191 - Restoration and display of New York state's military battle flags.

§ 191. Restoration  and  display  of  New York state's military battle  flags. 1. There is hereby established within the  division  of  military  and  naval affairs a temporary advisory committee on the restoration and  display of New York state's military battle flags (hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "committee").  The committee shall have thirteen members as  follows: the adjutant general,  the  director  of  the  New  York  state  military  heritage  museum,  the  commissioners  of education and parks,  recreation and historic preservation and the director of the division of  veterans' affairs, or  their  designated  representatives,  two  members  appointed  each  by  the  governor, speaker of the assembly and majority  leader of the senate and one  member  each  appointed  by  the  minority  leaders  of  the  senate and assembly and shall serve at the pleasure of  the appointing authority.  Appointed members shall  include  individuals  with  experience  in restoration of historical memorabilia, expertise in  military history, or a background in historical restoration or fine arts  conservation. No appointed member shall be a member  of  the  executive,  legislative  or  judicial  branch of the state government at the time of  his/her appointment.  The advisory committee shall meet  at  least  four  times a year. No members shall receive any compensation, but members who  are  not  state  officials  may  receive  actual  and necessary expenses  incurred in the performance of their duties.    2. The primary duties of the committee shall be to  conduct  a  study,  make recommendations regarding the hiring of conservation personnel, and  the  commencement  of  conservation and preservation of all the military  battle flags in the state's possession. The committee  shall  elect  its  own  chair,  vice-chair  and  secretary  from  among  its  members.  The  committee's duties shall include, but not be limited  to,  conducting  a  comprehensive  study  and  preparing a report including an evaluation of  different conservation options,  a  professional  condition  report  and  options  for  conservation  of  individual  items in the collection, and  recommendations regarding the display and storage of the collection. The  committee may:    (a) (i) establish project schedules and timetables;  project  expenses  including an estimate of total conservation, display interpretation, and  continuing  management  costs;  and propose a budget for the recommended  expenses;    (ii) recommend specific conservation measures;    (iii) obtain a professional condition report and  photograph  of  each  item in the collection; and    (iv) establish a plan for continuing management and conservation.    (b)  Recommend  hiring  consultants  as required, subject to budgetary  limitations.    (c) Recommend hiring  a  professional  textile  conservator  or  other  suitable professional to commence the conservation work within budgetary  limitations  under the supervision of New York State's Military Heritage  museum curator.    (d)  Coordinate  and  conduct  fund   raising   activities   for   the  conservation,   preservation,  interpretation,  display  and  continuing  management of the state's military battle flag collection, including:    (i) soliciting gifts, grants or donations of any kind; and    (ii) soliciting donations from businesses, individuals of all ages and  organizations.    All monetary grants, gifts, or donations, shall be  deposited  in  the  trust fund.    (e)  Advise  the  division  of  military  and naval affairs on matters  related to the restoration and display of the  state's  military  battle  flags.3.  (a) There is hereby established the New York state military battle  flags partnership trust fund (hereinafter referred to as "trust fund" or  "fund"). The fund shall be in the joint custody of the state comptroller  and commissioner of taxation and finance.    (b)   Moneys   in   the  fund  shall  consist  of  donations  and  any  appropriations by the legislature to match  any  such  donations.    Any  interest  received  by the comptroller on moneys on deposit in the trust  fund shall be retained in and become part of the trust fund.    (c) Money in the fund may be used for restoration and display  of  the  state's  military  battle flags. When all of the state's military battle  flags have been restored and provision has been made  for  their  public  display subject to the approval of the advisory committee, any remaining  funds  are  to  be used as needed for the maintenance and display of the  flags.    (d) The moneys of the fund shall be paid out on the audit and  warrant  of  the  comptroller  on  vouchers certified or approved by the adjutant  general of the division of military and naval affairs.    4. The committee shall file an annual report  of  its  activities  and  provide  a  full  accounting of the New York state military battle flags  partnership trust fund.  This report shall be filed with  the  governor,  the  speaker  of  the  assembly and the majority leader of the senate no  later than the end of each state fiscal year.