Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1524 By Senator Grall 29-01072A-25 20251524__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to duties of the Department of State; 3 amending s. 257.031, F.S.; revising the entity that 4 accredits a specified library school program; amending 5 s. 257.12, F.S.; revising duties of the State Library 6 Council; authorizing the Secretary of State to review 7 and edit certain funding recommendations made by the 8 council; amending s. 257.17, F.S.; conforming 9 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 10 257.191, F.S.; requiring the secretary to ensure that 11 construction grant funds meet certain criteria and are 12 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to 13 submit a recommended list to the Legislature for 14 funding consideration; amending s. 257.23, F.S.; 15 requiring the secretary to ensure that construction 16 grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for 17 certain purposes; repealing s. 257.34, F.S., relating 18 to the Florida International Archive and Repository; 19 amending s. 257.42, F.S.; requiring the secretary to 20 ensure that library cooperative grant funds meet 21 certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; 22 amending s. 265.283, F.S.; deleting definitions; 23 amending s. 265.284, F.S.; replacing the term chief 24 cultural officer with the term chief arts and 25 culture officer; providing that the secretary is the 26 chief arts and culture officer of the state; amending 27 s. 265.285, F.S.; revising the membership of the 28 Florida Council on Arts and Culture; prohibiting 29 council members from receiving financial compensation 30 under specified circumstances; providing an exception; 31 revising duties of the council; amending s. 265.286, 32 F.S.; authorizing the Division of Arts and Culture to 33 accept applications for arts and cultural grants for 34 specified purposes; specifying eligibility criteria; 35 deleting review panel member appointments and 36 criteria; authorizing the secretary to review a 37 specified list to ensure that specified grant funds 38 meet certain criteria and are used for certain 39 purposes; requiring the secretary to submit a 40 recommended list to the Legislature for funding 41 consideration; providing activities and programs for 42 which the division may award grants; revising items 43 for which the division may adopt rules; prohibiting 44 applicants for grant funding from having substantial 45 interests for certain recommendations; requiring the 46 secretary to submit a recommended list to the 47 Legislature for funding consideration; providing 48 requirements for prioritized funding; providing an 49 expiration date for certain purposes; amending s. 50 265.2865, F.S.; authorizing, rather than requiring, 51 the council to accept and recommend nominations for 52 certain purposes annually; revising the number of 53 members the secretary may name to the Florida Artists 54 Hall of Fame in any nomination year; authorizing, 55 rather than requiring, the secretary to annually 56 request an appropriation for certain purposes; 57 amending s. 265.701, F.S.; revising the purposes for 58 which grant funds may be used; authorizing the 59 secretary to review a specified list to ensure that 60 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are 61 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to 62 make certain recommendations to the Legislature before 63 a certain date; amending s. 265.703, F.S.; revising 64 the programs for which citizen support organizations 65 may provide support; amending s. 265.803, F.S.; 66 revising the programmatic set-up and functions of the 67 Florida Folklife Council; amending s. 267.0612, F.S.; 68 requiring the secretary to review special category 69 historic preservation grants-in-aid recommendations of 70 the Florida Historical Commission; amending s. 71 267.0617, F.S.; deleting a provision that requires 72 certain funds to be credited to the Historical 73 Resources Operating Trust Fund; authorizing the 74 secretary to review specified lists to ensure that 75 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are 76 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to 77 submit recommended lists to the Legislature for 78 funding consideration; repealing s. 267.0722, F.S., 79 relating to the Florida Museum of Black History; 80 amending s. 267.075, F.S.; deleting provisions 81 relating to The Grove Advisory Council; amending s. 82 267.21, F.S.; revising mechanisms by which state funds 83 to assist abandoned African-American cemeteries may be 84 awarded specified grant funds; authorizing the 85 secretary to review a specified list to ensure that 86 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are 87 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to 88 submit a recommended list to the Legislature for 89 funding consideration; amending s. 267.22, F.S.; 90 revising the programmatic duties and make-up of the 91 Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council; 92 requiring the council to evaluate proposals for awards 93 of grants relating to abandoned African-American 94 cemeteries; providing an effective date. 95 96 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 97 98 Section 1.Subsection (1) of section 257.031, Florida 99 Statutes, is amended to read: 100 257.031State Librarian; appointment and duties. 101 (1)The State Librarian shall be appointed by the Secretary 102 of State, shall have completed a library school program 103 accredited by a national library professional the American 104 Library association, and shall serve as the director of the 105 Division of Library and Information Services of the Department 106 of State. The Secretary of State may, in making the appointment 107 of State Librarian, consult the members of the State Library 108 Council. 