What's happening
This bill changes the leadership of the Amistad Commission by making the commissioner of education the chair and the secretary of state the vice-chair.
Why it matters
Shifts educational focus and oversight. By making the commissioner of education the chair of the Amistad Commission, the bill signals a stronger emphasis on integrating the commission’s work—centered on African American history, slavery, and related curriculum—into New York’s educational policies and school systems.
Potentially changes commission priorities. Leadership change can influence which projects or initiatives the commission prioritizes, potentially giving more weight to educational programming, teacher training, or curriculum development related to African American history.
Alters state government dynamics. Moving the secretary of state to vice-chair changes the balance of influence between education and broader state administrative functions, possibly affecting how the commission interacts with other state agencies and how its recommendations are implemented.
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Change Amistad Commission Leadership
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Held for consideration in tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Change Amistad Commission Leadership
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8328
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 8, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 4 of section 57.52 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as added by chapter 404 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
1. The Amistad commission (commission), so named in honor of the group of enslaved Africans led by Joseph Cinque who, while being transported in eighteen hundred thirty-nine on a vessel named the Amistad, gained their freedom after overthrowing the crew and eventually having their case successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court, is hereby created and established. The commission shall consist of nineteen members, including the [secretary of state] commissioner of education or his or her designee, the [commissioner of education] secretary of state or his or her designee, and the chancellor of the state university of New York or his or her designee, serving ex officio, and sixteen public members. Public members shall be appointed as follows: four public members, no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; four public members, no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and eight public members, no more than four of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the governor. The public members shall be residents of the state, chosen with due regard to broad geographic representation and ethnic diversity, who have an interest in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in America and the contributions of African-Americans to our society.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11725-01-7
A. 8328 2
4. The [secretary of state] commissioner of education, or his or her designee, shall serve as the chair and the [commissioner of education] secretary of state, or his or her designee, shall serve as the vicechair of the commission. The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of official business.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.