ยง 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.