109 Section 2.Subsection (4) is added to section 257.12, 110 Florida Statutes, to read: 111 257.12Division of Library and Information Services 112 authorized to accept and expend federal funds. 113 (4)The State Library Council, as provided in s. 257.02, 114 shall develop recommendations for providing available federal 115 funds to public libraries. The secretary may review and edit the 116 funding recommendation list to ensure that federal grant funds 117 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all 118 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only 119 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age 120 groups. 121 Section 3.Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 122 257.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 123 257.17Operating grants.A political subdivision that has 124 been designated by a county or municipality as the single 125 library administrative unit is eligible to receive from the 126 state an annual operating grant of not more than 25 percent of 127 all local funds expended by that political subdivision during 128 the second preceding fiscal year for the operation and 129 maintenance of a library, under the following conditions: 130 (2)The library established or maintained by such political 131 subdivision shall: 132 (a)Be operated under a single administrative head who is 133 an employee of the single library administrative unit and who 134 has completed a library education program accredited by a 135 national library professional the American Library association. 136 The single administrative head shall have at least 2 years of 137 full-time paid professional experience, after completing the 138 library education program, in a public library that is open to 139 the public for a minimum of 40 hours per week. 140 Section 4.Section 257.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to 141 read: 142 257.191Construction grants. 143 (1)The Division of Library and Information Services may 144 accept and administer library construction moneys appropriated 145 to it and shall allocate such appropriation to municipal, 146 county, and regional libraries in the form of library 147 construction grants on a matching basis. The local matching 148 portion shall be no less than the grant amount, on a dollar-for 149 dollar basis, up to the maximum grant amount, unless the 150 matching requirement is waived by s. 288.06561. Initiation of a 151 library construction project 12 months or less prior to the 152 grant award under this section shall not affect the eligibility 153 of an applicant to receive a library construction grant. The 154 division shall adopt rules for the administration of library 155 construction grants. For the purposes of this section, s. 257.21 156 does not apply. 157 (2)The secretary must ensure that the library construction 158 grants awarded under this section are expended in compliance 159 with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are 160 used only for activities and programs that are appropriate for 161 all age groups. The secretary shall submit a recommended list to 162 the Legislature for funding consideration. 163 Section 5.Section 257.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to 164 read: 165 257.23Application for grant. 166 (1)The board of county commissioners of any county, the 167 chief executive officer of a municipality, or the governing body 168 of a special district or a special tax district desiring to 169 receive a grant under the provisions of ss. 257.14-257.25 shall 170 apply therefor to the Division of Library and Information 171 Services on or before October 1 of each year on a form to be 172 provided by the division. The application shall be signed by the 173 chair of the board of county commissioners and attested by the 174 clerk of the circuit court or the appropriate officer in a 175 charter county, by the chief executive officer of a municipality 176 and attested by the clerk of the municipality, or by the chair 177 of the governing body and attested by the chief financial 178 officer of a special district or a special tax district. The 179 county, municipality, special district, or special tax district 180 shall agree to observe the standards established by the division 181 as authorized in s. 257.15. On or before December 1 each year, 182 the applicant shall certify the annual tax income and the rate 183 of tax or the annual appropriation for the free library or free 184 library service, and shall furnish such other pertinent 185 information as the division may require. 186 (2)The secretary shall ensure that any grants awarded 187 under this section are expended in compliance with all federal, 188 state, and local laws and regulations and are used only for 189 activities and programs that are appropriate for all age groups. 190 Section 6.Section 257.34, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 191 Section 7.Section 257.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to 192 read: 193 257.42Library cooperative grants. 194 (1)The administrative unit of a library cooperative is 195 eligible to receive an annual grant from the state for the 196 purpose of sharing library resources based upon an annual plan 197 of service and expenditure and an annually updated 5-year, long 198 range plan of cooperative library resource sharing. Those plans, 199 which must include a component describing how the cooperative 200 will share technology and the use of technology, must be 201 submitted to the division for evaluation and possible 202 recommendation for funding in the divisions legislative budget 203 request. Grant funds may not be used to supplant local funds or 204 other funds. A library cooperative must provide from local 205 sources matching cash funds equal to 10 percent of the grant 206 award. 