Session of 2000
HOUSE BILL No. 2970 By Representatives Garner, Ballard, Barnes, Crow, Dean, Findley, Flora, Gilbert, Haley, Henderson, Kirk, Kuether, Larkin, McClure, McKin-
ney, O'Brien, E. Peterson, Reardon, Rehorn, Ruff, Sharp, Showalter,
Spangler, Swenson, Toelkes, Wells and Welshimer
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13 AN ACT establishing the Kansas civil rights history project task force;
14 providing for the duties thereof.
15
16 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
17 Section 1. (a) There is hereby established the Kansas civil rights his-
18 tory project task force. The task force shall be composed of the following
19 members:
20 (1) One member of the senate appointed by the president of the
21 senate;
22 (2) one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of
23 the senate;
24 (3) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the
25 speaker of the house of representatives;
26 (4) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the
27 minority leader of the house of representatives;
28 (5) two members appointed by the executive director of the state
29 historical society who are employed by the state historical society;
30 (6) two members appointed by the state board of regents who are
31 professors at a state educational institution and who have a specific in-
32 terest in state civil rights history; and
33 (7) three persons appointed by the governor.
34 (b) The member of the task force appointed by the president of the
35 senate shall call and preside at the first meeting of the task force. At such
36 meeting the members of the task force shall elect a chairperson and vice-
37 chairperson. The task force shall meet on the call of the chairperson. The
38 task force shall meet at least quarterly and at other times necessary to
39 perform its functions. All meetings shall be held in Topeka unless au-
40 thorized to be held in a different place by the legislative coordinating
41 council. If a vacancy occurs on the task force, the vacancy shall be filled
42 in the same manner as the original appointment.
43 (c) From moneys appropriated to the legislature, the Kansas civil
44 rights history project task force shall employ an executive secretary who

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1 shall be in the unclassified service of the Kansas civil service act and
2 receive compensation as approved by the legislative coordinating council.
3 The executive secretary shall act as staff to the task force and shall serve
4 as liaison with the state agencies and the office of the governor.
5 (d) All officers and employees of the state shall provide such infor-
6 mation and assistance as may be deemed necessary by the task force.
7 Other staff assistance shall be provided by the office of the revisor of
8 statutes, the legislative research department and such other legislative
9 offices and employees as may be directed by the legislative coordinating
10 council.
11 (e) Legislators serving as members of the task force and those non-
12 legislative members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) of
13 subsection (a), shall receive compensation and travel expenses and sub-
14 sistence expenses or allowances as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223 and
15 amendments thereto for each day of actual attendance at any meeting of
16 the task force or any subcommittee meeting approved by the task force.
17 Such amounts paid to members shall be paid from appropriations to the
18 legislature pursuant to vouchers prepared by the director of legislative
19 administrative services and approved by the chairperson or vice-chair-
20 person of the legislative coordinating council.
21 (f) The task force shall discuss, identify and develop recommenda-
22 tions for promoting the history of civil rights in Kansas, including, but not
23 limited to:
24 (1) Ways to enhance the teaching of state civil rights history in ele-
25 mentary, secondary and post-secondary education;
26 (2) preserving historic sites relevant to state civil rights history; and
27 (3) promoting the role civil rights played in the history of Kansas
28 statehood, including slavery, the underground railroad, women's suffrage,
29 the treatment of Native Americans, religious freedom and participation
30 in the civil war.
31 (g) The task force shall submit a final report which shall include a
32 master plan for promoting the role the state played in the advancement
33 of civil rights, including recommendations relating to the promotion of
34 tourism based on state civil rights history to the legislature and to the
35 governor on or before January 8, 2001.
36 Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
37 publication in the Kansas Register.