253.375. 1. As a necessary adjunct to the operation and maintenance of this memorial and historic site, as herein provided, there is hereby created a state advisory commission, to be known as "The Thomas Hart Benton Homestead Memorial Commission", to consist of twenty members, ten members to be appointed by the director of the department of natural resources, five members to be appointed by the president pro tem of the senate and five members to be appointed by the speaker of the house. The appointees shall be selected from outstanding individuals, not restricted to citizens of the state, well-known for their interest in and knowledge of Thomas Hart Benton, his life and his work, and in addition thereto, the director of the department of natural resources, the chairman of the Missouri advisory council on historic preservation, which advisory commission, upon original appointment, is hereby empowered to organize itself and to elect its own officers for such term or terms as the commission shall from time to time determine. Any vacancy on the advisory commission shall be filled by the same official who appointed the person who left the commission thus creating such vacancy.
2. The commission shall be advisory to the division of state parks and recreation of the department of natural resources on all policy and administrative matters pertaining to planning, operation and maintenance, including museum activities, the employment of curators, staff employees or other persons, as may be needed.
3. The members of the commission shall not receive any compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, excluding travel expenses, incurred within the state of Missouri in the performance of their duties.
4. The commission is empowered, in behalf of the state, to accept gifts, contributions, bequests of unrestricted funds, from individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations or institutions for the furtherance of the objectives and purposes of this memorial.
5. The commission may request from any department, division, board, bureau, council, commission or other agency of this state such assistance and data as will enable it to properly carry out its powers and duties hereunder; and the director of the department of natural resources shall make provision for the staffing and servicing of the commission, and providing the necessary funding to carry out its duties, from funds appropriated or otherwise available to that department.
(L. 1975 S.B. 430 § 2)
Missouri General Assembly