Section 50-12-143. (Repealed effective December 31, 2015) Membership and structure of commission; responsibilities

   (a) The commission shall be composed of 28 members as follows:

   (1) Thirteen members shall be qualified residents appointed by the commissioner after consideration of nominations submitted by the county commissioners of Baldwin, Bibb, Camden, Chatham, Crawford, Crisp, Fulton, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh, Pulaski, Telfair, and Twiggs counties;

   (2) Three members shall be qualified residents appointed by the commissioner after consideration of nominations submitted by the mayors of the City of Savannah, City of Macon, and the City of St. Marys;

   (3) Three members shall be employees of the Department of Natural Resources appointed by the Governor;

   (4) One shall be an employee of the Georgia Department of Defense;

   (5) One shall be an employee of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism Division;

   (6) One shall be an employee of the University System of Georgia from a department of history;

   (7) One shall be an employee of the Department of Education;

   (8) Four shall be qualified residents appointed by the commissioner, of whom:

      (A) One shall be recommended by the majority leader of the Senate;

      (B) One shall be recommended by the minority leader of the Senate;

      (C) One shall be recommended by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; and

      (D) One shall be recommended by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and

   (9) One member shall be appointed by the commissioner from among individuals with experience in the history of the War of 1812.

(b) Those residents of Georgia nominated by the Governor to serve on the National War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission shall ensure the coordination of efforts by the State of Georgia War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission with the efforts of the National War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

(c) The appointments of members of the commission shall be made not later than September 11, 2008.

(d) A member shall be appointed for the life of the commission.

(e) A vacancy on the commission:

   (A) Shall not affect the powers of the commission; and

   (B) Shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

(f) The commission shall act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the commission.

(g) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(h) The commission shall select a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among the members of the commission.

(i) The commission shall hold its initial meeting no later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the commission have been appointed.

(j) During the years 2008 through 2011, not less than three times a year the commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members of the commission.

(k) During the years 2012 through 2015, not less than two times a year the commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members of the commission.

(l) The commission shall:

   (1) Plan, encourage, develop, execute, and coordinate programs, observances, and activities commemorating the historic events that preceded and are associated with the War of 1812;

   (2) Facilitate the commemoration throughout the State of Georgia;

   (3) Coordinate the activities of the commission with appropriate private, city, and federal agencies including, but not limited to, the National Park Service and the federal Department of Defense;

   (4) Encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, religious, economic, tourism, and other organizations throughout the State of Georgia to organize and participate in the commemoration to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the War of 1812;

   (5) Provide technical assistance to counties, cities, localities, the Department of Natural Resources, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration and commemorative events;

   (6) Subject to available funds, direct the following regional development centers to coordinate the efforts of the participating counties within their respective regions: Coastal Georgia, Central Savannah River, Heart of Georgia, Atlanta Regional Commission, Southeast Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Middle Georgia, Middle Flint Lower Chattahoochee, South Georgia, and Southwest Georgia;

   (7) Subject to available funds, direct the aforementioned regional development centers to provide a calendar of events to the state Departments of Transportation, Economic Development, and Education no later than six months prior to the event date;

   (8) Design, develop, and provide, during the commemoration period January 1, 2012, through May 30, 2015, for the purposes of education and tourism, a website that shall include a calendar of commemoration festivities state wide and an explanation of events preceding and associated with the War of 1812 as it was prosecuted on Georgia soil, in Georgia waters, and by military and naval units associated with the State of Georgia deployed in other states or territories;

   (9) Design, develop, and provide, during the commemoration period January 1, 2012, through May 30, 2015, an exhibit that will travel throughout the state to interpret events of the War of 1812 for the educational benefit of the residents of and tourists to the State of Georgia;

   (10) Subject to available funds, direct the state archeologist to produce an inventory of historically significant structures and, upon completion of said inventory, execute surveys of sites associated with the War of 1812;

   (11) Subject to available funds, direct the state archeologist to produce, with the assistance of a state historian, an inventory of historically significant shipwrecks in Georgia waters and, upon completion of said inventory, with the cooperation of appropriate state and federal agencies, execute surveys of significant shipwrecks associated with the War of 1812 in Georgia waters;

   (12) Subject to available funds, direct a state historian to provide not later than July 18, 2011, information relating the location of battlegrounds, fortifications, historic sites, routes, trails, and other places of interest to the State Department of Transportation so that agency may produce a "War of 1812 Trail" map which shall be made available for the Georgia War of 1812 Bicentennial period: July 18, 2012, through March 16, 2015;

   (13) Subject to available funds, direct a state historian to compile for distribution to appropriate state historic sites and Georgia schools a pamphlet including the biographies of notable War of 1812 era Georgians: citizens, military figures, political figures, and namesakes for Georgia counties;

   (14) Ensure that the War of 1812 commemorations provide a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit leading to protection of the natural and cultural resources associated with the War of 1812; and

   (15) Examine and review essential facilities and infrastructure at War of 1812 sites and enable necessary improvements to enhance and maximize visitor experience at the sites.

(m) The commission shall prepare a strategic plan and annual performance plans for any activity carried out by the commission under this article.

(n) The commission shall have no authority to obligate state funds or to require any unit of state or local government to expend or obligate funds. Where any provisions of this article make any power or duty of the commission subject to availability of funding, such provisions are intended to make the exercise of such power or duty contingent on the commission having received grants, donations, or contract funds sufficient for such purpose.

Code 1981, § 50-12-143, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 730, § 1/HB 953.