Purpose of commission -- Duties and functions

(1) The Kentucky African-American Heritage Commission shall be dedicated to the preservation and protection of all meaningful vestiges of Kentucky's African- American heritage. (2) The duties and functions of the commission shall be to: (a) Advise the secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and agencies within the cabinet on matters relating to African-American heritage; (b) Encourage other public and private agencies within the areas of the arts, the humanities, and the sciences to incorporate the African-American influence when developing programs on the history and heritage of Kentucky; (c) Represent a network of groups and individuals interested or involved in promoting awareness of African-American heritage in Kentucky; (d) Advocate the preservation, conservation, and interpretation of significant buildings, sites, neighborhoods, documents, artifacts, and lifeways that represent and embody African-American heritage; (e) Recognize and sanction projects which advance wider knowledge of African- Americans' impact on life in Kentucky; and (f) Coordinate an initiative to protect, preserve, and promote the history of the Underground Railroad in Kentucky, in accordance with KRS 171.812.