NY Exec L § 191 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 9 - Division of Military and Naval Affairs 191 - Restoration and Display of New York State's Military Battle Flags.

§ 191. Restoration  and  display  of  New York state's military battle flags. 1. There is hereby established within the  division  of  military and  naval affairs a temporary advisory committee on the restoration and display of New York state's military battle flags (hereinafter  referred to  as  the  "committee").  The committee shall have thirteen members as follows: the adjutant general,  the  director  of  the  New  York  state military  heritage  museum,  the  commissioners  of education and parks, recreation and historic preservation and the director of the division of veterans' services, or their  designated  representatives,  two  members appointed  each  by  the  governor, speaker of the assembly and majority leader of the senate and one  member  each  appointed  by  the  minority leaders  of  the  senate and assembly and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Appointed members  shall  include  individuals with  experience  in restoration of historical memorabilia, expertise in military history, or a background in historical restoration or fine arts conservation. No appointed member shall be a member  of  the  executive, legislative  or  judicial  branch of the state government at the time of his/her appointment. The advisory committee shall  meet  at  least  four times a year. No members shall receive any compensation, but members who are  not  state  officials  may  receive  actual  and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.   2. The primary duties of the committee shall be to  conduct  a  study, make recommendations regarding the hiring of conservation personnel, and the  commencement  of  conservation and preservation of all the military battle flags in the state's possession. The committee  shall  elect  its own  chair,  vice-chair  and  secretary  from  among  its  members.  The committee's duties shall include, but not be limited  to,  conducting  a comprehensive  study  and  preparing a report including an evaluation of different conservation options,  a  professional  condition  report  and options  for  conservation  of  individual  items in the collection, and recommendations regarding the display and storage of the collection. The committee may:  (a) (i) establish project schedules and timetables;  project  expenses including an estimate of total conservation, display interpretation, and continuing  management  costs;  and propose a budget for the recommended expenses;  (ii) recommend specific conservation measures;  (iii) obtain a professional condition report and  photograph  of  each item in the collection; and  (iv) establish a plan for continuing management and conservation.  (b)  Recommend  hiring  consultants  as required, subject to budgetary limitations.  (c) Recommend hiring  a  professional  textile  conservator  or  other suitable professional to commence the conservation work within budgetary limitations  under the supervision of New York State's Military Heritage museum curator.  (d)  Coordinate  and  conduct  fund   raising   activities   for   the conservation,   preservation,  interpretation,  display  and  continuing management of the state's military battle flag collection, including:  (i) soliciting gifts, grants or donations of any kind; and  (ii) soliciting donations from businesses, individuals of all ages and organizations.   All monetary grants, gifts, or donations, shall be  deposited  in  the trust fund.  (e)  Advise  the  division  of  military  and naval affairs on matters related to the restoration and display of the  state's  military  battle flags.    3.  (a) There is hereby established the New York state military battle flags partnership trust fund (hereinafter referred to as "trust fund" or "fund"). The fund shall be in the joint custody of the state comptroller and commissioner of taxation and finance.  (b)   Moneys   in   the  fund  shall  consist  of  donations  and  any appropriations by the legislature  to  match  any  such  donations.  Any interest  received  by the comptroller on moneys on deposit in the trust fund shall be retained in and become part of the trust fund.  (c) Money in the fund may be used for restoration and display  of  the state's  military  battle flags. When all of the state's military battle flags have been restored and provision has been made  for  their  public display subject to the approval of the advisory committee, any remaining funds  are  to  be used as needed for the maintenance and display of the flags.  (d) The moneys of the fund shall be paid out on the audit and  warrant of  the  comptroller  on  vouchers certified or approved by the adjutant general of the division of military and naval affairs.   4. The committee shall file an annual report  of  its  activities  and provide  a  full  accounting of the New York state military battle flags partnership trust fund. This report shall be filed  with  the  governor, the  speaker  of  the  assembly and the majority leader of the senate no later than the end of each state fiscal year.