207 (2)The secretary must ensure that state grant funds 208 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all 209 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only 210 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age 211 groups. 212 Section 8.Subsections (12), (16), and (17) of section 213 265.283, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 214 265.283Definitions.The following definitions shall apply 215 to ss. 265.281-265.703: 216 (12)Panel means a grant review panel. 217 (16)State touring program grants means grants used to 218 provide performances, activities, and exhibitions by Florida 219 artists to communities. 220 (17)Underserved arts community assistance program grants 221 means grants used by qualified organizations under the Rural 222 Economic Development Initiative, pursuant to ss. 288.0656 and 223 288.06561, for the purpose of economic and organizational 224 development for underserved cultural organizations. 225 Section 9.Subsection (1) of section 265.284, Florida 226 Statutes, is amended to read: 227 265.284Chief arts and culture cultural officer; director 228 of division; powers and duties. 229 (1)The secretary of State is the chief arts and culture 230 cultural officer of the state. 231 Section 10.Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) and 232 paragraphs (c), (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (2) of section 233 265.285, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 234 265.285Florida Council on Arts and Culture; membership, 235 duties. 236 (1)(a)The Florida Council on Arts and Culture is created 237 within the department as an advisory body, as defined in s. 238 20.03(7). The council shall be composed of 15 members. Nine 239 members shall be appointed by the Governor in consultation with 240 the Secretary of State, three members shall be appointed by the 241 President of the Senate, and three members shall be appointed by 242 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the nine members 243 appointed by the Governor, one member must be a licensed 244 architect who has expertise in cultural facilities; one member 245 must be an enrolled member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida; one 246 member must be a professional public folklorist; one member must 247 be a university-affiliated folklorist; and one member must be a 248 practicing or former professional artist. The remaining four 249 members appointed by the Governor and the three members 250 appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 251 House of Representatives, respectively, must be representatives 252 of the public with demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the 253 arts, culture, museums, folklore, and cultural heritage 254 traditions, consisting of 15 members. Seven members shall be 255 appointed by the Governor, four members shall be appointed by 256 the President of the Senate, and four members shall be appointed 257 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The appointments 258 that are, to be made in consultation with the Secretary of 259 State, shall recognize the need for geographical representation. 260 Effective July 1, 2025, the first vacancy existing or occurring 261 in a council seat previously occupied by a member appointed by 262 the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the first 263 vacancy existing or occurring in a council seat previously 264 occupied by a member appointed by the President of the Senate 265 shall be filled by the Governor. Council members appointed by 266 the Governor shall be appointed for 4-year terms beginning on 267 January 1 of the year of appointment. Council members appointed 268 by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 269 Representatives shall be appointed for 2-year terms beginning on 270 January 1 of the year of appointment. A member of the council 271 who serves two 4-year terms or two 2-year terms is not eligible 272 for reappointment for 1 year following the expiration of the 273 members second term. A member whose term has expired shall 274 continue to serve on the council until such time as a 275 replacement is appointed. Any vacancy on the council shall be 276 filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same 277 manner as for the original appointment. Members should have a 278 substantial history of community service in the performing or 279 visual arts, which includes, but is not limited to, theater, 280 dance, folk and traditional arts, music, architecture, 281 photography, literature, and media arts, or in the areas of 282 science, history, or childrens museums. In addition, it is 283 desirable that members have successfully served on boards of 284 cultural institutions such as museums and performing arts 285 centers or are recognized as patrons of the arts. A member may 286 not receive financial compensation as an employee or officer of 287 an entity that has received grant funds or as an applicant for 288 division grant funding recommendations. This prohibition does 289 not apply to an employee or officer of a state college or 290 university. 291 (c)Members of the council and panels may not receive any 292 compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for 293 travel and expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, 294 as provided in s. 112.061. 295 (2)The council shall: 296 (c)Encourage the participation in and appreciation of 297 arts, and culture, and folklife to meet the needs and 298 aspirations of persons in all parts of the state. 299 (e)Encourage arts and culture development within 300 communities and assist freedom of artistic expression that is 301 essential for the well-being of the arts. 302 (f)Advise the secretary in matters concerning the awarding 303 of grants for arts and culture as authorized in this act and 304 make funding recommendations for activities and programs that 305 are appropriate for all age groups. 