S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6856--A
I N S E N A T E
March 1, 2016
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARTINS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
Parks and Recreation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to create a temporary New York State World War I 100th anniver-
sary commemoration commission; and providing for the termination of
such commission
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 that
Armistice Day has been marked on November 11th every year since 1918
commemorating the day the Allied forces signed an agreement with the
Germans that would end World War I. The cost in human suffering during
World War I, originally known as the Great War, was on a scale
unprecedented in human history. Between 1914 and 1918, there were over
37 million casualties with over 13,000 New Yorkers losing their lives.
Among the noteworthy New York regiments fighting in World War I include
New York's 69th Infantry Regiment, referred to as the "Fighting 69th"
and New York's 369th Infantry Regiment, popularly known as the "Harlem
Hellfighters", the first African American regiment to serve with the
American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. There are several
sites in New York with historical significance to World War I including:
the Pier A clock tower in Battery Park, the armory of the 14th New York
regiment in Park Slope, the Chelsea World War I statute on 9th and 28th,
the 7th Regiment statute in Central Park, the Brooklyn World War I memo-
rial in Prospect Park, the Richmond Hill statute in Queens, and others.
The legislature, therefore, declares that there is a need to create a
New York State World War I 100th anniversary commemoration commission to
develop and execute plans for projects and activities recognizing the
100th year anniversary of World War I, with particular emphasis on those
New Yorkers who made the supreme sacrifice and those who returned home
wounded.
S 2. New York State World War I 100th anniversary commemoration
commission created. (1) There is hereby a temporary state commission to
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14441-02-6
S. 6856--A 2
be known as the "New York State World War I 100th anniversary commem-
oration commission".
(2) Definitions. As used in this act: "Commission" means the New York
State World War I 100th anniversary commemoration commission created by
this section.
(3) Tasks. The Commission is charged with the following duties:
a. To plan, develop and execute programs, projects, and activities to
commemorate the centennial of World War I and New York's and New York-
ers' role in it;
b. To encourage private organizations, state agencies, and local
government in New York to organize and participate in activities commem-
orating the centennial of World War I;
c. Assist with efforts to protect, improve, and develop educational
and interpretive institutions, sites, and museums related to World War I
for educational, recreational, and tourism purposes; and
d. Perform other actions necessary to carry out the duties of the
Commission.
(4) Membership:
a. The Commission shall consist of 11 members to be appointed as
follows: The commissioner of the department of parks, recreation and
historic preservation or his or her duly designated representative, the
commissioner of the department of education or his or her duly desig-
nated representative, the commissioner of the department of economic
development or his or her duly designated representative, and eight
at-large members, of which, two members shall be appointed by the gover-
nor, two members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
senate, two 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.
The commissioner of the department of parks, recreation and historic
preservation or his or her duly designated representative shall serve as
chairperson of the Commission. The eight appointed members shall serve
at the pleasure of the appointing official. Vacancies shall be filled in
the manner provided for original appointments.
b. The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for
their services.
c. 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.
d. The Commission shall appoint, designate, or remove such staff from
the Commission as may be necessary to carry out its duties and perform-
ance of its functions, from current state agency personnel.
e. The Commission may meet and hold public and/or private hearings
within or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legisla-
tive committee pursuant to the legislative law; except it shall not have
the power to issue subpoenas pursuant to section 62-a of the legislative
law.
f. The Commission may request and shall receive from any subdivision,
department, board, commission, office, agency, or other instrumentality
of the state or of any political subdivision thereof such facilities,
assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper
S. 6856--A 3
execution of its powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes set
forth in this act.
g. The Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into any
agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary, desira-
ble or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this act.
(5) Action Plan: By June 30th, 2017, the Commission shall present to
the Governor and Legislature an Action Plan to achieve the Commission's
tasks. The report shall contain recommendations to commemorate the
centennial of World War I. The Commission shall update the Action Plan
as necessary.
(6) Termination: The Commission shall continue in existence until
November 12, 2018 at which time it shall be deemed to be repealed.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
