Italian American Heritage Commission By-Laws
Article I. NAME
The Commission is created and established in the Executive Branch of
the state government and shall be a permanent, independent body in but
not of the Department of Education. The name of this body shall be the
New Jersey Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Cultural
and Educational Programs, as created by
PL 2001 N.J.S.A. Chap.343,18A 4-42. Notwithstanding the Commission shall
be independent of any supervision or control by the Department of Education.
Article II. PURPOSE
It is the policy of the State of New Jersey that the culture, history
and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage are a proper
concern for all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools
of this State.
It is desirable to educate our citizens about the positive aspects of
the culture, music, art, language, history and heritage of Italians and
Americans of Italian Heritage.
It is appropriate and desirable that programs, workshops, institutes,
seminars and other teacher-training activities for the study of the culture,
history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage be
conducted at the various high schools and institutions of higher education
in this State.
It is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission
to survey, design, encourage and promote the implementation of Italian
and Americans of Italian Heritage cultural and educational programs in
this State, with responsibility for the coordination of events that will
provide appropriate awareness and memorialization of the culture, history,
heritage and language of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage on
a regular basis throughout the State.
Article III. DUTIES, POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Commission shall have the following duties, powers and responsibilities:
- To provide, based upon the collective knowledge and experience of
its members, assistance and advice to the public and nonpublic schools
of this State with respect to the implementation of Italian and Americans
of Italian Heritage cultural and educational programs;
- To meet with county and local school officials and other interested
public and private organizations, for the purpose of assisting with
the planning, coordination or modification of courses of study dealing
with issues, matters and subjects concerning or relating to the culture,
history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage;
- To survey and catalog the extent and breadth of Italian and Americans
of Italian Heritage cultural awareness and educational programs presently
being incorporated into the curricula and taught in the school systems
of this State; to inventory those Italian and Americans of Italian
Heritage exhibits and resources which may be incorporated into courses
of study at various locations throughout the State and, upon request,
to assist the State Department of Education and other educational agencies
in the development and implementation of Italian and Americans of Italian
Heritage cultural awareness and educational programs. In furtherance
of this responsibility, the Commission shall be authorized to contact
and cooperate with existing Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage
public or private nonprofit resource organizations and may act as a
liaison concerning issues and topics involving and relating to the
culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian
Heritage to members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives
and the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly;
- To compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to share
their knowledge and experience in classrooms, seminars and workshops
on subjects concerning and relating to the culture, history and heritage
of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage. These volunteers may
be scholars, clergymen, community relations professionals and other
persons who, by virtue of their experience, training or interest, have
acquired personal or academic knowledge of the culture, history and
heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage and who are
willing to share that knowledge with students and teachers;
- To coordinate events observing the culture, history and heritage
of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage and to seek volunteers
who are willing and able to participate in commemorative events that
will enhance student awareness of the significance of the culture,
history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage;
- To prepare reports for the Governor and the Legislature regarding
its findings and recommendations to facilitate the inclusion of Italian
and Americans of Italian Heritage studies and special programs memorializing
the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian
Heritage in the educational system of this State;
- To develop, in consultation with the State Department of Education,
curriculum guidelines for the teaching of subjects and topics concerning
and relating to the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans
of Italian Heritage;
- To assure, to the greatest extent practicable, each board of education
shall incorporate those guidelines as part of the curriculum for its
district's elementary and secondary school students;
- To create, establish and oversee the Institute of Italian and Italian
American Heritage Studies as an entity whose purpose is to assist the
Commission in implementation of its duties, powers and responsibilities
as identified herein. The Commission shall function as the board of
governors for the Institute. The Commission shall appoint an executive
director of the Institute who shall serve at its pleasure;
- To survey the New Jersey four-year universities and colleges that
have an advanced degree program in the fields of Italian and/or Italian
American studies and select one to serve as host to the Institute.
