NY State Senate Bill 2017-S8076

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 26, 2018	referred to finance

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Arts and Cultural Affairs
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S3204

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission.

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8076

SPONSOR: HAMILTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act establishing the 400 Years of African-American
History Commission; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill shall be to highlight the contributions that
Africans and African-Americans have made to our country and to our
state. In addition, it shall be to bring communities together under
events, activities and educational research by the 400 year commission
and partnered community based organizations. The events and activities
carried out by the commission can foster learning and developmental
environments for youth, adults and seniors of all backgrounds and culti-
vate opportunities to foster a better understanding of the development
of our country, which was and is possible through the continuous
contributions of African-Americans from 1619 until present day.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

1) Section 1 shall establish the commission.

2) Section 2 shall define the criteria for membership, and filling
vacancies of the commission.

3) Section 3 shall define the responsibilities of the commission as they
relate to education, coordination, commemoration, research and all other
duties of the commission defined in that section.

4) Section 4 defines ways in which the commission shall use appropriated
funds.

5) Section 5 establishes the contents of the first report by the commis-
sion before any events, activities or expenditure of funds.

6) Section 6 is the second report, which will summarize all activities
and final accounting of all expenditures as well as all research find-
ings and recommendations.

7) Section 7 contains the effective date and a date in which this act
shall be deemed repealed.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Under current law, New York has not established a 400 years of African-
American History Commission.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The contributions that African Americans have made to our society are
often overlooked and it is damaging to our diverse multicultural socie-
ty, which was built on the contributions of African Americans from the
colonial era, the early years of nation, to the industrial and techno-
logical revolutions within our great country and state. It is even more
important in a state as diverse as our own that we come together on this
monumental anniversary and celebrate the contributions African Americans

have made in the 400 years since they first arrived on the shores of the
east coast.

The idea that it is necessary stems from the fact that African American
contributions to our society are great and expansive and as such, we
should establish a commission with a purpose to highlight and integrate
all of the many great contributions of African Americans to our state
and country. In addition, that it should be done in ways in which,
entire communities can unify and commemorate an anniversary such as this
one.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal, as all members of the commission shall severe without compen-
sation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary
expenses.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed July 1, 2020

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8076
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 26, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 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.
   (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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15191-01-8

 S. 8076                             2
 
   § 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, 2018.
   § 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, 2020.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed July 1, 2020.

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Senate Bill S8076

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8076

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Sponsored By

Jesse Hamilton

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8076 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments