1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a 250th Anniversary Commemoration 
1.3 	Commission; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 138.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [138.913] 250TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. (a) The 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission 
1.8 	is created within the Minnesota Humanities Center to execute commemorative and 
1.9 	educational activities, events, and celebrations related to the 250th anniversary of the 
1.10 	founding of the United States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence of 1776. The 
1.11 	commission shall:
1.12 	(1) develop a comprehensive plan for promoting and celebrating the 250th anniversary 
1.13 	of the founding of the United States;
1.14 	(2) identify all opportunities for individuals, municipalities, or other entities across the 
1.15 	state to participate in celebrations of the anniversary and recognize the particular history of 
1.16 	their geographic areas; and
1.17 	(3) promote underrepresented voices in the founding of the country, including but not 
1.18 	limited to women, American Indians, and persons of color.
1.19 	(b) The 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission is the point of contact for state 
1.20 	and national organizations and events related to the 250th anniversary.
1.21 		Subd. 2.Commission members. (a) The commission shall include the following 
1.22 	members:
2.1 	(1) director of the Minnesota Historical Society, or designee;
2.2 	(2) State Historic Preservation Officer, or designee;
2.3 	(3) chief executive officer of the Minnesota Humanities Center, or designee;
2.4 	(4) executive director of the Minnesota Arts Board, or designee;
2.5 	(5) director of Explore Minnesota for the tourism industry, or designee;
2.6 	(6) executive director of Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission, or designee;
2.7 	(7) chair of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota Colleges and Universities, or designee;
2.8 	(8) chair of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, or designee;
2.9 	(9) executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability, or designee;
2.10 	(10) executive director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, or designee;
2.11 	(11) one member from each of the federally recognized Tribes in Minnesota;
2.12 	(12) executive director of the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, or designee;
2.13 	(13) executive director of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, or designee;
2.14 	(14) executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, or designee;
2.15 	(15) Legislative Office on the Economic Status of Women designee;
2.16 	(16) Department of Veterans Affairs designee;
2.17 	(17) Department of Administration designee;
2.18 	(18) Office of the Governor designee; and
2.19 	(19) Secretary of State designee.
2.20 	(b) The director of the Minnesota Historical Society shall serve as the chair of the 
2.21 	commission. The members shall select a vice-chair and a secretary. Members shall receive 
2.22 	no compensation for the performance of their duties as members of the commission, except 
2.23 	members may receive reimbursement for expenses as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 
2.24 	3.
2.25 	(c) The Minnesota Humanities Center shall provide office space for the commission.
2.26 		Subd. 3.Powers and duties of the commission. (a) The 250th Anniversary 
2.27 	Commemoration Commission has exclusive authority to represent the state in official 
2.28 	dealings with the America 250 Foundation and the United States semiquincentennial 
2.29 	commission.
3.1 	(b) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and nonpublic 
3.2 	sources and may expend or invest any funds the commission receives. Any funds accepted 
3.3 	by the commission are appropriated to the state historical society on a continuing basis for 
3.4 	the purpose of supporting the commission's lawful activities.
3.5 	(c) The commission may coordinate and engage in semiquincentennial initiatives proposed 
3.6 	or undertaken by any public or nonpublic person and may initiate or propose 
3.7 	semiquincentennial activities for the state. The commission shall:
3.8 	(1) develop and promote plans for statewide recognition of the 250 years since America's 
3.9 	founding;
3.10 	(2) identify statewide and local community partners to provide local opportunities for 
3.11 	public discussion regarding the founding of our nation and the subsequent 250 years; and
3.12 	(3) identify prominent locations to display items that signify the founding of the United 
3.13 	States.
3.14 	(d) The commission may employ personnel and contract for services.
3.15 		Subd. 4.Expiration. This section expires on June 30, 2027.

3.16 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 3.17 	$....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general 
3.18 	fund to the Minnesota Historical Society for use by the 250th Anniversary Commemoration 
3.19 	Commission for the purposes of the commission in developing and promoting plans for the 
3.20 	250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.