[105th Congress Public Law 356]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ356.105]
[[Page 3267]]
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
[[Page 112 STAT. 3268]]
Public Law 105-356
105th Congress
An Act
To establish the Little Rock Central High School National
Historic <<NOTE: Nov. 6, 1998 - [S. 2232]>> Site in the State of
Arkansas, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: 16 USC 461
note [table].>>
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) the 1954 United States Supreme Court decision of Brown
v. Board of Education, which mandated an end to the segregation
of public schools, was one of the most significant Court
decisions in the history of the United States.
(2) the admission of nine African-American students, known
as the ``Little Rock Nine'', to Little Rock's Central High
School as a result of the Brown decision, was the most prominent
national example of the implementation of the Brown decision,
and served as a catalyst for the integration of other,
previously segregated public schools in the United States;
(3) 1997 marked the 70th anniversary of the construction of
Central High School, which has been named by the American
Institute of Architects as ``the most beautiful high school
building in America'';
(4) Central High School was included on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designated by the
Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark in
1982 in recognition of its national significance in the
development of the Civil Rights movement in the United States;
and
(5) the designation of Little Rock Central High School as a
unit of the National Park System will recognize the significant
role the school played in the desegregation of public schools in
the South and will interpret for future generations the events
associated with early desegregation of southern schools.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to preserve, protect, and
interpret for the benefit, education, and inspiration of present and
future generations, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and
its role in the integration of public schools and the development of the
Civil Rights movement in the United States.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC
SITE.
(a) Establishment.--The Little Rock Central High School National
Historic Site in the State of Arkansas (hereinafter referred to as the
``historic site'') is hereby established as a unit of the National Park
System. The historic site shall consist of lands and interests therein
comprising the Central High School campus and
[[Page 112 STAT. 3269]]
adjacent properties in Little Rock, Arkansas, as generally depicted on a
map entitled ``Proposed Little Rock Central High School National
Historic Site'', numbered LIRO-20,000 and dated July, 1998. Such map
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
offices of the National Park Service.
(b) Administration of Historic Site.--The Secretary of the Interior
(hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall administer the
historic site in accordance with this Act. Only those lands under the
direct jurisdiction of the Secretary shall be administered in accordance
with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National
Park System including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4) and
the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461-467). Nothing in this Act
shall affect the authority of the Little Rock School District to
administer Little Rock Central High School nor shall this Act affect the
authorities of the City of Little Rock in the neighborhood surrounding
the school.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--(1) The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with appropriate public and private agencies,
organizations, and institutions (including, but not limited to, the
State of Arkansas, the City of Little Rock, the Little Rock School
District, Central High Museum, Inc., Central High Neighborhood, Inc., or
the University of Arkansas) in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Secretary shall coordinate visitor interpretation of the
historic site with the Little Rock School District and the Central High
School Museum, Inc.
<<NOTE: Deadline.>> (d) General Management Plan.--Within three
years after the date funds are made available, the Secretary shall
prepare a general management plan for the historic site. The plan shall
be prepared in consultation and coordination with the Little Rock School
District, the City of Little Rock, Central High Museum, Inc., and with
other appropriate organizations and agencies. The plan shall identify
specific roles and responsibilities for the National Park Service in
administering the historic site, and shall identify lands or property,
if any, that might be necessary for the National Park Service to acquire
in order to carry out its responsibilities. The plan shall also identify
the roles and responsibilities of other entities in administering the
historic site and its programs. The plan shall include a management
framework that ensures the administration of the historic site does not
interfere with the continuing use of Central High School as an
educational institution.
(e) Acquisition of Property.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire
by purchase with donated or appropriated funds by exchange, or donation
the lands and interests therein located within the boundaries of the
historic site: Provided, That the Secretary may only acquire lands or
interests therein within the consent of the owner thereof: Provided
further, That lands or interests therein owned by the State of Arkansas
or a political subdivision thereof, may only be acquired by donation or
exchange.
SEC. 3. DESEGREGATION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THEME STUDY.
<<NOTE: Deadline.>> (a) Theme Study.--Within two years after the
date funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare and transmit
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a National
Historic Landmark Theme Study (hereinafter referred to as the ``theme
study'') on the history of desegregation in public
[[Page 112 STAT. 3270]]
education. The purpose of the theme study shall be to identify sites,
districts, buildings, structures, and landscapes that best illustrate or
commemorate key events or decisions in the historical movement to
provide for racial desegregation in public education. On the basis of
the theme study, the Secretary shall identify possible new national
historic landmarks appropriate to this theme and prepare a list in order
of importance or merit of the most appropriate sites for national
historic landmark designation.
(b) Opportunities for Education and Research.--The theme study shall
identify appropriate means to establish linkages between sites
identified in subsection (a) and between those sites and the Central
High School National Historic Site established in section 2, and with
other existing units of the National Park System to maximize
opportunities for public education and scholarly research on
desegregation in public education. The theme study also shall recommend
opportunities for cooperative arrangements with State and local
governments, educational institutions, local historical organizations,
and other appropriate entities to preserve and interpret key sites in
the history of desegregation in public education.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with one or more educational institutions, public
history organizations, or civil rights organizations knowledgeable about
desegregation in public education to prepare the theme study and to
ensure that the theme study meets scholarly standards.
(d) Theme Study Coordination With General Management Plan.--The
theme study shall be prepared as part of the preparation and development
of the general management plan for the Little Rock Central High School
National Historic Site established in section 2.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
to carry out this Act.
Approved November 6, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2232:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-307 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Oct. 2, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 8, considered and passed House.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 34 (1998):
Nov. 6, Presidential remarks.
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