Chapter 12-L: Mcauliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

In this chapter:

I. "Corporation" means the McAuliffe-Shepard discovery center corporation, incorporated in New Hampshire in May 2012 as an independent nonprofit operation responsible for the management and operation of the discovery center beginning in January 1, 2013.

II. "Discovery center" means the McAuliffe-Shepard discovery center, which includes the planetarium, science museum, and grounds located at 2 Institute Drive in Concord, New Hampshire.

III. "Planetarium" means the discovery center planetarium.

The McAuliffe-Shepard discovery center is the official state memorial for Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the Concord, New Hampshire social studies teacher who was chosen to be America's first teacher in space. The discovery center is also the official state memorial for Alan B. Shepard, the Derry, New Hampshire native who was the first American in space. The discovery center's mission is to educate, incite, and entertain learners of all ages in the sciences and humanities by actively engaging them in the exploration of astronomy, aviation, and earth and space science.

I. The corporation is a body politic and corporate which has a distinct legal existence separate from the state and does not constitute a department of state government. The corporation was established to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

II. The corporation, by the board of directors, may manage and operate the McAuliffe-Shepard discovery center beginning January 1, 2013.

I. Ownership of the discovery center equipment, software, buildings, and grounds shall be retained by the state.

II. The state shall retain responsibility for all debt service incurred by the discovery center prior to January 1, 2013.

III. The state shall assume buildings and grounds routine maintenance and repair costs up to an amount appropriated by the general court, which shall not exceed $70,000 annually.

IV. The state shall enter into a 10-year, renewable lease with the corporation to occupy and operate the discovery center buildings and grounds and utilize the equipment and software beginning on January 1, 2013, at a charge of $1 per year. Either party may terminate this lease with 90 days notice if the other party fails to make a good faith effort to meet all of its obligations under RSA 12-L.

The annual lease to the corporation shall include the use of all exhibits and equipment owned by the discovery center on December 31, 2012. The state shall allow the corporation, at its own expense, to make any upgrades to the equipment, software, and exhibits the corporation deems necessary.

All publicly available donor, visitor, and program records and archival materials owned by the discovery center on December 31, 2012, shall continue to be available to the public and to the corporation.