2023 New York Laws › ACA - Arts and Cultural Affairs › Title U - Divisions of History and Public Records › Article 57-B - The Amistad Commission › 57.52 - Amistad Commission; Established.

§  57.52.  Amistad  commission; established. 1. The Amistad commission
  (commission), so named in honor of the group of enslaved Africans led by
  Joseph  Cinque  who,  while  being  transported  in   eighteen   hundred
  thirty-nine  on  a  vessel named the Amistad, gained their freedom after
  overthrowing the crew and  eventually  having  their  case  successfully
  argued  before  the  United  States Supreme Court, is hereby created and
  established. The commission shall consist of nineteen members, including
  the secretary of state or his  or  her  designee,  the  commissioner  of
  education  or  his  or  her  designee,  and  the chancellor of the state
  university of New York or his or her designee, serving ex  officio,  and
  sixteen  public  members.  Public members shall be appointed as follows:
  four public members, no more than two of  whom  shall  be  of  the  same
  political  party,  shall  be appointed by the temporary president of the
  senate; four public members, no more than two of whom shall  be  of  the
  same political party, shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
  and eight public members, no more than four of whom shall be of the same
  political  party, shall be appointed by the governor. The public members
  shall be residents of  the  state,  chosen  with  due  regard  to  broad
  geographic  representation and ethnic diversity, who have an interest in
  the history of the African slave trade and slavery in  America  and  the
  contributions of African-Americans to our society.
2.  Each  public  member  of  the commission shall serve for a term of
  three years, except that of the initial members so appointed: one member
  appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member appointed
  by the speaker of  the  assembly,  and  two  members  appointed  by  the
  governor  shall serve for terms of one year; one member appointed by the
  temporary president of the senate, one member appointed by  the  speaker
  of the assembly, and three members appointed by the governor shall serve
  for  terms  of  two  years;  and  two members appointed by the temporary
  president of the senate, two members appointed by  the  speaker  of  the
  assembly,  and  three  members appointed by the governor shall serve for
  terms  of  three  years.  Public   members   shall   be   eligible   for
  reappointment. They shall serve until their successors are appointed and
  qualified,  and  the  term  of  the  successor of any incumbent shall be
  calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent. A  vacancy
  occurring  other  than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same
  manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.
3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation  but
  shall  be  entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred
  in the performance of their duties.
4. The secretary of state, or his or her designee, shall serve as  the
  chair  and  the commissioner of education, or his or her designee, shall
  serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence of a majority of
  the authorized membership of the commission shall be  required  for  the
  conduct of official business.
5.  The department of education shall provide technical assistance and
  data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission  to  carry
  out its responsibilities pursuant to this article.