(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Commission” means the Kentucky Sestercentennial Commission established in subsection (2) of this section; and
(b) “Sestercentennial” means the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of historic events from 1774 to 1776 that include the founding of Harrodsburg in 1774, the opening of Boone Trace in 1775, the genesis of westward movement, and the important events tied to our nation’s founding in 1776.
(2) The Kentucky Sestercentennial Commission is hereby established to plan and implement events to celebrate the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of Old Fort Harrod in 2024, culminating with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. To accomplish its charge, the commission shall:
(a) Elect a chair of the commission and have the authority to form subcommittees and working groups that include non-commission members in order to plan, develop, and coordinate specific activities;
(b) Plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and recognize Kentucky’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future;
(c) Ensure that adequate way-finding signage and mapping is accomplished to mark and identify the relevant points of interest and routes involved in the founding of Kentucky and the opening of the west;
(d) Educate citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation about the stories of pioneers, African Americans, and Native Americans in the early days of westward settlement and the impact Fort Harrod and Fort Boonesborough had on Kentucky and American history;
(e) Plan and implement events for a three (3) year sestercentennial commemoration of the years 2024 to 2026 and following years deemed appropriate by the commission, including any battlefield commemorations if funds are available;
(f) Assist local governments with planning, preparation, and grant applications for sestercentennial events and projects;
(g) Coordinate federal, state, local, and nonprofit organizations’ sestercentennial activities occurring in Kentucky;
(h) Coordinate events and activities with parties, commissions, and organizations wishing to participate in the commemoration;
(i) Seek funding sources such as foundations, line item appropriations, federal grants, philanthropic organizations, and lineage societies;
(j) Establish press, print, and electronic contacts that generate stories on a continual basis;
(k) Encourage and contract new publications and create a call for papers on how
the history of this early frontier settlement impacted American history;
(l) Organize symposiums and other methodologies to investigate genealogy relative to the events involved in the founding of Kentucky and opening of the west;
(m) Create higher and lower educational programs; and
(n) Perform other duties necessary to educate Kentuckians on the history of early frontier settlements and on the Commonwealth’s role in early westward expansion and to highlight the importance of the years 1774 to 1776 to Kentucky history.
(3) The commission shall consist of the following fourteen (14) members:
(a) The secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet or his or her designee;
(b) One (1) member from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet appointed by the secretary of the cabinet;
(c) One (1) member from the Kentucky Heritage Council, appointed by the state historic preservation officer;
(d) One (1) member from the Kentucky Humanities Council, appointed by the chair of the council;
(e) One (1) member of the Friends of Fort Harrod, recommended by the leader of that organization and appointed by the Governor;
(f) Three (3) citizen members appointed by the Governor, one (1) of whom shall be designated as the chair;
(g) The commissioner of the Department of Parks or his or her designee; (h) The president of Friends of Boone Trace, Inc. or his or her designee;
(i) The president of the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, or his or her designee; (j) One (1) member from the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission
appointed by the chair of that commission;
(k) One (1) member of the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission appointed by the chair of that commission; and
(l) One (1) member of the Kentucky Historical Society appointed by the executive director of the society.
(4) The Kentucky Sestercentennial Commission shall be attached to the Kentucky
Historical Society for administrative purposes only. (5) This section shall expire on January 1, 2027.
Effective: July 1, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 236, sec. 29, effective July 1, 2022. — Created
2021 Ky. Acts ch. 194, sec. 3, effective April 7, 2021.