Public Acts of 1996 Chapter 812

COMPILER’S NOTE: The following act is a public act of special application and is not codified in Tennessee Code Annotated.

SECTION 1. The title of this act is, and may be cited as the “African-American Culture Awareness Act of 1996".

SECTION 2. Throughout America’s history as a nation, American culture has evolved and benefited from the countless contributions of a wide variety of people hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds. Many major contributions have been and continue to be made to this nation and its culture by its African-American citizenry.

SECTION 3. In each county having a population in excess of eight hundred thousand (800,000) according to the 1990 Federal Census or any subsequent Federal Census, by contract the Department of Education shall establish an African-American culture awareness program to create an awareness of the cultural contributions of African-Americans to a variety of disciplines, including the performing acts, literature, science, economics, government, and religion.

SECTION 4. The goals of the program shall be to foster self-esteem, cultural awareness, and educational excellence, by focusing on the diversity of African-Americans by highlighting cultural, historical, intellectual, and creative endeavors with local, state, regional, national, and international connections.

SECTION 5. One of the program components shall seek to prevent crime and alcohol and drug abuse by promoting proficiency and success while encouraging a sense of self-worth and self-identity in African-American children.

SECTION 6. In order to implement the goals of the program and furnish African- American children with knowledge of their history and sense of vision for the future, citizen groups shall be established within each of the county’s communities with a sizable African- American population.

SECTION 7. Within the county, a “Save the African-American Child” committee shall be formed consisting of advisors and coordinators from the public schools, businesses, civic and religious organizations, and community leaders and academicians. The multi-disciplinary committee shall address the needs of African-American children in a holistic manner – culturally, socially, psychologically, developmentally, and academically.

SECTION 8. The State appropriation for this program shall not exceed ninety-five thousand dollars ($95,000) during any fiscal year.

SECTION 9. The Commissioner of the Department of Education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 5.

SECTION 10. The provisions of this act shall be subject to the availability of funding provided for such purposes pursuant to the provisions of the State’s General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1996, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed: April 15, 1996.