Before 1995 the Capitol Complex had two committees which had general powers over the inside and outside of the Capitol Complex. The Capitol Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, had general powers over the inside of the Capitol Building. The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission (CGPC) worked with the State Council on the Arts and developed and modified long-term plans for the development of the Capitol grounds. In the 1995 Legislative session, they combined the two commissions.
Since 1995, the Capitol Grounds Planning Commission membership consists of the Lieutenant Governor as Chairman and the other members are selected biennially. The Governor appoints two citizens, one licensed architect, and one representative from the State Historical Society; the President of the Senate appoints two senators; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints two representatives. Appointment to the commission is for a two-year term. A representative from OMB's Facility Management Division acts as the secretary for the Commission.
The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission worked with the State Council on the Arts with respect to the artistic value of monuments, memorials, or works or art to be constructed at the Capitol Complex. The CGPC develops and modifies long-term plans for the development of the Capitol grounds. They approve or disapprove the basic style and exterior construction of any building, facility, monument, memorial, or work of art constructed at the Capitol Complex. The commission has exclusive authority to accept or reject gifts of any type or class of property for exterior placement at the Capitol Complex, or for the improvement of the exterior construction of any building or facility at the Capitol Complex. No construction or placement of an item at the Capitol Complex may be undertaken without the approval of the commission, unless the construction or placement is authorized by the legislative assembly. If the legislative assembly authorizes the construction or placement of an item at the Capitol Complex, the commission approves the site, basic style, and exterior construction of the item.
The CGPC meets whenever major interior changes, including new construction, remodeling or renovation of any kind, are proposed or considered for the buildings or facilities at the Capitol Complex. The commission must be consulted before the purchase or installation of furniture or fixtures in public areas of the Capitol and other buildings at the Capitol Complex.
The CGPC has general powers to administer the Capitol Building Fund. The commission may cause any lands now held in such funds to be sold at market value, direct the conversion of any securities now held by such funds to cash, approve expenditures from such funds subject to law and legislative appropriations. The Board of University and School Lands or its designee, manages the investment and the Capitol Building Fund and its interest and income fund and reports to the commission.
All moneys and other property in the Capitol Building Fund are reserved for the exclusive purpose of the construction of an addition to the legislative wing of the State Capitol Building. The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission takes necessary steps to accumulate and conserve the money and property in the Capitol Building Fund for this purpose.