2021 -- H 6458

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – HISTORIAN LAUREATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Hull, Alzate, Felix, Barros, Giraldo, Diaz,
Batista, Vella-Wilkinson, and Biah

     Date Introduced: June 22, 2021

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-100.1-2 and 42-100.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-100.1

entitled "Historian Laureate of Rhode Island" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-100.1-2. Appointment.

     The historian laureate shall be appointed for a term of five (5) two (2) years by the secretary

of state with the advice and consent of the senate.

     42-100.1-4. Qualifications.

     The historian laureate must have earned recognition and distinction as the author of

authoritative books or essays about the history of Rhode Island; or served in a leadership position

in staging commemorative public observances pertaining to various aspects of the history of Rhode

Island; or taught and lectured about the history of Rhode Island to the general public. The historian

laureate shall possess the knowledge, awareness and acceptance of the different cultures and

cultural identities of the persons of the state.

     42-100.1-5. Duties.

     (a) The duties of the historian laureate shall include: delivering

(1) Delivering and promoting through public and social media platforms historical lectures about

pertinent aspects of Rhode Island history at important state historical ceremonies and observances

at the request of the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the

senate, the chief justice of the supreme court, or the secretary of state; furnishing

(2) Furnishing historical information or advice to the above-named officers upon request;

     (3) Reading reading and editing state-sponsored historical publications for accuracy upon

request;

     (4) Authoring one authoritative book or essay and establishing two (2) commemorative

public observances pertaining to various aspects of the history of Rhode Island, each term, in

consultation with of the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission;

     (5) Developing and implementing programs about pertinent aspects of Rhode Island history

in consultation with of the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission;

     (6) Collecting, editing and publishing any archives, records, papers or manuscripts that are

deemed essential or desirable for the preservation of Rhode Island history;

     (7) Preparing and publishing, or assisting in the preparation and publication of, works

relating to Rhode Island history;

     (8) Acquiring, administering, preserving, exhibiting, interpreting, loaning, exchanging, or

disposing of historical personal property objects relating to Rhode Island history;

     (9) Advising and assisting the Rhode Island Historical preservation and heritage

commission concerning the designation, acquisition, administration, interpretation, use or

disposition of any historic site, property or place relative to Rhode Island history, and coordinating

educational programs and projects at such historic sites or properties;

     (10) Promoting the establishment and improvement of programs for the management and

preservation of local government records with enduring value for historical or other research;

     (11) Encouraging the coordinated collection and preservation of nongovernmental

historical records by libraries, historical societies, and other repositories;

     (12) Carrying out and actively encouraging research in historical records in order to add to

the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Rhode Island history; and

     (13) Such such other duties pertaining to the dissemination of information about Rhode

Island history and heritage as the above-mentioned officers may be required from time-to-time

require.

     (b) The historian laureate shall perform all duties with no compensation pursuant to § 42-

100.2-3.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-100.1 of the General Laws entitled "Historian Laureate of Rhode

Island" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-100.1-8. Report.

     The historian laureate shall provide a written report, no later than January 31 of each year,

to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the secretary of state,

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and the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission, of the programs, projects

and activities undertaken and completed during the preceding year.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – HISTORIAN LAUREATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

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     This act would reduce the term of the historian laureate of Rhode Island from a five (5)

year term to a two (2) year term, and would require the historian laureate to develop and implement

programs about pertinent aspects of Rhode Island history in consultation with the Rhode Island

Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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