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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 Council on the Social Status of 2
Black Men and Boys; transferring, renumbering, and 3
amending s. 16.615, F.S.; establishing the council 4
within Florida Memorial University, rather than the 5
Department of Legal Affairs; requiring Florida 6
Memorial University, rather than the Office of 7
Attorney General, to provide staff and administrative 8
support to the council; providing that the council's 9
meeting times are approved by the president of Florida 10
Memorial University, rather than the Attorney General; 11
providing that members of the council may be 12
reimbursed for certain expenses by Florida Memorial 13
University, rather than the Department of Legal 14
Affairs; providing an effective date. 15
16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
18
Section 1. Section 16.615, Florida Statutes, is 19
transferred, renumbered as section 1001.216, Florida Statutes, 20
and amended to read: 21
1001.216 16.615 Council on the Social Status of Black Men 22
and Boys.— 23
(1) The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys 24
is established within Florida Memorial University the Department 25
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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
of Legal Affairs and shall be composed consist of 19 members 26
appointed as follows : 27
(a) Two members of the Senate who are not members of the 28
same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate 29
with the advice of the Minority Leader of the Senate. 30
(b) Two members of the House of Representatives who are 31
not members of the s ame political party, appointed by the 32
Speaker of the House of Representatives with the advice of the 33
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 34
(c) The Secretary of Children and Families , or his or her 35
designee. 36
(d) The director of the Mental Hea lth Program Office 37
within the Department of Children and Families , or his or her 38
designee. 39
(e) The State Surgeon General , or his or her designee. 40
(f) The Commissioner of Education , or his or her designee. 41
(g) The Secretary of Corrections , or his or her designee. 42
(h) The Attorney General , or his or her designee. 43
(i) The Secretary of Management Services , or his or her 44
designee. 45
(j) The Secretary of Commerce , or his or her designee. 46
(k) A businessperson who is an African American, as 47
defined in s. 760.80(2)(a), appointed by the Governor. 48
(l) Two persons appointed by the President of the Senate 49
who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state 50
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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
government. One of the appointees must be a clinical 51
psychologist. 52
(m) Two persons appointe d by the Speaker of the House of 53
Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or 54
employed by state government. One of the appointees must be an 55
Africana studies professional. 56
(n) The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency for 57
Health Care Administration, or his or her designee. 58
(o) The Secretary of Juvenile Justice , or his or her 59
designee. 60
(2) Each member of the council shall be appointed to a 4 -61
year term; however, for the purpose of providing staggered 62
terms, of the initial appointments , 9 members shall be appointed 63
to 2-year terms and 10 members shall be appointed to 4 -year 64
terms. A member of the council may be removed at any time by the 65
member's appointing authority who shall fill the vacancy on the 66
council. 67
(3)(a) At the first meeti ng of the council each year, the 68
members shall elect a chair and a vice chair. 69
(b) A vacancy in the office of chair or vice chair must 70
shall be filled by vote of the remaining members. 71
(4)(a) The council shall make a systematic study of the 72
conditions affecting black men and boys, including, but not 73
limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, 74
poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual 75
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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
income levels, school performance in all grade levels including 76
postsecondary levels, and health issues. 77
(b) The council shall propose measures to alleviate and 78
correct the underlying causes of the conditions described in 79
paragraph (a). These measures may consist of changes to the law 80
or systematic changes that can be implemented without 81
legislative action. 82
(c) The council may study other topics suggested by the 83
Legislature or as directed by the chair of the council. 84
(d) The council shall receive suggestions or comments 85
pertinent to the applicable issues from members of the 86
Legislature, governmental agencies, public and private 87
organizations, and private citizens. 88
(e) The council shall develop a strategic program and 89
funding initiative to establish local Councils on the Social 90
Status of Black Men and Boys. 91
(5) The council may: 92
(a) Access data held by any state departments or agencies, 93
which data is otherwise a public record. 94
(b) Make requests directly to the Joint Legislative 95
Auditing Committee for assistance with research and monitoring 96
of outcomes by the Office of Program Polic y Analysis and 97
Government Accountability. 98
(c) Request, through council members who are also 99
legislators, research assistance from the Office of Economic and 100
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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
Demographic Research within the Florida Legislature. 101
(d) Request information and assistance fro m the state or 102
any political subdivision, municipal corporation, public 103
officer, or governmental department thereof. 104
(e) Apply for and accept funds, grants, gifts, and 105
services from the state, the Federal Government or any of its 106
agencies, or any other p ublic or private source for the purpose 107
of defraying clerical and administrative costs as may be 108
necessary for carrying out its duties under this section. 109
(f) Work directly with, or request information and 110
assistance on issues pertaining to education fro m, Florida's 111
historically black colleges and universities. 112
(6) Florida Memorial University The Office of the Attorney 113
General shall provide staff and administrative support to the 114
council. 115
(7) The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at 116
the call of the chair or as determined by a majority of council 117
members and approved by the president of Florida Memorial 118
University Attorney General. 119
(8) Eleven of the members of the council constitute a 120
quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members 121
present is required for final action. 122
(9) The council shall issue its annual report by December 123
15 each year, stating the findings, conclusions, and 124
recommendations of the council. The council shall submit the 125
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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
report to the Governor, the Presiden t of the Senate, the Speaker 126
of the House of Representatives, and the chairpersons of the 127
standing committees of jurisdiction in each chamber. 128
(10) Members of the council shall serve without 129
compensation. Members are entitled to reimbursement for per die m 130
and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. State officers 131
and employees shall be reimbursed from the budget of the agency 132
through which they serve. Other members may be reimbursed by 133
Florida Memorial University the Department of Legal Affairs . 134
(11) The council and any subcommittees it forms are 135
subject to the provisions of chapter 119, related to public 136
records, and the provisions of chapter 286, related to public 137
meetings. 138
(12) Each member of the council who is not otherwise 139
required to file a fi nancial disclosure statement pursuant to s. 140
8, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144, must file a 141
disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. 142
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 143