State lawmakers want to invest $1.6 million into Juneteenth Day programming – The Nevada Independent
Juneteenth marks the historic moment that the last recorded enslaved Africans were freed by soldiers in Galveston, Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The newly recognized national holiday acknowledges the more than 250 years of enslavement endured by generations of Black families.
thenevadaindependent.com
Nevadans could see state-backed Juneteenth Day programming, events and entertainment across the state to celebrate the day that all people in the U.S. allegedly became free.
Juneteenth marks the historic moment that the last recorded enslaved Africans were freed by soldiers in Galveston, Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The newly recognized national holiday acknowledges the more than 250 years of enslavement endured by generations of Black families.
AB409, sponsored by Assemblywoman Claire Thomas (D-North Las Vegas), seeks to establish the Juneteenth Education and Economic Commission within the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs as well as create a fund within the treasurer’s office to support endeavors that spread awareness about the holiday and African American history.
“This is one of those bills that’s really a twofer for us,” said Assemblywoman Leslie Cohen (D-Las Vegas) at an Assembly Revenue Committee hearing earlier this month. “It’s really important for us to learn our American history and bring tourism into the state.”
The policy passed out of its first committee last week, with three Republicans voting in opposition.
Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill (R-Carson City) said endeavors that seek to further educate people about U.S. enslavement of Black people coming to an end are “redundant, repetitive and unnecessary.”
“Assemblyman Harvey Munford brought almost the identical bill in 2011 and we passed it, making Juneteenth a day of recognition, requiring the education and promotion of the incident,” he said.
Assemblywoman Danielle Gallant (R-Henderson) and Assemblyman Ken Gray (R-Lyon County) joined him in voting no.
The commission would be authorized to create and distribute marketing materials about the historic meaning of Juneteenth Day and develop partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and community groups to educate the public about the significance of Juneteenth Day.
The Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs estimates that programming could cost nearly $1.6 million for the biennium. Commissioners, who would be appointed by the governor, could earn $6,600 a year for participating.
The Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission would be composed of eight voting members:
One member from the African American studies department or similar cultural studies program at UNLV;
One member from the African American studies department or similar cultural studies program at UNR;
One member from the African American studies department or similar cultural studies program at Nevada State College;
One representative of Juneteenth Nevada or any successor nonprofit organization in this state whose mission focused on Juneteenth Day education, unity and diversity;
One member who represents a professional association representing African American businesses;
One member who represents an African American cultural awareness advocacy group;
One member who represents an educational advocacy group with a statewide presence, and
One member who represents a cultural history organization in Nevada.
The bill was amended so that the commission would include one representative from the office of the governor and adding Assemblywoman Erica Mosca (D-Las Vegas) as a primary sponsor.
Thomas also sponsored a measure this session that would make Juneteenth a legal state-paid holiday in Nevada. The bill passed out of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee in March.
This story was updated at 10 A.M. on April 24, 2023, to reflect that not all enslaved persons were freed on June 19, 1865.
The Nevada Independent is a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization. We are committed to transparency and disclose all our donors. The following people or entities mentioned in this article are financial supporters of our work:
Naoka Foreman is a general assignment reporter at The Nevada Independent.
A.B. 409
-
*AB409*
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 409–ASSEMBLYWOMAN THOMAS
MARCH 27, 2023
____________
Referred to Committee on Revenue
SUMMARY—Creates the Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission. (BDR 18-982)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Yes.
~
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to cultural affairs; creating and setting forth the duties of the Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission; creating the Juneteenth Educational and Economic Fund; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law creates the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs whose 1 duties include, without limitation, the oversight of plans for tourism, publications 2 and cultural affairs. (NRS 231.167, 231.220) Section 7 of this bill creates the 3 Juneteenth Education and Economic Commission within the Department of 4 Tourism and Cultural Affairs and provides that the membership of the Commission 5 consists of: (1) three members, each of whom is from the African American studies 6 department or similar cultural studies program at the Nevada State College, the 7 University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the University of Nevada, Reno; (2) one 8 representative of Juneteenth Nevada, or a similar nonprofit organization in this 9 State whose mission is focused on Juneteenth education, unity and diversity; (3) 10 one member who represents a professional association representing African-11 American businesses; (4) one member who represents an African American cultural 12 awareness advocacy group; (5) one member who represents an educational 13 advocacy group with a statewide presence; and (6) one member who represents a 14 cultural history organization in this State. Section 7 of this bill requires the 15 Department to provide administrative support to the Commission. 16
Section 8 of this bill sets forth the duties of the Commission, which are to: (1) 17 create and distribute written, electronic or printed materials to educate the public on 18 the history and meaning of Juneteenth Day in the State of Nevada and the United 19 States; (2) develop strategies with businesses, nonprofit organizations and 20 community groups to support education on the significance of Juneteenth Day; (3) 21 support the efforts of businesses, community groups and local governments to 22 establish events and programs relating to Juneteenth Day throughout the State; and 23 (4) support programs in the arts to celebrate Juneteenth Day. 24
– 2 –
-
*AB409*
Section 9 of this bill creates the Juneteenth Education 25 and Economic Fund for
26 the support of the Commission.
