(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is a need for a state repository dedicated to the diverse contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of this state and the nation.

(b) The California African American Museum is a part of Exposition Park and coexists with the California Science Center.

(c) The California African American Museum is governed by a seven-member board of directors. The Governor shall appoint the seven members, at least four of whom shall reside within the boundaries of the 6th Agricultural District. In addition, the Senator representing the Senate district in which the California African American Museum is located and the Assembly Member representing the Assembly district in which the museum is located shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the board. The two legislative ex officio nonvoting members of the board shall participate in the activities of the board to the extent that their participation is not incompatible with their respective positions as Members of the Legislature. The appointees of the Governor shall be appointed to four-year terms with the initial terms of appointment expiring as follows: one term expiring January 1, 1984, one term expiring January 1, 1985, one term expiring January 1, 1986, and one term expiring January 1, 1987. The person appointed to the Advisory Board of the California Museum of African American History and Culture by the Board of Directors of the California Science Center before the amendments made to this section by Chapter 1439 of the Statutes of 1987 shall serve on the Board of Directors of the California African American Museum until the Governor makes the fifth appointment authorized pursuant to those amendments. The fifth appointment made to the board shall serve a term expiring on January 1, 1990, the sixth appointment shall serve a term expiring on January 1, 1991, and the seventh appointment shall serve a term expiring on January 1, 1992.

(d) The Board of Directors of the California African American Museum shall have the sole authority, subject to existing state laws, regulations, and procedures, to determine how funds that have been appropriated and duly allocated by the Legislature and the Governor for support of the museum shall be expended. The board also shall have the sole authority, subject to existing state laws, regulations, and procedures, to contract with any state agency, institution, independent contractor, or private nonprofit organization that the board determines to be appropriate and qualified to assist in the operation of the museum. The board shall further have authority to establish the operations, programs, activities, and exhibitions of the California African American Museum. The Board of Directors of the California African American Museum shall be solely responsible for the actions taken and the expenditures made by the staff of the California African American Museum in the scope and course of their employment.

(e) The Board of Directors of the California African American Museum shall appoint an executive director, who shall be exempt from civil service, and any necessary staff to carry out the provisions of this section, who shall be subject to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The California African American Museum shall submit its annual budget request directly to the Natural Resources Agency. The California African American Museum may accept grants, contributions, and appropriations from federal, state, local, and private sources for its operation.

(f) The California African American Museum shall preserve, collect, and display samples of African American contributions to the arts, sciences, religion, education, literature, entertainment, politics, sports, and history of the state and the nation. The enrichment and historical perspective of that collection shall be made available for public use and enjoyment.

(g) The California African American Museum shall use stationery and other supplies of the former museum and shall phase in the name change with existing resources.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 37, Sec. 10. (AB 1817) Effective June 27, 2018.)