the original appointment was made.
   (c) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but
 shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary  expenses  incurred
 in the performance of their duties.
   (d) The secretary of state, or his or her designee, shall serve as the
 chair  and  shall appoint the vice-chair of the commission. The presence
 of a majority of the authorized membership of the  commission  shall  be
 required for the conduct of official business.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD06194-01-9

 A. 7667                             2
 
   (e)  The  department  of  state shall provide technical assistance and
 data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission  to  carry
 out its responsibilities pursuant to this act.
   § 3. The commission shall:
   (a) plan programs appropriate for the commemoration to:
   (1)  acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial
 discrimination had on New York and the United States;
   (2) recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of  Afri-
 can-Americans since 1619; and
   (3)  educate  the  public  about the arrival of Africans in the United
 States and the contributions of African-Americans to New  York  and  the
 United States;
   (b)  encourage  civic,  patriotic,  historical, educational, artistic,
 religious, economic and other organizations to organize and  participate
 in  anniversary  activities  to expand understanding and appreciation of
 the significance of the arrival of Africans in New York and  the  United
 States  and  the  contributions of African-Americans to New York and the
 United States;
   (c) assist localities  and  nonprofit  organizations  to  further  the
 commemoration;
   (d)  coordinate  for  the  public scholarly research on the arrival of
 Africans in the United States and their contributions to  New  York  and
 the United States;
   (e)  ensure that the commemoration provides a lasting legacy and long-
 term public benefit by  assisting  in  the  development  of  appropriate
 programs; and
   (f) ensure that the observances of the commemoration are inclusive and
 appropriately  recognize the experiences and heritage of all individuals
 present at the arrival of Africans in New York and the United States.
   § 4. The  commission  may,  from  any  monies  appropriated  for  such
 purposes, provide:
   (a) grants to communities and nonprofit organizations for the develop-
 ment of programs; and
   (b)  grants  to  research  and  scholarly  organizations  to research,
 publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival  of  Africans
 in New York and the United States.
   §  5.  The  commission  shall  submit a report to the governor and the
 legislature that contains  a  summary  of  its  planned  activities,  an
 accounting  of  its  received  and  expended funds, and its findings and
 recommendations on or before October 1, 2019.
   § 6. The commission shall submit a report  to  the  governor  and  the
 legislature  that contains a summary of its activities, a final account-
 ing of its received and expended funds, and its findings and recommenda-
 tions on or before June 1, 2021.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed July 1, 2021.