The Institute shall not be administered by the college or university
selected as the host site. The Institute will collaborate with and
otherwise engage, share and exchange resources with the higher education
community of New Jersey and work to establish mutually beneficial public
service programs and activities consistent with the purpose of the
Commission;
- To elect officers for the Commission;
- To establish committees and subcommittees to the Commission;
- To call upon any department, office, division or agency of the State,
or of any county, municipality of school district of the State, to
supply such data, program reports and other information, personnel
and assistance as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities
under this act;
- To call upon the New Jersey departments, offices, divisions and agencies,
to the extent possible, and not inconsistent with any other law of
this State, to cooperate with the Commission and furnish it with such
information, personnel and assistance as may be necessary or helpful
to accomplish the purposes of the Commission;
- To appoint persons to serve on the Advisory Council to the Commission
and the Institute or their committees. The advisory council shall consist
of individuals who have served prominently as spokespersons for, or
as leaders of, organizations in the Italian and Americans of Italian
Heritage community which serve members of religious, ethnic, national
heritage or social groups or who are experienced in the field of Italian
and Americans of Italian Heritage education;
- To appoint persons to serve on behalf of the Commission;
- To perform any other act as designated by the Legislature or determined
by this Commission consistent with N.J.S.A., et seq.; and
- To appoint an Executive Director.
Article IV. MEMBERS
Section 1. Members. Ex officio and public.
| (a) |
he Commission consists of 21 members, including the Commission
of Education and the Chair of the executive board of the President’s
Council serving ex officio and 19 public members. |
| (b)(1) |
Public members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate,
Speaker of the General Assembly and the Governor. |
|
Senate appointments. The senate president shall appoint five
(5) public members, at least one of who shall have a Master’s
degree in the area of Italian studies on language. |
| (ii) |
General Assembly appointment. The Speaker of the General Assembly
shall appoint five (5) public members at least one of who shall
have a Master’s degree in an area of Italian studies or language. |
| (iii) |
Gubernatorial appointments. The Governor shall appoint nine (9)
public members no less that four (4) of whom shall at the time
of their appointments have at least a Master’s degree in an
area of Italian studies on language. |
| (b)(2) |
Qualifications of Public Members. The members shall be residents
of the State of New Jersey, who serve prominently as spokespersons
for and/or as leaders of organizations in the Italian and Americans
of Italian Heritage. They shall be individuals who are active in
religious, ethnic, national heritage, or social groups or who are
experienced in the field of Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage
education. They shall be chosen to the greatest extent practicable
so as to afford the Commission with broad regional representation
and ethnic diversity and at least fifty (50) percent of the public
members shall be of Italian decent. |
| (iv) |
Terms. Public members of the Commission from each of the three
(3) appointed categories shall serve a term of three (3) years
except for the initial members, who shall serve as follows: |
|
One member each appointed by the President of the Senate; the
Speaker of the General Assembly; and the Governor shall serve for
a term of one year; |
|
Two members each appointed by the President of the Senate; and
by the Speaker of the General Assembly and three members appointed
by the Governor shall serve for terms of two years; and |
Two members each appointed by President of the Senate; and the Speaker
of the General
Assembly and four members appointed by the Governor shall serve for
terms of three years.
Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They shall serve
until their successors are appointed and qualified and the term of the
successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of
the term for that incumbent.
Section 2. Filling Vacancies.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment to complete the unexpired term.
Section 3. Compensation.
The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but
they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties.
Article V. OFFICERS
Section 1.
The officers of the Commission shall be a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer,
Secretary, and other officers as the Commission may designate.
Section 2.
All officers shall be elected for terms of one (1) year and shall serve
until their successors are elected. No officer shall serve for more than
three (3) consecutive terms in the same position. All officers of the
Commission shall be elected at the first regularly scheduled meeting
of the calendar year by a majority of the twenty-one Commission members.
Section 3. Chair
The Chair shall:
- Preside over all meetings of the Commission;
- See that all resolutions of the Commission are put into effect;
- Exercise general oversight and direction of the officers of the Commission;
- Call special meetings of the Commission whenever deemed necessary,
- Serve as ex-officio member of all committees;
- Notify the appropriate appointing authority of any vacancy which
occurs on the Commission;
- Recommend the formation of and appointment of members to such committees
as may be needed to effectuate the powers and duties of the Commission
for Commission approval;
- Recommend committee chairpersons for Commission approval;
- Serve as the only public spokesperson on behalf of the Commission
and shall speak only on those issues and policies on which the Commission
has deliberated and adopted a position. The Chair may designate an
alternative spokesperson from among the Commission members to speak
on behalf of the Commission on specific issues.
