HB 659 2025
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hb659-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Florida Museum of Black 2
History; creating s. 267.07221, F.S.; providing 3
legislative intent; establishing the Florida Museum of 4
Black History Board of Directors; providing for the 5
membership of the board; requiring that appointments 6
to the board be made by a specified date; prohibiting 7
specified members of the board from holding state or 8
local elective office while serving on the board; 9
providing for the filling of vacancies; requiring that 10
the board work jointly with the Foundation for the 11
Museum of Black History, Inc.; requiring the St. Johns 12
County Board of County Commissioners to provide 13
administrative support and staffing to the boar d until 14
specified actions are completed; providing an 15
effective date. 16
17
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18
19
Section 1. Section 267.07221, Florida Statutes, is created 20
to read: 21
267.07221 Florida Museum of Black History Boar d of 22
Directors.— 23
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the 24
work of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force in 25
HB 659 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
selecting a location for the Florida Museum of Black History and 26
designating St. Johns County as the site for the museum. It is 27
further the intent of the Legislature, under the authority 28
provided in s. 267.0722(7), to establish a board of directors to 29
oversee the commission, construction, operation, and 30
administration of the museum. 31
(2)(a) The Florida Museum of Black Histor y Board of 32
Directors is established within the division and shall be 33
composed of the following members: 34
1. Three individuals appointed by the Governor, one of 35
whom shall serve as chair. 36
2. Three individuals appointed by the President of the 37
Senate. 38
3. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President 39
of the Senate and serving ex officio. 40
4. Three individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House 41
of Representatives. 42
5. Two member of the House of Representatives, appointed 43
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and serving ex 44
officio. 45
(b) Appointments must be made no later than July 31, 2025. 46
Members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (a)1., 2., and 4. 47
may not hold any state or local elective office while serving on 48
the board. Vacancies on the board must be filled in the same 49
manner as the initial appointments. 50
HB 659 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(3) The board shall work jointly with the Foundation for 51
the Museum of Black History, Inc., a nonprofit organization 52
created to support the creation of the museum. 53
(4) The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners 54
shall provide administrative assistance and staffing to the 55
board until the project planning, design, and engineering are 56
completed. 57
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 58