HLS 18RS-1970 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 51
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Creates the Ancestors Burial Ground and Cemetery
Preservation Commission
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create and establish the Ancestors Burial Ground and Cemetery Preservation
3 Commission to study and develop measures to preserve and protect unmarked and
4 historic burial grounds, graves, and cemeteries of slaves in Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, preservation of the burial grounds and cemeteries of slaves is significant
6because they represent not only an important part of the cultural heritage of Louisiana, but
7America; and
8 WHEREAS, although most burial grounds and cemeteries of slaves contain
9unmarked graves, the research uncovered from these burial places reveals information about
10how the people lived, their connections to each other and the surrounding community of
11plantations, and most of all, their connections to the descendants living now; and
12 WHEREAS, most records regarding burial grounds and cemeteries of slaves are
13limited to plantation inventories and incomplete census records; nevertheless, these are
14sacred grounds that should be regarded as such; and
15 WHEREAS, the discovery of these grounds and cemeteries is instrumental in helping
16families trace their family roots; moreover, it is important that these sacred spaces are
17preserved and protected to ensure that the knowledge about the legacy of the enslaved and
18free people who worked on the plantations is preserved for future generations; and
19 WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana acknowledges the humanity of all the people
20buried in long-lost graves along the Mississippi River; and
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1 WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana also acknowledges their contributions to the
2economy and culture of this great state and this nation; and
3 WHEREAS, by acknowledging and protecting these sites, we are presenting a
4meaningful way to better understand the reality of slavery, which will hopefully give us a
5better understanding of the heritage and history of our friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
7create the Ancestors Burial Ground and Cemetery Preservation Commission to study and
8develop measures to preserve and protect unmarked and historic burial grounds, graves, and
9cemeteries of slaves in Louisiana.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be comprised of
11representatives assigned from relevant and interested state agencies and other relevant and
12interested parties, including but not limited to all of the following:
13 (1)The state archaeologist and director of the office of cultural development,
14 within the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, in the office of
15 the lieutenant governor.
16 (2)One member of the Louisiana House of Representatives appointed by the
17 speaker of the House of Representatives.
18 (3) One member of the Louisiana Senate appointed by the president of the
19 Senate.
20 (4) The chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus or his designee.
21 (5) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association or his designee.
22 (6) The chair of the Louisiana Cemetery Board or his designee.
23 (7)The executive director of Save Our Cemeteries or his designee.
24 (8) The president of the Le Comité des Archives de la Louisiane, Inc. or his
25 designee.
26 (9)The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
27 People (NAACP) Baton Rouge branch or his designee.
28 (10)The chair of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce or
29 his designee.
30 (11)One representative of the office of research and strategic initiatives of the
31 Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
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1 (12)The attorney general or his designee who is an attorney.
2 (13) The State Superintendent of Education or his disignee.
3 (14) The governor or his designee.
4 (15) One representative of the River Road African American Museum.
5 (16)Two representatives of the American Sugar Cane League.
6 (17)One representative of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
7 (18) One representative of the Louisiana Chemical Association.
8 (19) One representative of the Ascension Parish Tourism Commission.
9 (20) One representative of the Iberville Tourist Commission.
10 (21) Two representatives of the River Parishes Tourist Commission representing
11 St. James Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish, respectively.
12 (22) One owner of a plantation in the river parishes appointed from a list of three
13 nominees submitted by the River Parishes Tourist Commission.
14 (23)Three representatives of the general public who have demonstrated a
15 commitment to the preservation and protection of historic cemeteries
16 appointed from a list of five nominees submitted by Save Our Cemeteries.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission is assigned to the office of the
18lieutenant governor with staff support to be provided from existing personnel within the
19office.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state archaeologist and director of the office
21of cultural development shall serve as chair of the commission.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at the first meeting of the commission, the
23members may elect a vice chair and other officers as they may deem appropriate.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be domiciled in Baton
25Rouge but may hold public meetings elsewhere in the state.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall meet as necessary and
27shall serve without compensation and at no expense to the state.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that member vacancies shall be filled in the same
29manner as the original appointments.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the purpose of the commission shall be to
31analyze, develop, or identify, nonexclusively, all of the following:
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HCR NO. 51
1 (1)A cost-effective mechanism for cataloging unmarked and historic burial
2 grounds, graves, and cemeteries of slaves in Louisiana.
3 (2)Measures designed to protect the location of these sites from desecration.
4 (3)Local, state, and federal cemetery protection laws to determine rules and
5 regulations for the identification, protection, and preservation of such
6 grounds and cemeteries.
7 (4) Funding sources for the preservation and protection of these sites in
8 conjunction with the River Road African American Museum.
9 (5) Methods for incorporating findings into educational history for students in
10 kindergarten through twelfth grade.
11 (6) Strategies for incorporating historical sites as tourist attractions in this state.
12 (7) Proposed legislation intended to strengthen preservation laws.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a written report of
14its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation if necessary and reasons
15therefor, to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce,
16Consumer Protection, and International Affairs on or before February 1, 2019.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
18to the appointing entities named in this Resolution.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 51 Original 2018 Regular Session Brass
Creates the Ancestors Burial Ground and Cemetery Preservation Commission to study and
develop measures to preserve and protect unmarked and historic burial grounds, graves, and
cemeteries of slaves in the state of La.
Requires the commission to report its findings to the House Committee on Commerce and
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs by Feb.
1, 2019.
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