§ 233-b. New York state freedom trail commission. 1. a. There is
hereby established within the department the New York state freedom
trail commission. The commission shall consist of twelve members, to be
appointed as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor,
three members to be appointed by the board of regents, two members to be
appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member to be
appointed by the minority leader of the senate, two members to be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and one member to be appointed
by the minority leader of the assembly. Such members shall be
representative of academic or public historians, corporations,
foundations, historical societies, civic organizations, and religious
denominations. In addition, the following state officers, or their
designees, shall serve as members of the commission: the commissioner of
education, the head of the state museum, the head of the state archives,
the head of the office of state history, the commissioner of economic
development, the head of the state tourism advisory council and the
commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation.

b. The commission shall begin functioning upon the appointment of a
majority of its members. The chair of the commission shall be chosen by
the members of the commission for a three year term. Commission members,
other than ex officio members, shall serve for terms of five years and
vacancies shall be appointed in the same manner as provided for original
appointments.

c. The department and the office of parks, recreation and historic
preservation may provide the commission with such staff, equipment, and
facilities as it may need.

2. As part of its responsibilities the commission shall be charged
with reviewing and assisting in the implementation of a master plan in
conjunction with federal authorities; sponsoring commemorations,
linkages, seminars and public forum; assisting, encouraging, and
promoting the making of applications for inclusion on the national or
state registers of historic places by the parties eligible to do so and
the inclusion of such places therein; and developing partnerships and
seeking private and public funds to carry out activities to protect,
preserve, and promote the important legacy and lessons of the freedom
trail and the underground railroad in New York state.

3. The commission shall report annually to the governor, the
legislature, and the board of regents for a period of five years from
the date of establishment of the commission, but beginning no later than
January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine.