HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3398        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2929

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 bill:

An Act establishing a special commission to consider an appropriate tribute to Nelson Mandela in the City of Boston.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3398        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2929

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act establishing a special commission to consider an appropriate tribute to Nelson Mandela in the City of Boston.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. There is established a special commission to consider the viability of establishing a designed space or facility on the Esplanade, and/or Madison Park High School in the City of Boston commemorating the visit of Nelson Mandela to Boston in June 1990, and the speeches given by him on the Esplanade and at Madison Park High School at such time.

Specifically the commission shall liaise with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and other pertinent state or city agencies, and shall engage the public of the City of Boston in the consideration of the importance and value to the citizens of Boston of having such commemorations of Mr. Mandela’s visit.

The Commission shall also consider the universal nature of Mr. Mandela’s message to the citizens of Boston and to the country at large and how best to convey such message to the public by the establishment of such designed space or facility.

In addition the commission shall consider the establishment of a design “jury” and selection process for the design of said space or facility.

Finally the Commission shall consider funding options for the designed space or facility.

Section 2. The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of appointing authority or organization: The Governor of the Commonwealth shall appoint two (2) members, The Senate President shall appoint one (1) member, The Speaker of the House shall appoint one (1) member, The Mayor of the City of Boston shall appoint one (1) member, The Esplanade Association shall appoint one (1) member, The Boston Society of Architects shall appoint one (1) member, South African Partners shall appoint one (1) member, The Black Ministerial Alliance shall appoint one (1) member, and The Mandela Memorial Committee – four (4) members (one of whom shall be an architect or design professional).

The members shall name the chair and vice chair of this commission.

Section 3: The commission shall invite the submission of papers and plans from interested parties and receive testimony from experts and the general public.  The commission shall examine designs and the process of the establishment of such spaces in other cities or states, and shall submit a detailed report with its proposals and recommendations to the clerk of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the Senate, the Governor of the Commonwealth and the Mayor of the City of Boston, no later than eighteen (18) months following the effective date of this Act.  The clerks of the House and Senate shall make the report available to the public via the internet.  The appointment of the Commissioners shall occur within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this Act.  The special commission shall dissolve sixty (60) days after the submission of the report and the final completion of its duties as the same may be set forth in the commission’s report.