Resolved, The General Court hereby finds the following:—That a special commission, to consist of the governor or his designee, who shall be a member ex officio, three members of the senate, five members of the house of representatives, the state secretary or his designee, the commissioner of education or his designee, the adjutant general or his designee, and twenty persons to be appointed by the governor, of whom one shall be selected from each of the following organizations:-The Society of the War of 1812 in the commonwealth of Massachusetts; The USS Constitution Museum; The American Legion; The Bostonian Society; The Massachusetts Historical Society; The American Antiquarian Society; and at least five representatives of local historical societies within the commonwealth, is hereby established to devise plans and programs for the observance by the commonwealth of the bicentennial of the historic events related to the War of 1812.

Said commission may receive and expend such funds as may be appropriated, donated, or granted to it for its purposes.  Said commission shall submit an annual report to the general court and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the senate on or before the last Tuesday in December in every year and shall file its final report, along with an accounting of funds received and expended, not later than May firs, two thousand and sixteen.  Said commission shall terminate upon the completion of the duties set forth in this resolve.