June 14, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Murphy, Virgil Smith, Lemmons, III, Clack, Farrah, Gillard, Accavitti, Miller, Bennett, Vagnozzi, Cushingberry, Sheltrown, Zelenko, Tobocman, Plakas, Waters, Gleason and Lemmons, Jr. and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to amend 2001 PA 63, entitled
"History, arts, and libraries act,"
(MCL 399.701 to 399.722) by adding section 13.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 13. (1) The legislature finds and declares that all
people should know of and remember the human carnage and
dehumanizing atrocities committed during the period of the African
slave trade and slavery in America and the vestiges of slavery in
this country. It is vital to educate the citizens of this state on
these events, the legacy of slavery, the sad history of racism in
this country, and the principles of human rights and dignity in a
civilized society. The legislature determines that the history of
the African slave trade, slavery in America, the depth of their
impact on our society, and the triumphs of African-Americans and
their significant contributions to the development of this country
are the proper concern of all people.
(2) It is therefore desirable to create a commission that, as
an organized body and on a continuous basis, will survey, design,
encourage, and promote the implementation of education and
awareness programs in this state that are concerned with the
African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in
this country, and the contributions of African-Americans in
building our country; that will develop workshops, institutes,
seminars, and other teacher training activities designed to educate
teachers on this subject matter; and that will be responsible for
the coordination of events on a regular basis, throughout the
state, that provide appropriate memorialization of the events
concerning the enslavement of Africans and their descendants in
America and their struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality.
(3) The Amistad commission is created within the department.
The commission is named to honor the group of enslaved Africans
transported in 1839 on a vessel named the Amistad who overthrew
their captors and created an international incident that was
eventually argued before the United States supreme court and that
shed a growing light on the evils of the slave trade and galvanized
a growing abolitionist movement toward demanding the end of slavery
in the United States.
(4) The commission shall consist of 15 members, including 3 ex
officio members: the state superintendent of education or his or
her designee, the director of the department of labor and economic
growth or his or her designee, and the director of the department
or his or her designee; and 12 public members. Public members shall
be appointed as follows:
(a) Two members shall be appointed by the senate majority
leader, and 1 member shall be appointed by the senate minority
leader.
(b) Two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives, and 1 member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the house of representatives.
(c) Six members, no more than 3 of whom shall be from the same
political party, shall be appointed by the governor.
(5) The public members shall be residents of this state,
chosen with due regard to broad geographic representation and
ethnic diversity, who have served actively in organizations that
educate the public on the history of the African slave trade, the
contributions of African-Americans to our society, and civil rights
issues.
(6) Each public member of the commission shall serve for a
term of 3 years, except that, of the members first appointed, 1
member appointed by the senate majority leader, 1 member appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives, and 2 members
appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of 1 year; the
member appointed by the senate minority leader, 1 member appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives, and 2 members
appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of 2 years; and 1
member appointed by the senate majority leader, the member
appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives,
and 2 members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of 3
years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They
shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. A
vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled
in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of
the unexpired term.
(7) At its first meeting and annually thereafter, the
commission shall elect from among its members a chairperson and
other officers it considers necessary or appropriate. After its
first meeting, the commission shall meet at least quarterly, or
more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by 9
or more members. A majority of the members of the commission
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of
the commission. A majority of the members present and serving are
required for official action of the commission.
(8) All business that the commission is authorized to perform
shall be conducted at a public meeting of the commission, held in
compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to
15.275. A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or
retained by the commission in the performance of an official
function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,
MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(9) The members of the commission shall serve without
compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official
duties as members of the commission from funds appropriated for
that purpose. Reimbursement for travel, meals, and lodging shall be
in accordance with the state standardized travel rules of the
department of management and budget.
(10) The commission shall have the following responsibilities
and duties:
(a) To provide, based upon the collective interest of the
members and the knowledge and experience of the members, assistance
and advice to schools within this state with respect to the
implementation of education, awareness programs, textbooks, and
educational materials concerned with the African slave trade,
slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and
the contributions of African-Americans to our society.
(b) To survey and catalog the extent and breadth of education
concerning the African slave trade, slavery in America, the
vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of
African-Americans to our society presently being incorporated into
the curricula and textbooks and taught in the school systems of
this state; to inventory those African slave trade, American
slavery, or relevant African-American history memorials, exhibits,
and resources that should be incorporated into courses of study at
educational institutions, schools, and various other locations
throughout this state; and to assist the state board of education
and other state agencies and educational institutions in the
development and implementation of African slave trade, American
slavery, and African-American history education programs.
(c) To act as a liaison with textbook publishers, schools,
public, private, and nonprofit resource organizations, members of
the United States senate and house of representatives, and the
senate and house of representatives of this state in order to
facilitate the inclusion of the history of African slavery and of
African-Americans in this country in the curricula of public and
nonpublic schools.
(d) To compile a roster of individual volunteers who are
willing to share their knowledge and experience in classrooms,
seminars, and workshops with students and teachers on the subject
of the African slave trade, American slavery, the impact of slavery
on our society today, and the contributions of African-Americans to
our country.
(e) To coordinate events memorializing the African slave
trade, American slavery, and the history of African-Americans in
this country that reflect the contributions of African-Americans in
overcoming the burdens of slavery and its vestiges and to seek
volunteers who are willing and able to participate in commemorative
events that will enhance student awareness of the significance of
the African slave trade, American slavery, its historical impact,
and the struggle for freedom.
(f) To develop, in consultation with the state board of
education, curriculum guidelines that will be made available to
each school district for the teaching of information on the African
slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this
country, and the contributions of African-Americans to our country.
(g) To solicit, receive, and accept grants, gifts, and
donations for commission operations and programs authorized under
this section.
(h) To prepare an annual report by March 1 for the governor
and the legislature regarding its findings and recommendations on
facilitating the inclusion of the African slave trade, American
slavery studies, African-American history, and special programs in
the educational system of the state.
(11) The commission may call upon any department, office,
division, or agency of this state, or of any county, municipality,
or school district of the state, to supply the data, program
reports, and other information and other assistance it considers
necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this act.
(12) The state board of education shall:
(a) Assist the Amistad commission in marketing and
distributing to educators, administrators, and school districts in
the state educational information and other materials on the
African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in
this country, and the contributions of African-Americans to our
society.
(b) Conduct at least 1 teacher workshop annually on the
African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in
this country, and the contributions of African-Americans to our
society.
(c) Assist the Amistad commission in monitoring the inclusion
of slavery materials and curricula in the state's educational
system.
(d) Consult with the Amistad commission to determine ways it
may survey, catalog, and extend slave trade and American slavery
education presently being taught in the state's educational system.