Chapter 17-I: Joint Legislative Historical Committee

There is hereby established a joint legislative historical committee. The committee shall consist of:

I. The senate president, or designee.

II. One member of the senate, appointed by the senate president.

III. The speaker of the house of representatives, or designee.

IV. One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

V. The majority leaders of the house of representatives and the senate, or their designees.

VI. The minority leaders of the house of representatives and the senate, or their designees.

The committee shall have the following responsibilities:

I. To purchase and restore historical items, including paintings and memorial plaques, for the state house, the legislative office building, and other buildings or facilities under the jurisdiction of the general court.

II. To oversee the historical fund established under RSA 177:8.

III. To research and record the history, background, and achievements of the general court.

IV. To accept and expend funds appropriated by the general court or received from any other source for the purposes authorized by this chapter.

V. To administer and enforce the collections policy established by the committee created in 1990, 41:1, for objects of historical, cultural, or artistic value, and recommend legislation as needed to implement this policy.

VI. To maintain a descriptive inventory and photographic collection of objects of historical, cultural, or artistic value owned by the state, using current best practices.

VII. To provide guidelines to all branches of state government relative to the acquisition, disposal, care, and interpretation of historical, cultural, and artistic objects.

VIII. To cooperate with other New Hampshire institutions and collecting agencies relative to the acquisition, disposal, care, and interpretation of historical, cultural, and artistic objects.

IX. To be responsible for the placement of portraits, flags, busts, statues, or other memorial objects within or on legislative facilities as defined by RSA 14:14-b in consultation with the division of historical resources, department of natural and cultural resources.

X. Overseeing the maintenance of the John G. Winant memorial.

The committee may appoint a state historian and determine his compensation.

The committee shall employ staff and consultants needed to carry out its responsibilities, to be paid from the historical fund.

There is hereby appropriated annually the sum of $25,000 to the joint legislative historical committee established in RSA 17-I for deposit in the nonlapsing historical fund established under RSA 177:8, II for the purpose of carrying out its statutory duties. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.