(a) There is created the Commission for the Celebration of 250 Years of Representative Government in Georgia. The commission is created for the purpose of ensuring a proper recognition of 250 years of representative government in this state. The commission shall be composed of the Secretary of State, three members appointed by the Governor, three members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three members appointed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall serve as chairperson. In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall include representatives of the Georgia Humanities Council, the Georgia Historical Society, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and other organizations, governmental bodies, and entities having an interest in the history and function of representative government in Georgia.

(b) The commission shall carry out the plans recommended by the Committee for the Celebration of 250 Years of Representative Government in Georgia, created pursuant to a resolution approved May 1, 2000 (Ga. L. 2000, p. 1892), coordinate appropriate measures, activities, and observances to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of elected representative government in Georgia, and recommend any actions or legislation which the commission deems appropriate. The commission is authorized to adopt a logo or mark and authorize its use in connection with events, projects, advertising, public service announcements, educational materials, and other appropriate uses. The commission is authorized to encourage, assist, and coordinate the activities of the departments, agencies, and educational institutions of this state and associations, societies, business entities, groups, and individuals to ensure an appropriate celebration of this anniversary and to provide coordination, advice, and encouragement to local governments and school systems in recognizing this anniversary. The commission shall promote and assist in the publicizing of the events surrounding the establishment of representative government in Georgia. The commission is authorized to enter into contracts with state and local governments, school systems, institutions of higher education, and private parties in connection with the powers and duties of the commission. The commission and the Secretary of State are authorized to accept gifts, grants, and appropriations from any source, public or private, and to use the proceeds therefrom for the purposes of the commission. Any funds of the commission remaining unexpended on January 8, 2002, shall be deposited in the general fund of the state treasury.

(c) The commission may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Code section.

(d) The members of the commission who are not otherwise employees or officials of the state are authorized to receive the daily expense allowance authorized by subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated for each day actually spent in attending meetings of the commission but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code section shall come from the funds appropriated or otherwise available to the commission or the Secretary of State for such purpose.

(e) The commission created by this Code section shall stand abolished on January 8, 2002. This Code section shall be repealed on January 8, 2002.