2014 -- S 2418

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LC004756

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE 1696

HISTORICAL COMMISSION" OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE UNITED STATES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, Pichardo, Jabour, Crowley, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island holds a unique place in history with the establishment of its

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Royal Charter in July 1663, that marked the first time that a sovereign leader signed a charter

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guaranteeing that individuals within a society were free to practice the religion of their choice

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without any interference from the government; and

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     WHEREAS, This progressive act during the early settlement of the Colony of Rhode

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Island would attract from across the world all manner of religious, ethnic and racial groups to

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Rhode Island shores bringing with them their expertise in maritime trade and commerce; and

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     WHEREAS, By the 18th century Rhode Island was one of Colonial America's leading

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maritime centers; and

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     WHEREAS, As Rhode Island became the first American Colony to declare its

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independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776, it was also at the same time in history one of

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the largest African trade and importation centers; and

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     WHEREAS, The earliest history and people of Rhode Island has included persons of

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African heritage who, even though they arrived as chattel property, would soon rise up to

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establish many of America's earliest African American civic, religious, cultural and educational

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enterprises; and

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     WHEREAS, The history of the African slave trade, the early arrival of persons of African

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heritage to the state, and the triumphs of African-Americans and their significant contributions to

 

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the development of this state and country is the proper concern of all people, particularly students

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enrolled in the schools of the State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission, to be known as "The 1696 Historical

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Commission," so named in honor of the first documented group of enslaved Africans to arrive in

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Rhode Island at Newport in 1696 on the brig Seaflower, be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of fifteen (15) members: one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; one

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of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of

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whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage

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Commission, or designee; and twelve (12) of whom shall be public members, four (4) of whom

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shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House, and four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor.

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     The public members shall be residents of this state, chosen with due regard to broad

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geographic representation and ethnic diversity, who have an interest in the history of Rhode

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Island, the African slave trade and slavery in Rhode Island and America and the contributions of

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African-Americans to our society. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term

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of two (2) years. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same

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manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to develop a comprehensive African American

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history curriculum for all K-12 public schools in Rhode Island. Said curriculum should include,

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but not be limited to, the history of persons of African heritage, including the history of African

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peoples before the political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to

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America and Rhode Island, the enslavement experience in America and Rhode Island, abolition,

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and the contributions of Africans to America and Rhode Island.

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     The commission shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Education,

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curriculum guidelines for the teaching of information on the African slave trade, slavery in

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America and Rhode Island, the vestiges of slavery in this country and state, and the contributions

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of African-Americans to our country and state.

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     The commission shall make recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of the history

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of persons of African heritage, including the history of African peoples before the political

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conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to America and Rhode Island, the

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enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America, abolition, and the contributions of African

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Americans to Rhode Island and America and any related special programs in the educational

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system of the state, with the goal of funding and implementing such curriculum for the start of the

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September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

 

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     Every local board of education is requested to incorporate the information developed by

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the commission in an appropriate place in the curriculum of elementary and secondary school

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students in the state; and

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     On facilitating the inclusion of the history of persons of African heritage, including the

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history of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the

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passage to America and Rhode Island, the enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America,

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abolition, and the contributions of African-Americans to Rhode Island and America and any

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related special programs in the educational system of the state, with the goal of funding and

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implementing such curriculum for the start of the September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

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     The Secretary of State, or designee, shall serve as the chair and the Commissioner of

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Education, or designee, shall serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence of a

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majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of

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official business.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and Rhode Island

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Department of Education shall provide staff support for the Commission.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The commission is authorized to prepare all reports by January 1, 2015 for the Governor

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and the Legislature regarding its findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of

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the history of persons of African heritage, including the history of African peoples before the

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political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to America and Rhode

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Island, the enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America, abolition, and the contributions

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of African-Americans to Rhode Island and America and any related special programs in the

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educational system of the State, with the goal of funding and implementing such curriculum for

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the start of the September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 6, 2015, and said commission shall

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expire on May 6, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE 1696

HISTORICAL COMMISSION" OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE UNITED STATES

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative study commission

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whose purpose it would be to develop curriculum guidelines for the teaching of information on

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the African salve trade, slavery in America and Rhode Island, the vestiges of slavery in this

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country and state, and the contributions of African-Americans to our country and state, and who

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would report back to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 6, 2015, and

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whose life would expire on May 6, 2015.

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