STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6445
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 11, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to the
Amistad Commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 57.52 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as
2 added by chapter 404 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 57.52. Amistad commission; established. 1. The Amistad commission
4 (commission), so named in honor of the group of enslaved Africans led by
5 Joseph Cinque who, while being transported in eighteen hundred thirty-
6 nine on a vessel named the Amistad, gained their freedom after over-
7 throwing the crew and eventually having their case successfully argued
8 before the United States Supreme Court, is hereby created and estab-
9 lished. The commission shall consist of nineteen members, including the
10 [secretary of state] commissioner of education or his or her designee,
11 the [commissioner of education] secretary of state or his or her desig-
12 nee, and the chancellor of the state university of New York or his or
13 her designee, serving ex officio, and sixteen public members. Public
14 members shall be appointed as follows: four public members, no more
15 than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be
16 appointed by the temporary president of the senate; four public members,
17 no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be
18 appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and eight public members, no
19 more than four of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be
20 appointed by the governor. The appointed members shall be chosen with
21 due regard to broad ethnic diversity and shall have a demonstrated
22 educational background in the history of the African slave trade and
23 slavery in America or the contributions of African-Americans to our
24 society. The public members shall be residents of the state, chosen with
25 due regard to broad geographic representation and ethnic diversity, who
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07206-03-9
S. 6445 2
1 have an interest in the history of the African slave trade and slavery
2 in America and the contributions of African-Americans to our society.
3 1-a. Any business or other matter undertaken or commenced by the
4 department of state or the secretary of state pertaining to or connected
5 with the functions, powers, obligations and duties of the commission
6 established pursuant to subdivision one of this section are hereby
7 transferred and assigned to the commissioner of education or the depart-
8 ment of education and pending on the effective date of this section, may
9 be conducted and completed by such commissioner or such department in
10 the same manner and under the same terms and conditions and with the
11 same effect as if conducted and completed by the department of state or
12 the secretary of state.
13 2. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of
14 three years, except that of the initial members so appointed: one member
15 appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member appointed
16 by the speaker of the assembly, and two members appointed by the gover-
17 nor shall serve for terms of one year; one member appointed by the
18 temporary president of the senate, one member appointed by the speaker
19 of the assembly, and three members appointed by the governor shall serve
20 for terms of two years; and two members appointed by the temporary pres-
21 ident of the senate, two members appointed by the speaker of the assem-
22 bly, and three members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms
23 of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They
24 shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the
25 term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the
26 expiration of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than
27 by expiration of term shall be filled within forty-five days in the same
28 manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. If
29 such vacancy is not filled within forty five days, the vacancy shall be
30 filled within thirty days by the commissioner of education but for the
31 unexpired term only.
32 3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but
33 shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred
34 in the performance of their duties.
35 4. The [secretary of state] commissioner of education, or his or her
36 designee, shall serve as the chair and the [commissioner of education]
37 secretary of state, or his or her designee, shall serve as the vice-
38 chair of the commission. The presence of a majority of the authorized
39 membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of offi-
40 cial business.
41 5. The department of education shall provide technical assistance and
42 data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission to carry
43 out its responsibilities pursuant to this article. The commissioner of
44 education or his or her designee shall be responsible for hiring the
45 staff of the commission and shall serve as the liason between the
46 commission and the department of education. The commissioner of educa-
47 tion may designate employees of the department of education to provide
48 support and services to the commission as are reasonably necessary.
49 § 2. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 57.53 of the arts and cultural
50 affairs law, as added by chapter 404 of the laws of 2005, are amended to
51 read as follows:
52 2. to compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to
53 share their knowledge and experience in classrooms, seminars and work-
54 shops with students and teachers on the subject of the African slave
55 trade, American slavery and the impact of slavery on our society today,
56 and the contributions of African-Americans to our country; [and]
S. 6445 3
1 3. to increase awareness and encourage school districts to utilize
2 curricula on African-American history by:
3 (a) establishing and administering a program to publicly recognize
4 schools that do an outstanding job teaching subjects related to the
5 African-American experience through a designation of special status or
6 other award as determined by the commission; and
7 (b) offering grants to individual teachers who demonstrate exemplary
8 practices teaching subjects related to the African-American experience,
9 as determined by the commission, and the commission shall catalog and
10 publicize such practices for use by other teachers; and
11 4. to prepare reports for the governor and the legislature regarding
12 its findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of the
13 African slave trade, American slavery studies, African-American history
14 and special programs in the educational system of the state.
15 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.