PETITION OF:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

Mary S. Rogeness

George N. Peterson, Jr.

John A. Lepper

Viriato Manuel deMacedo

Paul K. Frost

Elizabeth A. Poirier

Robert S. Hargraves

Karyn E. Polito

Susan Williams Gifford

Richard J. Ross

Paul J. P. Loscocco

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

Todd M. Smola

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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Resolve establishing an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial commission.

There is established a temporary commission for the celebration of the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial, hereafter referred to as the commission, consisting of 13 persons as follows: three appointed by the governor; three appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; three appointed by the president of the senate; two by the house minority leader; and two by the senate minority leader. This commission shall cease to exist on May 1, 2010. Members shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees.

Members shall serve life terms. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the remainder of the term. The commission shall elect from among its members a chair and any other officers it deems necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

The commission shall have the following duties:

(1) study activities that may be carried out by the commonwealth to determine whether the activities are fitting a proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln’s birth;

(2) recommend to the governor and the general court the activities that the commission considers most fitting and proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on such occasion, and the entity or entities in the commonwealth the commission considers most appropriate to carry out such activities;

(3) recommend to the governor and general court a plan to carry out said activities; and

(4) carry out other related activities in support for these duties.

The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: to use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed; to select an executive director and to acquire adequate staff to perform its duties, subject to appropriation; to enact bylaws for its own governance; and to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may deem necessary.

The commission shall meet at the call of the chair. The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require. The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants, or bequests, or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this chapter. Such funds shall be deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by said treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.

The commission shall issue the following reports, in addition to any other interim reports deemed necessary by the chair:

(1) Not later than February 28, 2008, the commission shall submit an interim report to the governor and general court, containing (i) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the commission; (ii) the recommendations of the commission; and (iii) any other information that the commission considers to be appropriate; and

(2) Not later than April 30, 2010, the commission shall submit a final report to the governor and general court. The report shall contain final statements, recommendations, and information deemed appropriate by the commission.