Bills

AB 783: California Commission for the Preservation of African American History, Culture, and Institutions.

Session Year: 2017-2018
House: Assembly
Latest Version Date: 2017-03-23

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Existing law creates within the state government various commissions, including the Native American Heritage Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish the California Commission for the Preservation of African-American History, Culture, and Institutions in state government, to consist of a specified membership, and to be headquartered in the California African-American Museum.

Existing law establishes the California African American Museum for the purpose of preserving, collecting, and displaying samples of African American contributions to the arts, sciences, religion, education, literature, entertainment, politics, sports, and history of the state and the nation.

This bill would establish the California Commission for the Preservation of African American History, Culture, and Institutions in state government, with membership appointed as specified, to be headquartered in the museum. The bill would require the commission to conduct public hearings to identify the contributions of African Americans to California history and culture, chronicle the activities of African Americans who have made significant contributions to the history and culture of California in all fields of endeavor, and identify institutions and places of significance in the contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of California and provide for the placement of an appropriate marker at these sites.

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The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)African Americans have made significant contributions to the history and culture of California.

(b)There is a vast amount of institutional and historical evidence of the contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of the state.

(c)There is a great need to locate, visit, research, and preserve the historical contributions of institutions, events, and individuals throughout the state.

(d)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to establish a California Commission for the Preservation of African American History, Culture, and Institutions.

SEC. 2.Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 8305) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:4.5.California Commission for the Preservation of African American History, Culture, and Institutions8305.

(a)(1)The California Commission for the Preservation of African American History, Culture, and Institutions is hereby established in state government.

(2)The commission shall be convened only upon a determination by the Department of Finance that private donations in an amount sufficient to fully support the activities of the commission have been deposited with the state.

(b)The commission shall consist of 9 members, appointed as follows:

(1)Five members appointed by the Governor.

(2)Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(3)Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(c)Members of the commission shall serve for four-year terms, except that the commission members first appointed shall classify themselves by lot so that the terms of those members shall expire as follows:

(1)Three members on January 1 of the fourth year following the year the commission is convened.

(2)Two members on January 1 of the third year following the year the commission is convened.

(3)Two members on January 1 of the second year following the year the commission is convened.

(4)Two members on January 1 of the first year following the year the commission is convened.

(d)Members may be reappointed to serve additional terms by the appointing power.

(e)The commission shall elect a chair for a term of not more than two years.

(f)Notwithstanding Section 11009, members of the commission shall serve without compensation for service or reimbursement for expenses.

(g)(1)The commission may appoint an advisory committee to advise the commission in carrying out its duties under this chapter.

(2)Notwithstanding Section 11009, members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation for service or reimbursement for expenses.

(h)The commission shall be headquartered at the California African American Museum, Los Angeles.

8306.

(a)The commission shall meet at least quarterly to conduct public hearings to identify the contributions of African Americans to California history and culture.

(b)The commission shall chronicle the activities of African Americans who have made significant contributions to the history and culture of California in all fields of endeavor.

(c)The commission shall identify institutions and places of significance in the contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of California, and shall provide for the placement of an appropriate marker at these sites.

SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish the California Commission for the Preservation of African-American History, Culture, and Institutions in state government, to consist of a specified membership, and to be headquartered in the California African-American Museum.

Date	Status
Feb 1, 2018	From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Jan 31, 2018	Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
Mar 27, 2017	Re-referred to Com. on A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M.
Mar 23, 2017	Referred to Com. on A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M.
Feb 16, 2017	From printer. May be heard in committee March 18.
Feb 15, 2017	Read first time. To print.

Authors shown for version:
Amended Assembly (3/23/2017)