The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Peter v. Kocot

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to preserving Polish heritage in the Pioneer Valley.

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PETITION OF:

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION

SEE HOUSE, NO. 1184 OF 2007-2008.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act relative to preserving Polish heritage in the Pioneer Valley.

                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Whereas, the Pioneer Valley is the home to more people of Polish heritage than any other area of Massachusetts, and

Whereas, public colleges and universities have suffered reductions in funding for studies of the arts and humanities during the past several years, and

Whereas, the documentation, preservation and research of this heritage and the contributions of the Polish people to the socioeconomic vitality of this region and the Commonwealth is an important public policy goal, therefore

There is hereby established a special commission to investigate and support the preservation of Polish culture and history in the Pioneer Valley.  The purpose of said special commission shall be to promote public support and funding of Polish cultural preservation activities in western Massachusetts, and to compliment those activities that acknowledge the contributions people of Polish heritage have made and continue to make to the Pioneer Valley and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said commission shall evaluate the public and private resources available to preserve and research Polish language, history, culture, genealogy and the immigrant experience.  Said commission will serve as a public clearinghouse for legislative and private efforts to secure additional funding for archival and educational efforts.

Said special commission shall be comprised of three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, of which at least two shall be of Polish heritage; two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President; three members appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the legislative delegation representing the Pioneer Valley, all of which shall be officers in Polish heritage or Polish genealogical organizations located in Hampshire, Hampden or Franklin counties and one member to be recommended by the chair of the Slavic studies department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Said special commission may receive funding through state appropriation for the purposes of this act, provided that a state college or community college located in the Pioneer Valley, may allocate meeting room space for the purposes of said special commission, and provided further, that the special commission shall file its report, including a fiscal note, with the Clerks of the House and Senate, the Chairmen of the House and Senate committees on ways and means, no later than March 1, 2010.