N.Y. Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 19.07: People's history project

§ 19.07 People's history project. 1. The legislature hereby finds and

declares that the history of New York state is replete with persons,

sites, and events of both local and statewide importance that have

heretofore been overlooked by mainstream, established history. The

state's historical sites and history as it is taught in school and

popularly recorded fail to take into consideration the multitude of

peoples who have built this state, a state that has been significantly

impacted by immigrant and ethnic populations of this country and home to

the majority of social and economic movements of the last four hundred

years. It is time to recognize those from every background who have

contributed to the history of this state, and give new cause for pride

and create new role models for all people. Recognizing such historical

sites, events and persons will also contribute to tourism, especially

special niche tourism, and consequently contribute to the economic

development of the state, especially in areas that are underdeveloped

economically and disadvantaged.

2. The commissioner shall establish within the office a people's

history committee. The members of the committee shall be appointed by

the commissioner and shall be representative of academic and

professional historians, members of local historical societies and other

such groups. Such members of the committee shall reflect the diversity

of the residents of this state with regard to race, ethnicity, gender,

language, and geographic residence. The members of the committee shall

serve without compensation, but shall be allowed their actual and

necessary expenses.

3. The commissioner shall establish a process whereby the people of

the state may nominate persons, sites, and events of historical

significance each year for inclusion in the people's history project who

may be of local, regional, statewide or national significance. The

committee, in consultation with local historians, historical societies,

and other authorities, where appropriate, shall evaluate the merits of

such nominees, and may select up to ten persons, sites or events per

year for inclusion in the people's history project. In its evaluation of

the merits of nominees, such commission shall consider, including but

not limited to, the following factors: the historical impact of such

person, site or event, how such impact changed history, and the effect

that such person, site or event had on the state and whether such

person, site, or event that has been overlooked.

4. For nominees approved by the committee, suitable commemorative

markers of selected sites may be erected at the appropriate location or

locations as determined by the commissioner. The office shall maintain a

website listing the persons, sites, and events selected by the

committee, a description thereof, a map showing the locations thereof if

applicable, and any other relevant information.