093_SB1363eng SB1363 Engrossed LRB093 10762 MKM 11161 b 1 AN ACT concerning historic preservation. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Act 5 is amended by adding Section 20 as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 3405/20 new) 7 Sec. 20. Freedom Trail Commission. 8 (a) Creation. The Freedom Trail Commission is created 9 within the Agency. The budgeting, procurement, and related 10 functions of the commission and administrative 11 responsibilities for the staff of the commission shall be 12 performed under the direction and supervision of the Agency. 13 (b) Membership. The commission shall consist of 16 14 members, appointed as soon as possible after the effective 15 date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The 16 members shall be appointed as follows: 17 (1) one member appointed by the President of the 18 Senate; 19 (2) one member appointed by the Senate Minority 20 Leader; 21 (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the 22 House; 23 (4) one member appointed by the House Minority 24 Leader; 25 (5) 9 members appointed by the Governor as follows: 26 (i) 3 members from the academic community who 27 are knowledgeable concerning African-American 28 history; (ii) one public member who is actively 29 involved in civil rights issues; (iii) one public 30 member who is knowledgeable in the field of historic 31 preservation; (iv) one public member who represents SB1363 Engrossed -2- LRB093 10762 MKM 11161 b 1 local communities in which the underground railroad 2 had a significant presence; and (v) 3 members at 3 large, one of whom shall be a representative of the 4 DuSable Museum and one of whom shall be a 5 representative of the Chicago Historical Society; 6 (6) the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs, 7 ex officio, or a designee of the Director; 8 (7) the State Librarian, ex officio, or a designee 9 of the State Library; and 10 (8) the Director of the Historic Preservation 11 Agency, ex officio, or a designee of that Agency. 12 Appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the 13 appointing authority. 14 (c) Election of chairperson; meetings. At its first 15 meeting, the commission shall elect from among its members a 16 chairperson and other officers it considers necessary or 17 appropriate. After its first meeting, the commission shall 18 meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of 19 the chairperson or if requested by 7 or more members. 20 (d) Quorum. A majority of the members of the commission 21 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a 22 meeting of the commission. A majority of the members present 23 and serving is required for official action of the 24 commission. 25 (e) Public meeting. The business that the commission may 26 perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the 27 commission held in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. 28 (f) Freedom of information. A writing prepared, owned, 29 used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission in 30 the performance of an official function is subject to the 31 Freedom of Information Act. 32 (g) Compensation. Members of the commission shall serve 33 without compensation. However, members of the commission may 34 be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses SB1363 Engrossed -3- LRB093 10762 MKM 11161 b 1 incurred in the performance of their official duties as 2 members of the commission. 3 (h) Duties. The commission shall do the following: 4 (1) Prepare a master plan to promote and preserve 5 the history of the freedom trail and underground railroad 6 in the State. 7 (2) Work in conjunction with State and federal 8 authorities to sponsor commemorations, linkages, 9 seminars, and public forums on the freedom trail and 10 underground railroad in the State and in neighboring 11 states. 12 (3) Assist in and promote the making of 13 applications for inclusion in the national and State 14 registers of historic places for significant historic 15 places related to the freedom trail and the underground 16 railroad in the State. 17 (4) Assist in developing and develop partnerships 18 to seek public and private funds to carry out activities 19 to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of the 20 freedom trail and the underground railroad in the State. 21 (5) Work with the Illinois State Board of Education 22 to evaluate, conduct research concerning, and develop a 23 curriculum for use in Illinois public schools regarding 24 the underground railroad, with emphasis on the activities 25 of the underground railroad within the State. 26 (i) Report. The commission shall report its activities 27 and findings to the General Assembly by February 1, 2004. 28 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 29 becoming law.