Bill Text: NJ S1406 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes N.J. Historical Commission program for preservation and promotion of graves of significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period; appropriates $200,000.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S1406 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1406-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes N.J. Historical Commission program for preservation and promotion of graves of significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period; appropriates $200,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a program within the New Jersey Historical Commission to encourage preservation and public awareness of the graves of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that the freedoms Americans enjoy today would not have been possible without the heroic actions taken by the delegates to the second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776; that the grave sites of five signers of the Declaration of Independence, Abraham Clark, George Clymer, John Hart, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon, are located within this State; that it is the responsibility of the State of New Jersey to honor these men by encouraging the preservation of their grave sites; and that it is important to provide the people of New Jersey the opportunity to learn about the signers and their grave sites through the placement of historical markers and a public awareness campaign. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is also the responsibility of the State of New Jersey to honor other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period, both military and civilian, including those who fought on the side of the British, who are buried in New Jersey.
The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish in the New Jersey Historical Commission a program to encourage the preservation of the grave sites and to advance public knowledge of the lives of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period buried in New Jersey.
2. a. There is established in the New Jersey Historical Commission a program to encourage the preservation of the five grave sites of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the grave sites of other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period, as determined by the New Jersey Historical Commission, located in New Jersey and to promote public awareness of the lives of these individuals, their role in the history of the United States and New Jersey, and the location of their grave sites.
b. The program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall consist of such activities as the commission deems desirable and practicable and shall include:
(1) making grants for the preservation and maintenance of the grave sites of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period, and for historical markers or plaques to indicate the location of these grave sites, available to cemetery companies or religious corporations, societies or organizations that operate cemeteries, civic groups, historical organizations, religious organizations, veterans organizations and other non-profit organizations, counties or municipalities; and
(2) conducting a public awareness and education campaign, including printed and Internet-based information, designed to inform New Jersey residents and tourists of the lives of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period and the location of their grave sites.
c. The New Jersey Historical Commission may employ a program director and such other personnel as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act and as may be within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for this purpose.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the New Jersey Historical Commission the sum of $200,000 to implement the provisions of the program established pursuant to section 2 of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish a program within the New Jersey Historical Commission, the purpose of which is to (1) encourage the preservation of the grave sites of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period located in New Jersey, and (2) promote public awareness of the lives of these significant individuals and the location of their grave sites.
The program would consist of making grants for the preservation and maintenance of grave sites of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period and for historical markers or plaques to indicate the location of these grave sites. The grants would be available to cemetery companies or religious corporations, societies or organizations that operate cemeteries, civic groups, historical organizations, religious organizations, veterans organizations and other non-profit organizations, counties or municipalities. The program would also conduct a public awareness and educational campaign, which includes producing printed and Internet-based informational material designed to inform New Jersey residents and tourists about the lives of the signers and other significant individuals of the American Revolutionary period and the location of their grave sites.
This bill would appropriate $200,000 to the New Jersey Historical Commission for the implementation of this program.
