18A:4-46 Duties of commission relative to Institute of Italian and Italian American Heritage Studies.

5. a. The commission shall 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 responsibilities as identified in section 3 of this act, P.L.2001, c.343 (C.18A:4-44). 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.

b. The commission shall 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 mission of the commission.

c. The institute shall have the authority to raise private funds and obtain public funds to be used toward scholarships, grants and studies in the field of Italian and/or Italian American studies.

d. The commission shall appoint an Advisory Council to the commission and institute. 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.

L.2001,c.343,s.5.

18A:4-47 Findings, declarations relative to Latino and Hispanic heritage cultural and educational programs.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. New Jersey is home to a significant number of people of Latino and Hispanic descent, representing 19% of the State's total population. Several municipalities in the State have Hispanic majority populations, and Latinos and Hispanics constitute one-third of the population of Newark, the largest city in the State. Parts of Hudson County, including West New York and Union City, have been nicknamed "Havana on the Hudson" for the large number of Cuban exiles and emigres living there.

b. The histories of our nation and our State have been significantly enriched by the heritage of Latinos and people of Hispanic descent. Our nation and our State have benefitted substantially from the influences and contributions of these men, women, and children and their distinctive culture, history, and heritage.

c. It is desirable to educate our citizens about the positive aspects of the culture, music, art, language, history, and people of Latino and Hispanic heritage.

d. It is the policy of the State of New Jersey that the culture, history, and heritage of people of Latino and Hispanic descent are a proper concern for all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools of this State.

e. 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 people of Latino and Hispanic descent be conducted at the high schools and institutions of higher education in this State.

f. It is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission to survey, design, encourage, and promote the implementation of Latino and Hispanic 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 people of Latino and Hispanic descent on a regular basis throughout the State.

L.2019, c.321, s.1.