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

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(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 5-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