306 (g)Promote and assist with division programs such as the 307 Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans History Program, the 308 Arts and Culture recognition award program, and the 309 apprenticeship program the reading, writing, and appreciation of 310 poetry throughout the state and accept nominations and recommend 311 nominees for appointment as the State Poet Laureate under s. 312 265.2863. 313 Section 11.Section 265.286, Florida Statutes, is amended 314 to read: 315 265.286Arts Art and cultural grants. 316 (1)The division may accept applications for arts and 317 cultural grants for activities and programs identified in 318 subsection (7) and based on the rules adopted under this 319 section. 320 (2)To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must: 321 (a)Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt Florida corporation, or a 322 local or state governmental entity, school district, community 323 college, college, university, agency of state government, or 324 artist engaged in or concerned with arts and cultural 325 activities. 326 (b)Conduct activities and programs that are appropriate 327 for all age groups. 328 (c)Strictly conform with all applicable local, state, and 329 federal laws and regulations. 330 (3)(1)The secretary may appoint reviewers review panels 331 consisting of members from various art and cultural disciplines 332 and programs to assist the council in the grant application 333 review process. Appointed reviewers shall review Each panel 334 member shall be appointed to a 1-year term. Each panel shall 335 consist of practicing artists or other professionals actively 336 involved in the specific discipline or program for which the 337 panel has been appointed. Each panel shall review and score 338 grant applications and recommend to the council the applicants 339 to which grants may should be awarded. The panels shall submit 340 lists of eligible applicants by score. The division shall adopt 341 rules establishing a formula for such scoring. 342 (4)(2)The council and each panel shall provide a forum for 343 public comment before voting on any grant application. 344 (5)(3)After the council reviews the recommended lists of 345 eligible applicants submitted by each review panel, it shall 346 develop a list of recommended arts and culture grants two lists, 347 one of which must consist of eligible applicants for general 348 program support funding and one of which must consist of 349 eligible applicants for specific cultural project funding, and 350 submit the list lists to the secretary. The secretary may review 351 and edit the list to ensure that any grant funds awarded under 352 this section are expended in compliance with all federal, state, 353 and local laws and regulations and are used only for activities 354 and programs that are appropriate for all age groups. The 355 secretary shall submit the recommended list to the Legislature 356 annually for funding consideration shall review the councils 357 recommendations and, beginning July 1, 2010, include the lists 358 of approved applicants in the departments legislative budget 359 request submitted to the Legislature. 360 (6)(4)Arts and cultural Project grants shall be funded 361 from the secretarys submitted approved list by score until all 362 appropriated funds are depleted. If specific project grant funds 363 are returned to the division, it shall award such funds to the 364 next grant applicant on the secretarys list of approved 365 applicants. General program support grants shall be awarded to 366 applicants on the secretarys list in amounts determined by 367 rule. 368 (7)(5)The division shall administer awarded grants fund: 369 (a)To supplement the financial support of artistic and 370 cultural activities and programs that, without the assistance, 371 may otherwise be unavailable to Florida residents Grants for 372 general program support for science museums, youth and 373 childrens museums, historical museums, local arts agencies, 374 state service organizations, and organizations that have 375 cultural program activities in any of the art and cultural 376 disciplines defined in s. 265.283. 377 (b)To activities and programs that have substantial 378 artistic and cultural significance and emphasize creativity and 379 professional excellence Grants for specific cultural projects 380 for arts in education, museums, Culture Builds Florida, or 381 nonprofit public or private organizations having cultural 382 project activity in any of the art and cultural disciplines. 383 (c)To activities and programs that meet the professional 384 standards or standards of authenticity of significant merit, 385 regardless of origin Grants for a touring program that has a 386 selection procedure that ensures the maximum opportunity for 387 Florida artists and cultural groups. 388 (d)To activities and programs that are appropriate for all 389 age groups An individual artist fellowship program. The division 390 shall establish a selection procedure that identifies individual 391 artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability and 392 distribute grant appropriations as provided by rule. 393 (e)To other programs consistent with the purpose of this 394 act. 395 (8)(6)The division may shall adopt rules establishing: 396 (a)Eligibility criteria for the award of grants, which may 397 include, but need not be limited to, application requirements, 398 allowable and nonallowable costs, program quality, artistic 399 quality, creativity, potential public exposure and benefit, the 400 ability to properly administer grant funds, professional 401 excellence, fiscal stability, state or regional impact and 402 economic development, matching requirements, and other 403 requirements to further the purposes of this act. 404 (b)Particular grant programs, categories of grants, and 405 procedures necessary for the prudent administration of the grant 406 programs. 