Brief (1)
HB 2583 creates the Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial Commission to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Kansas Territory in 2004. The Commission would consist of nine members appointed by the Governor and would receive no compensation or reimbursement for their service.
HB 2583 also creates an advisory board to the Commission, consisting of the Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society, who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory committee; the Director of the Kansas Humanities Council or the Director's designee; the Director of the Kansas Arts Commission or the Director's designee; the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism Development of the Department of Commerce and Housing or the Director's designee; the Commissioner of Education or the Commissioner's designee; 15 members appointed by the Governor representing history faculties of Regents universities and community colleges or private colleges or universities in the state; a representative of the travel industry association of Kansas; a representative of the Kansas museums association; and a representative of the territorial Kansas heritage alliance; two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; two members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; two members appointed by the President of the Senate; and two members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. The chairperson of the committee is empowered to appoint a secretary. Members of the advisory committee will also serve without compensation or reimbursement.
The Commission must report to the Governor its recommendations for the Sesquicentennial by July 1, 2002. The report will then be forwarded to the Legislature by the Governor.
On January 15, 2005, the Commission must report all activities sponsored or supported by the group to the Governor and make recommendations for the continuation of these activities until 2011, the Sesquicentennial of Kansas Statehood. This report will also be forwarded to the Legislature by the Governor.
The bill also creates an account for the Commission to receive gifts, grants, bequests, and contributions for the Sesquicentennial.
Background
The House Committee on Appropriations removed the language requiring members appointed by the House and Senate leadership to be from the public to allow the appointment of legislators to the advisory committee.
According to the Division of the Budget, this bill will have no fiscal impact.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi