STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6868--A 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 22, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DICKENS, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- recommitted to the Committee on Tour- ism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to providing for the people's history project The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is 2 amended by adding a new section 19.07 to read as follows: 3 § 19.07 People's history project. 1. The legislature hereby finds and 4 declares that the history of New York state is replete with persons, 5 sites, and events of both local and statewide importance that have here- 6 tofore been overlooked by mainstream, established history. The state's 7 historical sites and history as it is taught in school and popularly 8 recorded fail to take into consideration the multitude of peoples who 9 have built this state, a state that has been significantly impacted by 10 immigrant and ethnic populations of this country and home to the majori- 11 ty of social and economic movements of the last four hundred years. It 12 is time to recognize those from every background who have contributed to 13 the history of this state, and give new cause for pride and create new 14 role models for all people. Recognizing such historical sites, events 15 and persons will also contribute to tourism, especially special niche 16 tourism, and consequently contribute to the economic development of the 17 state, especially in areas that are underdeveloped economically and 18 disadvantaged. 19 2. The commissioner shall establish within the office a people's 20 history committee. The members of the committee shall be appointed by 21 the commissioner and shall be representative of academic and profes- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD10619-10-8A. 6868--A 2 1 sional historians, members of local historical societies and other such 2 groups. Such members of the committee shall reflect the diversity of the 3 residents of this state with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, 4 language, and geographic residence. The members of the committee shall 5 serve without compensation, but shall be allowed their actual and neces- 6 sary expenses. 7 3. The commissioner shall establish a process whereby the people of 8 the state may nominate persons, sites, and events of historical signif- 9 icance each year for inclusion in the people's history project who may 10 be of local, regional, statewide or national significance. The commit- 11 tee, in consultation with local historians, historical societies, and 12 other authorities, where appropriate, shall evaluate the merits of such 13 nominees, and may select up to ten persons, sites or events per year for 14 inclusion in the people's history project. In its evaluation of the 15 merits of nominees, such commission shall consider, including but not 16 limited to, the following factors: the historical impact of such person, 17 site or event, how such impact changed history, and the effect that such 18 person, site or event had on the state and whether such person, site, or 19 event that has been overlooked. 20 4. For nominees approved by the committee, suitable commemorative 21 markers of selected sites may be erected at the appropriate location or 22 locations as determined by the commissioner. The office shall maintain a 23 website listing the persons, sites, and events selected by the commit- 24 tee, a description thereof, a map showing the locations thereof if 25 applicable, and any other relevant information. 26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 27 it shall have become a law; provided that effective immediately the 28 commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation is author- 29 ized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other 30 measures necessary to implement this act on its effective date.