Section 4. Vice-Chair
The Vice-Chair shall:
- Perform the duties of the Chair in event of the Chair's absence,
resignation or I nability to perform the duties of the Chair;
- Assist the Chair in the performance of her/his duties.
Section 5. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
- Act as fiscal officer for the Commission;
- Submit a report at each meeting and an annual report;
- Recommend to the Commission for its approval by resolution, a budget
request to be submitted to the Legislature for an annual appropriation
to the Commission.
Section 6. Secretary
The Secretary shall:
- Establish an agenda in conjunction with the Chair for meetings of
the Commission and the Institute and ensure compliance with the Open
Public Meetings Act;
- Direct the taking of minutes and maintenance of correspondence and
records of the Commission in conjunction with the Office of Bias Crimes
and Community Relations, Division of Criminal Justice.
Section 7. Executive Director
The Commission shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve at
its pleasure and shall be a person qualified by training and experience
to perform the duties of the Office.
Article VI. MEETINGS
Meetings of the Commission:
- Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held not less than four
(4) times each calendar year.
- The Chairman shall call for each meeting, unless otherwise determined
by the Commission shall fix the time and place of the regular meetings.
The Commission may provide for additional regular and special meetings
by resolution adopted at any meeting.
- Advance notice effective upon mailing, shall be given to members
of any meeting of the Commission. Public notification of the meetings
of the Commission will be in accordance with the Open Public Meetings
Act.
- Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all Commission
meetings except when in conflict with these By-Laws or any law of the
State of New Jersey.
- Special meetings may be called at the request of 51% or more of those
currently appointed to the Commission, provided that all notifications
are made in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Article VII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Standing Committees of the Commission are:
Section 1.
Each of the Commissioners shall serve on at least one of the committees
established by the Commission and to provide direction and implement
the goals of that Committee as set forth herein. The Chairs of each Committee
shall report to the Commission at each of its meeting and submit an annual
report as set forth in Section 4 below. The
Standing Committees of the Commission are:
- School Curriculum and Education Committee. The purpose of this Committee
is to research, develop and disseminate an educational curriculum,
curricular guidelines and teaching materials for use in high schools
and institutions of higher education in the State of New Jersey, social
and cultural organizations and members of the public at large. This
curriculum shall be for the study of the culture, history and heritage
and language of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage. This plan
shall include methods of procuring the staff and resources required
to accomplish these goals.
- Community Relations Outreach Committee. The purpose of this Committee
is to compile a state wide list of community based Italian American
Organizations and reach out to these valuable groups to coordinate
events observing the culture history and heritage of Italians and Americans
of Italian Heritage and seek volunteers from these groups to participate
in commemorative events that will enhance the awareness of students
and all citizens in general of the significance of the culture, history
and heritage of Italians, and Americans of Italian Heritage. This Committee
should further encourage and cause these groups to interact with educational
institutes to promote awareness and education as to the achievements
and contributions of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage to
American western and worldwide civilization as a whole.
- Governmental Relations Committee. The purpose of this committee is
to investigate, seek out and coordinate with state, county and municipal
educational and other government agencies to obtain assistance in achieving
the goals of the Commission. This shall include finding administrative
office facilities and the logistic accommodations, which can be obtained
in the Department of Education by the Commission to hold meetings and
conduct the day-to-day business of the Commission.
- Institute Search Committee. The purpose of this Committee is to create,
establish and oversee the Institute of Italian and Italian American
Heritage studies, (the "Institute") which will work with
the Commission and coordinate its work with that of the Commission
to implement the Act as set forth more particularly in paragraph three
(3), subsections (a) through (g).
