* § 14.12 New York state two hundred fiftieth commemoration
commission. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean
and include:

(a) "Commission" means the New York state two hundred fiftieth
commemoration commission created by subdivision two of this section.

(b) "Heritage organization" means a historic site, historical society,
battlefield, historic park, history-based museum, friends groups,
library, archive, academic institute, historical anniversary
organization, historical awareness group or Native American cultural
center whose mission is to preserve and promote the history of a locale,
region, people, or the entirety of the state.

2. (a) The office shall create the New York state two hundred fiftieth
commemoration commission. From the effective date of this section until
December thirty-first, two thousand thirty-three, such commission shall
develop plans to promote and coordinate activities to commemorate the
two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the American Revolution. Such plans
may include:

(i) including heritage organizations as the focal points for the
commemoration;

(ii) coordinating forums across the state to seek ideas from the
public on the commemoration including how New Yorkers, Americans and
those from other countries may celebrate such anniversary;

(iii) coordinating activities with civic, educational and heritage
organizations to develop public interest and involvement in the planning
and development of the commemoration;

(iv) promoting and encouraging educational outreach programs using
media and technology including electronic communications to achieve
national and international impact;

(v) coordinating the planning of commemorative events for all
interested communities throughout the state;

(vi) inviting other interested states and nations to participate in
programs and events for the commemoration;

(vii) coordinating and promoting the holding of meetings, conferences,
seminars and conventions in interested communities using such
anniversary as an attraction and theme;

(viii) coordinating and promoting the holding of community engagement
and educational events in interested communities using such anniversary
as an attraction and theme;

(ix) seeking funding from private individuals, foundations and
corporations to support capital improvements, preservation and
conservation needs associated with events and sites commemorating such
anniversary;

(x) coordinating and cooperating with state entities and tourist
promotion agencies, as defined in article five-A of the economic
development law;

(xi) coordinating and cooperating with local, state and federal
entities including those relating to heritage area promotion and any
federal commission created to participate in planning and development of
such anniversary observance; and

(xii) setting goals and benchmarks for the work of the commission.

(b) The commission may coordinate and consult with the New York state
military museum and veterans research center, Saratoga national
historical park, Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, Erie
Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River
Valley National Heritage Area, Niagara Falls National Heritage Area,
Humanities New York, Association of Public Historian of New York State,
the Preservation League of New York State, national historic landmarks,
national historic landmark stewardship organizations and any other
organizations it deems necessary in the development, planning, promotion
and coordination of activities to commemorate the two hundred fiftieth
anniversary of the American Revolution.

(c) The commission may coordinate and consult with each of the
following: the Cayuga Nation, the Oneida Indian Nation, the Onondaga
Indian Nation, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Seneca Nation of
Indians, the Shinnecock Indian Nation, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community
Band of Mohican Indians, the Tonawanda Band of Seneca, and the Tuscarora
Nation.

(d) The commission shall consist of twenty-one voting members to be
appointed as follows:

(i) the commissioner or his or her designee;

(ii) the commissioner of the department of education or his or her
designee;

(iii) the president and chief executive officer of empire state
development or his or her designee;

(iv) the commissioner of the office of general services;

(v) the secretary of state or his or her designee;

(vi) chair of the New York state tourism advisory council or his or
her designee;

(vii) chair of the council for the arts or his or her designee;

(viii) director of the canal corporation or his or her designee;

(ix) four members shall be appointed by the governor, three members
shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, three
members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one member
shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one member
shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly, to the extent
practicable, these appointments shall include a representative from each
of the ten regional economic development councils; and

(x) the New York state historian.

(d) To the extent practicable, such appointees shall have a
professional background in one or more of the following fields: local
government historian, academic historian, museum professional, social
studies teacher or professor, tourism professional, archeologist,
anthropologist, or other expertise in the field of New York state
history and/or historic preservation, or professional or volunteer
fundraising experience.

(e) The commissioner and the commissioner of the department of
education shall be co-chairpersons of the commission. Vacancies in the
membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner provided
for original appointments.

(f) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a
quorum.

(g) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.

(h) The commission shall hold a meeting at least once each quarter.

3. The commission shall have the power:

(a) to prepare, publish and disseminate information or reports to
highlight for state agencies, local governments, and the general public
issues, problems, and opportunities relevant to the two hundred fiftieth
anniversary of the American Revolution;

(b) to assist local governments and other appropriate organizations to
plan commemorations of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the
American Revolution, and to do this, as far as possible, through
cooperation and through technical assistance, including planning
assistance, citizen education and participation assistance, and
assistance in preparation of grant applications to other entities;

(c) to apply for and receive funds from the federal and state
government;

(d) notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, to solicit and
accept gifts for the purpose of furthering the objectives of the
commission pursuant to this section;

(e) to conduct historical, economic and cultural studies;

(f) to conduct education programs;

(g) to assist individuals, corporations, heritage organizations and
other public entities on ways to protect and promote the heritage
resources of the state;

(h) to prepare an annual report on the conduct of its activities which
shall be delivered to the governor, temporary president of the senate,
and the speaker of the assembly by January first;

(i) to serve a coordinating role in utilizing the capabilities of
other organizations to carry out the duties prescribed in this section;
and

(j) to exercise and perform such other powers and duties as shall have
been or may be conferred by law.

4. (a) The commission shall develop a strategic plan, which shall
recommend plans for commemorating the state's role in the founding of
the nation and the ensuing two hundred fifty years of history.

(b) The strategic plan shall be consistent with existing management
plans for resources included in the plan.

(c) Such strategic plan may include, but shall not be limited to, a
survey or inventory of the following, together with the establishment of
management priorities thereof: (i) historic, cultural and other heritage
resources; (ii) scenic resources; and (iii) educational and recreational
resources.

(d) By December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-two, the commission
shall vote to finalize the recommendation contained in the strategic
plan. A copy of the strategic plan shall be provided to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.

(e) The commission may propose amendments to the strategic plan
described in this subdivision as they are deemed to be necessary and
appropriate.

5. To effectuate the purposes of this section, the commission may
request from any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency
of the state, and the same are authorized to provide, such cooperation
and assistance, services and data as will enable the commission to
properly carry out its functions pursuant to this section.

6. In administering the provisions of this section, the commission may
make, within the limitations of appropriations available thereof, grants
to heritage organizations towards the costs of a project recommended in
the plan. The commission may submit letters of support for grant
applications submitted by an organization for projects or programs
recommended in the plan.

* NB Repealed December 31, 2033