407 (c)The panel review process, including, but not limited 408 to, criteria for reviewing grant applications to ensure 409 compliance with applicable federal and state law, including 410 those related to discrimination and conflicts of interest and 411 appropriateness of content for all age groups. The division may 412 not award any new grant that will, in whole or in part, inure to 413 the personal benefit of any council or review panel member 414 during the members term of office or reviewer if the council or 415 panel member or reviewer participated in the vote of the council 416 or reviewer panel recommending the award. This paragraph does 417 not prohibit the division from awarding a grant to an entity 418 with which a council or panel member or reviewer is associated. 419 (7)The division shall award grants: 420 (a)To supplement the financial support of artistic and 421 cultural activities and programs that, without the assistance, 422 may otherwise be unavailable to Florida residents. 423 (b)To activities and programs that have substantial 424 artistic and cultural significance and emphasize creativity and 425 professional excellence. 426 (c)To activities and programs that meet the professional 427 standards or standards of authenticity of significant merit, 428 regardless of origin. 429 (d)For other reasons consistent with this act. 430 (8)Eligible grantees must: 431 (a)Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt Florida corporation; or 432 (b)A local or state governmental entity, school district, 433 community college, college, university, agency of state 434 government, or artist engaged in or concerned with arts and 435 cultural activities. 436 (9)In order to equitably distribute limited state funding, 437 applicants may apply for and be awarded only one grant per 438 annual grant cycle, except for cultural facilities, a cultural 439 endowment, or touring program grants and individual artist 440 fellowships. 441 (10)Of the total amount of grant funds available from all 442 sources for grants, except cultural facilities and cultural 443 endowments, 70 percent shall be awarded on at least a dollar-to 444 dollar matching basis. Up to 50 percent of the grantees match 445 may consist of in-kind funds. Up to 30 percent of all grant 446 funds may be awarded on a nonmatching basis, including 447 individual fellowships. 448 (11)An applicant seeking a recommendation from a reviewer 449 for grant funding may not have a substantial interest as set 450 forth in s. 120.569 in any of its requested recommendations. 451 (12)(11)The division may shall adopt rules to administer 452 and implement this section. 453 (13)Effective upon this act becoming a law, the secretary 454 shall request, and the council shall submit, an updated list of 455 activities and programs that comply with the requirements of 456 this section. After reviewing and making edits, the secretary 457 shall submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding 458 consideration in the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 459 2025-2026. The council and the secretary must give priority to 460 activities and programs that support America250 and celebrate 461 the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of 462 Independence on July 4, 1776. This subsection applies only if 463 the date this act becomes law occurs before the Legislature 464 passes the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025-2026. 465 This subsection expires July 1, 2026. 466 Section 12.Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of section 467 265.2865, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 468 265.2865Florida Artists Hall of Fame. 469 (3)The Florida Council on Arts and Culture may shall 470 accept nominations annually for persons to be recommended as 471 members of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The council may 472 shall recommend to the Secretary of State persons to be named as 473 members of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The councils 474 recommended council shall recommend as members to of the Florida 475 Artists Hall of Fame must be persons who were born in Florida or 476 adopted Florida as their home state and base of operation and 477 who have made a significant contribution to the enhancement of 478 the arts in this state. 479 (4)The Secretary of State shall name no more than three 480 four members to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in any one 481 nomination year. 482 (7)The Secretary of State may shall annually request an 483 appropriation sufficient to carry out the purposes of this 484 section. 485 Section 13.Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section 486 265.701, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is 487 added to that section, to read: 488 265.701Cultural facilities; grants for acquisition, 489 renovation, or construction; funding; approval; allocation. 490 (1)The Division of Arts and Culture may accept and 491 administer moneys appropriated to it for providing grants to 492 counties, municipalities, and qualifying nonprofit corporations 493 for the acquisition, renovation, or construction of cultural 494 facilities. 495 (2)A county, municipality, or qualified corporation may 496 apply for a grant of state funds for the acquisition, 497 renovation, or construction of a cultural facility. For the 498 purposes of this section, a qualified corporation is a 499 corporation which is designated a not-for-profit corporation 500 pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 501 1954, and which is described in, and allowed to receive 502 contributions pursuant to the provisions of, s. 170 of the 503 Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and which is a corporation not 504 for profit incorporated pursuant to chapter 617. The state grant 505 must be matched by a contribution from the county, municipality, 506 or nonprofit corporation in an amount to be determined by the 507 Department of State. 