2023 New York Laws › PAR - Parks, recreation and historic preservation › Title C - Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation › Article 19 - Historic Sites › 19.07 - People's History Project.

§  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.