HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1472        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1707

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Byron Rushing

_________________

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.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

1/18/2017

Jack Lewis

7th Middlesex

 

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

 

Natalie Higgins

4th Worcester

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

 

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Solomon Goldstein-Rose

3rd Hampshire

 

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

 

Carlos González

10th Hampden

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1472        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1707

By Mr. Rushing of Boston, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 1707) of Byron Rushing and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the seal and motto of the Commonwealth.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2810 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

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, 2018. 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.