| R 309 |
| 2021 -- H 6002 Enacted 06/14/2021 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE RHODE ISLAND SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL (RI 250TH) COMMISSION" |
Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Abney, McNamara, Azzinaro, Edwards, Solomon, Shanley, and Vella-Wilkinson |
| Date Introduced: February 26, 2021 |
| WHEREAS, As one of the original 13 colonies, Rhode Island played a leading role in the |
| birth and history of the United States of America; and |
| WHEREAS, On June 9, 1772, in the first major act of rebellion against England, Rhode |
| Islanders attacked and burned the English revenue schooner HMS Gaspee; and |
| WHEREAS, In 1774, Providence residents were the first to propose the idea of a |
| Continental Congress at their town meeting; and |
| WHEREAS, On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island’s General Assembly passed the Act of |
| Renunciation, becoming the first British colony to renounce its allegiance to the King, an |
| important legislative step toward the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776; and |
| WHEREAS, The 250th Anniversary of the founding of our country presents an |
| opportunity for Rhode Islanders and all Americans to reflect on the many significant events that |
| inspired the birth of our country from a diversity of perspectives; and |
| WHEREAS, The study of history leads to greater empathy, heightened civil discourse, |
| increased civic engagement, all of which build to a stronger future; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to be known as “The Rhode Island |
| Semiquincentennial (RI 250) Commission” is hereby created consisting of thirty (30) members: |
| one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; one of whom shall be the Commissioner |
| of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive |
| Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, or designee; one |
| of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Executive Office of Commerce, or designee; |
| one of whom shall be the Historian Laureate, or designee; and twenty-four (24) of whom shall be |
| public members, four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, two (2) of |
| whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, four (4) of whom shall be |
| appointed by the President of the Senate, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Minority |
| Leader of the Senate, six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, and six (6) of whom |
| shall be appointed by the Secretary of State. |
| The Secretary of State, or designee, shall serve as the Chairperson and the Executive |
| Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission shall serve as the |
| Vice-Chairperson of the Commission. |
| The public members shall be residents of this state, chosen with due regard to geographic, |
| cultural and racial diversity, who have an interest in the history of Rhode Island, over the last 250 |
| years, and the contributions of Rhode Island in the founding of our nation. |
| The purpose of said Commission shall be to: |
| Assist in ensuring that any observance of the semiquincentennial of the American |
| Revolution is inclusive and appropriately recognizes the experiences and points of view |
| of all people affected by the events before, during, and after this historic event; |
| Encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, and other organizations throughout |
| the State of Rhode Island to organize and participate in activities to expand the |
| understanding, and appreciation of, the significance of the American Revolution; |
| Collaborate with local tourism agencies to promote Rhode Island as a prominent cultural |
| and heritage tourism destination for American Revolutionary history; |
| Encourage interdisciplinary and scholarly examination of the American Revolution; and |
| Explore the many ways in which the ethos of our national founding period influences |
| our present, and can shape our future. |
| The duties of said Commission shall be to: |
| Commemorate the semiquincentennial of the American Revolution and Rhode Island’s |
| participation and contributions therein, including activities in recognition of the historic, |
| social, legal, cultural, and political forces that caused the American Revolution and |
| influenced its course and outcomes; |
| Collaborate with and assist other state and national organizations with programs and |
| activities for the observance of the semiquincentennial of the American Revolution in |
| the State of Rhode Island; |
| Facilitate American Revolution-related activities throughout the State of Rhode Island; |
| Provide assistance to localities and nonprofit organizations for the development of |
| programs, projects, and activities pertaining to the American Revolution that have |
| lasting educational value within the State of Rhode Island; and |
| Support the creation of educational opportunities for K-12 students and all members of |
| the public who wish to explore the intricacies of the foundational period of our nation. |
| Appointments to the Commission shall be made within sixty (60) days of the passage of |
| this resolution. The members of the Commission shall meet no later than sixty (60) days after the |
| completion of all appointments to the Commission. |
| A majority of members shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold |
| meetings. The Commission shall act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting |
| members of the Commission. |
| Vacancies in said Commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said Commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said Commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the Commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties: |
| Perform any and all other activities in connection with the educational, charitable and |
| scientific purposes of the Commission within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the |
| Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| Solicit, accept and use grants and charitable funds made available by the United States |
| government or any agency thereof; |
| Work in conjunction with other 501(c)(3) and nonprofit organizations with a similar |
| mission to solicit, accept and use funds or in-kind contributions from private entities; |
| Request funds from the General Assembly; |
| Appoint any advisory or sub-committee as the Commission considers appropriate; and |
| Authorize any voting member or employee of the Commission to take any action that |
| the Commission is authorized to take under duties and purpose of the Commission; and |
| be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Commission shall issue a final report that contains a summary of |
| the findings and recommendations of the Commission to the General Assembly on or before July |
| 1, 2023, a final accounting of funds received and expended by the Commission to the General |
| Assembly on or before October 1, 2026, and said Commission shall expire on January 1, 2027. |
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| LC002131 |
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