HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1004        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2873

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Byron Rushing

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve providing for the creation of a special commission relative to the seal and motto of the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1004        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2873

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3039 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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Resolve providing for the creation of a special commission relative to the seal and motto of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established (1) for the purpose of investigating the features of the official seal and motto of the commonwealth  including those which have been controversial or misunderstood or are no longer meaningful to the citizens of the commonwealth and (2) for the purpose of examining the seal and motto of the commonwealth to determine that they accurately reflect and embody the historic and contemporary commitments of the commonwealth to peace, justice, liberty and equality, and to spreading the opportunities and advantages of education.

Said commission shall make recommendations regarding a revised or new design of the seal of the commonwealth and a revised or new motto of the commonwealth, as described in chapter two, sections two to six, inclusive, of the General Laws, if deemed appropriate, and shall propose and design an educational program on the history and meaning of the seal and motto.

Said commission shall consist of two members of the senate, three members of the house of representatives, the secretary of the commonwealth or his designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts historical commission or his designee, the executive director of the council on arts and humanities or his designee, the chair of the Massachusetts arts commission or his designee, and five persons to be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be of native American descent of Massachusetts tribes to be selected from a list of six nominees to be submitted by the executive director of the commission on Indian affairs.

Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives on or before the first Wednesday of December, 2012. Said commission shall not receive funds appropriated by the commonwealth, provided, however, that they may seek, accept and expend any grants or gifts of money, professional services, consultant services, clerical and other services and supplies from the federal government or any other private or public source in the course of its investigation and study.