What's happening
This bill transfers oversight of the Amistad Commission from the Secretary of State to the Commissioner of Education, expands commission duties, and introduces new programs to promote African-American history education.
Why it matters
Shifts oversight of the Amistad Commission from the Department of State to the Department of Education, signaling a stronger emphasis on integrating African-American history into the state’s educational priorities and infrastructure.
Expands the qualifications for commission members, now specifically requiring educational backgrounds or demonstrated expertise in African-American history, slavery, or related contributions, which may lead to more knowledgeable and impactful decision-making.
Requires the Department of Education to provide technical assistance, staffing, and direct support to the commission, likely increasing the commission’s reach, resources, and effectiveness in shaping curriculum and educational policy.
Mandates the commission to actively promote African-American history education by recognizing outstanding schools, awarding grants to exemplary teachers, and publicly sharing best teaching practices, creating incentives for schools and teachers to prioritize this content.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Revamp Amistad Commission Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 57–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.124
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 2 earlier actions
- Ordered to third reading cal.1464
- Referred to rules
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.
Revamp Amistad Commission Membership
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Al Taylor
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 57.52 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as added by chapter 404 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
§ 57.52. Amistad commission; established. 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 thirtynine 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 appointed members shall be chosen with due regard to broad ethnic diversity and shall have a demonstrated educational background in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in America or the contributions of African-Americans to our society. The public members shall be residents of the state, chosen with 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
have an interest in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in America and the contributions of African-Americans to our society.
1-a. Any business or other matter undertaken or commenced by the department of state or the secretary of state pertaining to or connected with the functions, powers, obligations and duties of the commission established pursuant to subdivision one of this section are hereby transferred and assigned to the commissioner of education or the department of education and pending on the effective date of this section, may be conducted and completed by such commissioner or such department in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions and with the same effect as if conducted and completed by the department of state or the secretary of state.
2. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial members so appointed: one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and two members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of one year; one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and three members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of two years; and two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and three members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled within forty-five days in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. If such vacancy is not filled within forty five days, the vacancy shall be filled within thirty days by the commissioner of education but for the unexpired term only.
3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
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.
5. The department of education shall provide technical assistance and data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this article. The commissioner of education or his or her designee shall be responsible for hiring the staff of the commission and shall serve as the liason between the commission and the department of education. The commissioner of education may designate employees of the department of education to provide support and services to the commission as are reasonably necessary.
§ 2. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 57.53 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as added by chapter 404 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
2. to compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge and experience in classrooms, seminars and workshops with students and teachers on the subject of the African slave trade, American slavery and the impact of slavery on our society today, and the contributions of African-Americans to our country; [and]
S. 6445 3
3. to increase awareness and encourage school districts to utilize curricula on African-American history by:
(a) establishing and administering a program to publicly recognize schools that do an outstanding job teaching subjects related to the African-American experience through a designation of special status or other award as determined by the commission; and
(b) offering grants to individual teachers who demonstrate exemplary practices teaching subjects related to the African-American experience, as determined by the commission, and the commission shall catalog and publicize such practices for use by other teachers; and
4. to prepare reports for the governor and the legislature regarding its findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of the African slave trade, American slavery studies, African-American history and special programs in the educational system of the state.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to the Amistad Commission
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would move the Amistad commission from the Department of State to the New York State Education Department.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 57.52 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law by allo- cating the Amistad Commission from Department of State to the State Education Department. The commission will consist of nineteen members, including the commissioner of education or his or her designee, the secretary of state or his or her designee, the chancellor of the state university of New York or his or her designee, serving ex officio, and sixteen public members. The appointed members shall be chosen with due regard to broad ethnic diversity and shall have a demonstrated educa- tional background in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in America or the contributions of African-Americans to our society. The commissioner of education, or his or her designee, shall serve as the chair of the commission and the secretary of state, or his or her desig- nee, shall serve as the vice chair of the commission. If there is a vacancy, that vacancy must be filled within 45 days in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. If such vacancy is not filled within 45 days, the vacancy will be filled by the commissioner of education within 30 days but for the unexpired term only. A new subdivision 1-a provides any business or other matter that began under the Department of State regarding the commission are trans- ferred and assigned to the State Education Department. Additionally, the commissioner of education or their designee will be responsible for hiring the staff of the commission and will serve as the liaison between the commission and the state education department.
Section 2 amends subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 57.53 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law so as to increase awareness and encourage school districts to utilize curricula on African-American history by: (a) establishing and administering a program that publicly recognizes and awards schools that do a good job teaching subjects related to the Afri- can American experience; and (b) offering grants to individual teachers who demonstrate exemplary practices teaching subjects related to the African-American experience and publicize such practices for the use of other teachers.
Section 3 is the effective date.
Justification
In New York, the Amistad Commission is charged with surveying school curricula to find out how much is included about "the African slave trade and slavery in America" and to make recommendations for improve- ment. Currently, schools are required to cover slavery, including the Underground Railroad and the freedom trail. The State Education Depart- ment should take the lead as they have the responsibility in examining the findings of the commission's work and helping develop new curriculum
for districts throughout the state. We feel they would be better equipped to complete this task.
Legislative history
2017-2018: 5.6323 - Passed the Senate/A.8328 - Held for consideration in tourism, parks, arts and sports development
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
No new costs as the expense to one agency will be offset by the incur- rence of another.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.