(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services is authorized to maintain a headquarters of the Department of Connecticut United Spanish War Veterans, under the management and control of its state commander, and to collect, classify, index and install in said headquarters all available material, records, histories, relics and mementoes relating to Connecticut participation, public or private, in the war with Spain and thus establish a permanent record of its extent and character, such record to be as complete and comprehensive as possible and to cover not only the activities of the state, its subdivisions and agencies, but also of Connecticut agencies of the federal government, of organizations of private persons and of those individuals who were direct participants in said war, whether as soldiers or sailors or otherwise. Said record shall, at all times, be accessible under such rules as said department prescribes. Said department may also use said headquarters for furnishing information and aid to needy veterans of the war with Spain and their dependents. If, at any time, said department is dissolved or ceases to exist or becomes inactive, said records shall become the property of the state of Connecticut and shall be transferred to the department of war records of the State Library. The state commander of said department shall report biennially to the General Assembly upon all such matters concerning said organization as he deems of interest to the citizens of the state.

(b) Said commissioner shall provide and maintain in a building owned by the state a suitable room or rooms for the use of said department, together with suitable equipment and supplies therefor.

(c) Appropriations for this purpose shall not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars annually.