Bill > H704

This bill establishes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, creating a nine-member board appointed by the Governor, General Assembly leadership, and the Department Secretary. The Commission's primary responsibilities include preserving and promoting AAPI history, arts, and culture through activities such as advising the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources, developing educational programs, building a statewide network of interested individuals and groups, and creating initiatives to catalog and interpret AAPI heritage. Commission members will serve staggered three-year terms, with the initial board selected by October 1, 2025, and will receive no salary but will be eligible for per diem and travel expenses. The bill also appropriates $250,000 in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to support the Commission's operations, including funding for a director and associate director, with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources providing necessary administrative support. The Commission will be required to meet at least twice annually, with a majority of members constituting a quorum, and will have the ability to remove members for neglect of duty or misconduct. The act will become effective on July 1, 2025.