Bill > H4562

This bill establishes a special commission tasked with preserving Polish heritage in the Pioneer Valley, a region in western Massachusetts. The commission's purpose is to foster public support and funding for Polish cultural preservation, acknowledge the contributions of Polish heritage individuals to the area and the state, and assess available public and private resources for researching and preserving Polish language, history, culture, genealogy, music, and the immigrant experience. The commission will consist of three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker (at least two of whom must be of Polish heritage), three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President, three members appointed by the Governor who are officers in Polish heritage or genealogical organizations in Hampshire, Hampden, or Franklin counties, a representative from the Polish Discovery Center in Chicopee, and one member recommended by the chair of Slavic studies at UMass Amherst. This commission is required to submit its findings and recommendations by July 1, 2017.