AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE CREATION OF A WOMEN'S RIGHTS HISTORY TRAIL
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. Chapter 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 13T the following section:-
Section 13U. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Executive director”, the executive director of the office of travel and tourism under section 13E.
“Secretary”, the secretary of transportation under chapter 6C.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive director, in conjunction with the secretary, shall develop and implement a women’s rights history trail program that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) designating properties and sites that are historically and thematically associated with the fight for women’s rights and women’s suffrage; and (ii) promoting education and awareness of the history of women’s rights in the commonwealth.
(c) The executive director and the secretary shall produce and make available appropriate educational materials regarding the women’s rights history trail program, which may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) handbooks; (ii) maps; (iii) exhibits; (iv) uniform signs; (v) interpretive guides; and (vi) electronic information.
(d) The executive director shall develop vacation itineraries based on the women’s rights history trail program that shall identify: (i) surrounding attractions; (ii) restaurants; (iii) farms; (iv) lodging; and (v) any other exhibit or place that may be part of the historical theme linking the properties and sites in the women’s rights history trail program.
(e) The secretary may erect and maintain signs on the state highway system or trails designated pursuant to this section; provided, however, that any state highway or trail designation shall be of a ceremonial nature and the official name of any such highway or trail shall not be changed as a result of such a designation.
SECTION 2. (a) There shall be a women’s rights history trail task force to research, solicit public input and make recommendations for sites, properties and attractions to be included in the women’s rights history trail program established pursuant to section 13U of chapter 23A of the General Laws; provided, however, that the recommendations shall include the state house among the recommended sites. In making such recommendations, the task force shall consider sites that: (i) are historically and thematically associated with the fight for women’s rights and women’s suffrage, including the contributions of women veterans; (ii) are geographically diverse; and (iii) commemorate individuals who reflect racial, ethnic, cultural and economic diversity.
(b) The task force shall research, solicit public input and make recommendations to increase the representation of women and women artists in the works of art in the state house to the art commission for the state house established under section 20 of chapter 6 of the General Laws.
(c) The task force shall consist of: the chairs of the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, who shall serve as co-chairs; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the chairs of the caucus of women legislators or their designees; the executive director of the office of travel and tourism or a designee; the secretary of transportation or a designee; the executive director of the commission on the status of women; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of women; 1 member appointed by the commissioner of veterans’ services who shall represent the interests of women veterans; 1 member appointed by the art commission for the state house; 1 member appointed by the chairs of the task force who shall work at a college or university in the commonwealth and shall be an expert in women’s history; and 1 member who is a representative of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
(d) The task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the secretary of transportation and the art commission for the state house not later than March 1, 2023.
(e) In developing and implementing the women’s rights history trail program under section 13U of chapter 23A of the General Laws, the executive director of the office of travel and tourism and secretary of transportation shall consider the recommendations of the women’s rights history trail task force.
(f) In advising the governor and general court on future artistic matters at the state house pursuant to subsection (e) of section 20 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, the art commission for the state house shall consider the recommendations of the women’s rights history trail task force.
Approved, May 26, 2022.