Duties of the State Historical Society; reports by affiliates to the State Historical Society; and fees charged to support State Historical Society school and teacher services (suggested as remedial legislation by the State Historical Society)

Under current law, SHS may make “charges” established by its Board of Curators to partially defray the costs of the services that SHS offers to schools and teachers in this state. The bill clarifies that SHS may charge “fees” to partially defray those costs.

Under current law, local historical societies and other historical organizations may be incorporated as affiliates of SHS for certain purposes, including gathering and preserving materials and artifacts relating to local history. SHS must work with affiliates in the encouragement, stimulation, and development of worthwhile historical projects and undertakings at the local level. An affiliate, if approved by the Board of Curators of SHS, may file with the Department of Financial Institutions articles of incorporation as a nonstock corporation without paying a filing fee to DFI.

A nonstock corporation must file with DFI an annual report that includes 1) the name of the corporation; 2) the mailing address of its registered office and the name of its registered agent; 3) the mailing address of its current principal office; 4) the name and business address of each director and principal officer; 5) a brief description of the nature of its business; and 6) whether the corporation has members. A “member” is defined as a person who has membership rights in a nonstock corporation in accordance with the provisions of its articles of incorporation or bylaws.

Current law requires an affiliate of SHS to annually report to SHS the information specified in items 1 to 5, above. The bill requires the annual report to SHS to also include item 6, above.

Finally, the bill specifies that SHS's directive to preserve the memory of early pioneers and narratives of their exploits, perils, and adventures also applies to early residents.

For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.