Bill Text: DE HB120 | 2015-2016 | 148th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Commission On Indian Heritage And Culture.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-15 - Stricken [HB120 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2015-HB120-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Rep. Baumbach & Rep. B. Short & Sen. Poore
	Reps. Briggs King, Keeley, Lynn, Matthews, Osienski, Paradee, Ramone, Wilson; Sens. Bushweller, Ennis, Hall-Long, Townsend

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 120

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE.

WHEREAS, India's rich cultural heritage has provided immeasurable contributions to world civilization including mathematics, specifically trigonometry, algebra, geometry, and calculus; medicine, in the forms of Ayurveda, anesthesia, and surgery; science, specifically physics, astronomy, and chemistry; spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism, yoga, meditation, and religious tolerance; sports and games, such as chess, cards, polo, judo, and karate; Sanskrit, the mother of all European languages; foods of many rich flavors, seasonings, and styles; the arts, such as dance, theatre, painting, music, and cinema; the non-violent teachings of Gandhi; the "Crown of Palaces," the Taj Mahal; and the charity of Mother Theresa, to name a few; and

WHEREAS, Delaware has substantially benefited from the influences and contributions of its citizens, who share an Indian heritage through business, healthcare, education, IT, engineering, and many more; and

WHEREAS, today, the Indian-American community is the fastest-growing and largest Asian-American group in Delaware, with 40% of all Asian-Americans being of Indian descent and a total population of more than 11,500 Indian-Americans; and

WHEREAS, the Indian-American community desires to hold, in a more organized way, health fairs for the community, engage Delaware's children in educational and volunteer events, arrange activities and social happenings for seniors, and continue to educate Delaware's children on various forms of Indian culture; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that programs, workshops, institutes, seminars, and other teacher-training activities for the study of the culture, history, and heritage of Indians and Indian-Americans be conducted at the various high schools and institutions of higher education throughout Delaware; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission to study, design, encourage, and promote Indian-related cultural and educational programs and events in this State.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 37. Delaware Commission on Indian Heritage and Culture.

§ 3701. Delaware Commission on Indian Heritage and Culture; creation and purpose.

The Delaware Commission on Indian Heritage and Culture ("Commission") is created to establish, maintain, and develop cultural ties between Indians and Indian-Americans; foster a special interest in the historical and cultural backgrounds of both groups, as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic life of the countries involved; and help study, establish, or promote programs or events that will provide appropriate awareness of the culture, history, heritage, and language of Indians and Indian-Americans.

§ 3702. Membership; qualifications; terms.

(a) The Commission shall consist of 9 members who are appointed as follows:

(1) Three members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Three members, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(3) Three members, appointed by the Governor.

(b) The members of the Commission shall be citizens of the United States descended from Indian ancestry and residents of the State.

(c) The members of the Commission shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

§ 3703. Organization; quorum.

(a) The Commission shall elect a chair at its first meeting in a calendar year and the chair shall serve until a replacement is elected. If the Chair becomes vacant, the Commission shall elect a new chair at its next meeting.

(b) The Chair of the Commission has all of the following duties:

(1) Setting a date, time, and place for the meetings of the Commission.

(2) Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, and other documents prepared by or on behalf of the Commission.

(c) If the Chair becomes vacant, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, shall fulfill the duties of the Chair in subsection (b) of this section until a replacement is elected.

(d) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the membership of the Commission.

§ 3704. Authority and support.

(a) This Commission shall fall under the authority of the Secretary of State and shall have such powers, duties, and functions as described in §3701 of this title and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor, the Secretary of State, or the General Assembly.

(b) The Commission shall be given office space as established by the Secretary of State.

§ 3705. Compensation and reimbursement.

The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incidental to their duties.

Section 2. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, shall set the date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting of the Commission.

SYNOPSIS

This Act creates a Delaware Commission on Indian Heritage and Culture.