27 Sections 3-6 of this bill define certain terms.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Chapter 231 of NRS is hereby amended by adding
2 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this
3 act.
4 Sec. 2. As used in sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act, unless
5 the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in
6 sections 3 to 6, inclusive, of this act have the meanings ascribed to
7 them in those sections.
8 Sec. 3. “Commission” means the Juneteenth Educational
9 and Economic Commission created by section 7 of this act.
10 Sec. 4. “Department” means the Department of Tourism and
11 Cultural Affairs.
12 Sec. 5. “Director” means the Director of the Department.
13 Sec. 6. “Fund” means the Juneteenth Educational and
14 Economic Fund created by section 9 of this act.
15 Sec. 7. 1. The Juneteenth Educational and Economic
16 Commission is hereby created within the Department.
17 2. The Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission is
18 composed of:
19 (a) Eight voting members appointed by the Governor based on
20 recommendations from the Director, as follows:
21 (1) One member from the African American studies
22 department or similar cultural studies program at the University of
23 Nevada, Las Vegas;
24 (2) One member from the African American studies
25 department or similar cultural studies program at the University of
26 Nevada, Reno;
27 (3) One member from the African American studies
28 department or similar cultural studies program at the Nevada
29 State College;
30 (4) One representative of Juneteenth Nevada or any
31 successor nonprofit organization in this State whose mission is
32 focused on Juneteenth Day education, unity and diversity;
33 (5) One member who represents a professional association
34 representing African-American businesses;
35 (6) One member who represents an African American
36 cultural awareness advocacy group;
37 (7) One member who represents an educational advocacy
38 group with a statewide presence; and
– 3 –
-
*AB409*
(8) One member 1 who represents a cultural history
2 organization in this State.
3 (b) The following ex officio, nonvoting members:
4 (1) A representative of the Nevada Arts Council; and
5 (2) A representative of the Division Museums and History.
6 3. The term of each voting member of the Commission is 4
7 years. Members may be reappointed for additional terms of 4
8 years. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the
9 Commission must be filled in the same manner as the original
10 appointment.
11 4. The Commission shall meet once each calendar quarter. At
12 the first regular meeting of each year, the members of the
13 Commission shall select a Chair and Vice Chair by majority vote
14 who shall serve until the next Chair and Vice Chair is elected.
15 5. A majority of members of the Commission constitutes a
16 quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority of those
17 members present at any meeting is sufficient for any official
18 action taken by the Commission.
19 6. While engaged in the business of the Commission, each
20 member is entitled to receive:
21 (a) A salary of $80 per day for each day’s attendance at each
22 meeting of the Commission; and
23 (b) The per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for
24 state officers and employees generally.
25 7. The Department shall provide administrative support to the
26 Commission as necessary for the Commission to carry out its
27 duties.
28 Sec. 8. 1. The Commission shall:
29 (a) Create and distribute written, electronic or printed
30 materials to educate the public on the history and meaning of
31 Juneteenth Day in the State of Nevada and the United States;
32 (b) Develop strategies with businesses, nonprofit organizations
33 and community groups to support education in this State on the
34 significance of Juneteenth Day;
35 (c) Support the efforts of businesses, community groups and
36 local governments to establish events and programs relating to
37 Juneteenth Day throughout the State; and
38 (d) Support programs in the arts to celebrate Juneteenth Day.
39 2. On or before July 1 of each year, the Commission shall
40 submit a written report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel
41 Bureau for submission to the Legislature, or if the Legislature is
42 not in session, the Legislative Commission. The report must
43 include, without limitation, a summary of the work of the
44 Commission during the past fiscal year and any recommendations
– 4 –
-
*AB409*
for legislation to improve 1 awareness of Juneteenth Day and
2 African American history in this State.
3 Sec. 9. 1. There is hereby created the Juneteenth
4 Educational and Economic Fund in the State Treasury, to be
5 administered by the Director, for the support of the Commission.
6 2. Any interest earned on money in the Fund must be credited
7 to the Fund.
8 3. Money that remains in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year
9 does not revert to the State General Fund, and the balance in the
10 Fund must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.
11 4. The Director may accept gifts, bequests, grants,
12 appropriations and donations from any source for deposit in the
13 Fund.
14 Sec. 10. The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 218D.380 do
15 not apply to any provision of this act which adds or revises a
16 requirement to submit a report to the Legislature.
17 Sec. 11. This act becomes effective upon passage and
18 approval.