The Institute, as a model for replication, will serve the civic interests
of all American ethnic, cultural or foreign born population groups
that have community heritages and histories to be shared as a means
to demonstrate the value of educating all citizens regardless of race,
ethnicity, religion or cultural ancestry to recognize and appreciate
the contributions of all groups that have come to America to build
our great nation. The Institute will be governed by the Commission
and subject to the enabling legislative provisos and bylaws of the
Commission. The selected New Jersey college or university will house
the headquarters of the Institute wherein the Institute will make available
programs, perform research and network with other higher educational
institutions within this State. The productivity of the Institute will
become the basis and on going source of information and educational
services, for schools, for Italian American organizations and other
public, private and non profit entities allowing for entrepreneurship
to promote and enhance cross cultural understanding, international
exchange partnerships and inter institutional collaborations in the
USA and abroad. The Institute will be governed by its own bylaws which
will be set up in coordination with the within bylaws.
- Higher Education Committee. The purpose of this Committee is to survey
the New Jersey four-year universities and colleges that have an advanced
degree program in the fields of Italian and/or Italian American studies
and select one to serve as host to the Institute. The Commission through
the auspices of the Institute shall collaborate, share and exchange
resources of with the Higher Education Committee of New Jersey to establish
beneficial public service programs and activities in furtherance of
goals of the Commission. In addition to having an Italian Department
of recognized status in the fields of language, culture and teacher
preparation, the selected higher education institution will have a
demonstrated record of capability to conduct valid educational and
research services in a broad range of disciplines in the arts, sciences,
humanities, technology and business studies.
- International and Public Awareness Achievement Program Committee.
The purpose of this committee is to raise public awareness through
programs that demonstrate the current as well as the historic achievements
that Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage are making and have
made to western and worldwide civilization including but not limited
to the fields of science, technology, fashion, culinary arts, fine
and performing arts, medicine, trade and commerce, agriculture, literature
and philosophy, maritime, aeronautics and the space industry.
- Development and Funding Committee. The purpose of this Committee
is to e with the Institute to fundraise, generate and seek financial
resources necessary to supplement the appropriations from the general
finding so as to enable the Commission to hire staff and to implement
the interest of the Act. This Committee shall oversee and collaborate
with the Institute utilizing the 501 C3 status to seek fundings from
non-public sources.
- Sensitivity – Awareness Committee. The purpose of this Committee
is to monitor education curriculum, the news media, entertainment,
advertisement and popular culture in general and evaluate both positive
and negative stereotypical images being generated for public consumption
and address these on a case by case method to ensure that the images
of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage are accurately and honestly
being portrayed and that the goals and intentions of this Act are being
furthered.
Section 2. Special Committees.
Special committees may be appointed by the Commission for a stated period
to accomplish a specific purpose. At the end of that period, the Commission
shall decide upon the continuation of each special committee.
Section 3. Committee Chairs.
The Commission shall select the Chair of each committee, or if the Commission
delegates this authority from among and by the members of each committee.
Section 4. Committee Reports.
Each committee shall submit to the Commission a written annual report
of its activities, which shall contain any recommendations found by the
Committee to be necessary or advisable.
Section 5. Committee Expenses.
A committee shall not incur expenses on behalf of the Commission except
as authorized by the Commission, nor shall any committee commit the Commission
by any declaration of policy.
Section 6. Committee Formations.
The Commission may, by resolution adopted by the members at a meeting
appoint Commission members to a committee to fill a vacancy, abolish
a special committee, or remove a member of a committee without cause.
To abolish a standing committee, an amendment to the By-Laws is required
Article VIII. BY-LAWS
The By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Commission
by a two-thirds vote of the currently appointed members, provided that
the amendment has been submitted to the membership in writing at least
ten (10) days prior to that meeting.
Article IX. ACTS OF THE COMMISSION
All acts of the Commission shall:
- Be accomplished by resolution; and
- Require majority vote of those members present at the meeting in
which there is a quorum, consisting of ten (10) Commission members.
Article X. ACTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
Any act of any Commission member or committee shall not bind the Commission,
and shall be subject to Commission approval. No person or committee other
than the Commission may speak on behalf of the Commission without the
express approval of the Commission.
Article XI. CONFIDENTIALITY
The Commission shall hold confidential any information acquired during
the course of mediation or dispute resolution.
Article XII. SAVINGS CLAUSE
In the event any portion of the By-Laws is deemed to be contrary to
law or public policy, that provision will be deemed struck from the By-Laws
and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
