Bill S.2452

FILED ON: 1/2/2020

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2452

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act establishing a commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

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

There is hereby established a special commission, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, to investigate and study the promotion and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The commission shall consist of the following 39 members: 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, and 1 of whom shall be nominated by the minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, and 1 of whom shall be nominated by the minority leader; the commissioner of conservation and recreation; and 32 members to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be nominated by the speaker of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be nominated by the president of the senate, 1 of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Department of Education, 2 of whom shall be nominated by the Secretary of State, 1 of whom shall be the Adjutant General of Massachusetts or their designee, 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Historical Society, or their designee 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Colonial Society, 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of the American Antiquarian Society, or their designee, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Museum of African-American History in Boston, 2 of whom shall be scholars from an institution of higher learning with expertise in the area of colonial, revolutionary era history or American civics, 1 of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts Council for Social Studies or their designee, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Boston area business community, and 2 of whom shall be employees of the National Parks Service with experience in geographical areas of the commonwealth with particular Revolutionary War history, 1 of whom shall be the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of Massachusetts or their designee, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Freedom Trail Foundation, 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of Preservation Massachusetts, or their designee, 2 of whom shall be representatives of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, 1 of whom shall be nominated by the Mayor of the City of Boston, 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Humanities Council or their designee, 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council or their designee, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution, and 1 of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Lodging Association or their designee.

As part of its study and investigation, the commission shall: (1) develop a comprehensive plan for promoting and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution; (2) identify all opportunities for individuals, municipalities, or other actors across the commonwealth to participate in celebrations of the anniversary and recognize the particular history of their geographical areas; (3) investigate and promote under-represented voices in the American Revolution including but not limited to women, native peoples, and persons of color; and (4) submit a report to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate which may, upon the agreement of the governor, speaker and senate president, be published for distribution to the public, and which shall contain an overview of Massachusetts’ particular role in the American Revolution, and notable battles, events and figures of the era.