508 (3)The Florida Council on Arts and Culture shall review 509 each application for a grant to acquire, renovate, or construct 510 a cultural facility which is submitted pursuant to subsection 511 (2) and shall submit annually to the Secretary of State for 512 approval lists of all applications that are recommended by the 513 council for the award of grants, arranged in order of priority. 514 The secretary may review and edit the list to ensure that state 515 grant funds awarded under this section are expended in 516 compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and 517 regulations and are used only for activities and programs that 518 are appropriate for all age groups. The secretary shall submit 519 the recommended list to the Legislature for funding 520 consideration. The division may allocate grants only for 521 projects that are approved or for which funds are appropriated 522 by the Legislature. Projects approved and recommended by the 523 Secretary of State which are not funded by the Legislature shall 524 be retained on the project list for the following grant cycle 525 only. All projects that are retained shall be required to submit 526 such information as may be required by the department as of the 527 established deadline date of the latest grant cycle in order to 528 adequately reflect the most current status of the project. 529 (6)Effective upon this act becoming a law, the secretary 530 shall request, and the council shall submit, an updated list of 531 projects that comply with the requirements of this section. 532 After reviewing and making edits, the secretary shall submit the 533 recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration in 534 the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025-2026. The 535 council and the secretary shall give priority in their funding 536 recommendations to projects that support America250 and 537 celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the 538 Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This subsection 539 applies only if the date this act becomes law occurs before the 540 Legislature passes the General Appropriations Act for fiscal 541 year 2025-2026. This subsection expires July 1, 2026. 542 Section 14.Subsection (1) of section 265.703, Florida 543 Statutes, is amended to read: 544 265.703Citizen support organizations; use of state 545 administrative services and property; audit. 546 (1)CITIZEN SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS.The division may support 547 the establishment of citizen support organizations to provide 548 assistance, funding, and promotional support for the cultural, 549 arts, historical, and museum, and international and 550 intergovernmental programs of the division. For the purposes of 551 this section, a citizen support organization means an 552 organization which is: 553 (a)A Florida corporation not for profit incorporated under 554 the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of 555 State. 556 (b)Organized and operated to conduct programs and 557 activities; raise funds; request and receive grants, gifts, and 558 bequests of money; acquire, receive, hold, invest, and 559 administer, in its own name, securities, funds, objects of 560 value, or other property, real or personal; and make 561 expenditures to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the 562 division, or individual program units, or international and 563 intergovernmental programs of the division. 564 (c)Determined by the division to be consistent with the 565 goals of the division and in the best interests of the state. 566 (d)Approved in writing by the division to operate for the 567 direct or indirect benefit of the division. Such approval shall 568 be given in a letter of agreement from the division. 569 Section 15.Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 570 265.803, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 571 265.803Florida Folklife Council. 572 (1)(a)The Florida Folklife Council is created as a sub 573 council within part of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture 574 created by s. 265.285 Department of State, to consist of seven 575 members appointed by the Secretary of State from the membership 576 of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Secretary of 577 State shall appoint each member for a 4-year term and shall 578 appoint a successor for each member within 90 days after the 579 expiration of the members term. The Secretary of State shall 580 fill any vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term within 581 90 days after the vacancy occurs. Members shall be appointed to 582 provide geographical, cultural, traditional ethnic, and 583 professional representation on the council. 584 Section 16.Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section 585 267.0612, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 586 267.0612Florida Historical Commission; creation; 587 membership; powers and duties.In order to enhance public 588 participation and involvement in the preservation and protection 589 of the states historic and archaeological sites and properties, 590 there is created within the Department of State the Florida 591 Historical Commission. The commission shall serve in an 592 advisory capacity to the director of the Division of Historical 593 Resources to assist the director in carrying out the purposes, 594 duties, and responsibilities of the division, as specified in 595 this chapter. 596 (6)It shall be the responsibility of the commission to 597 provide assistance, advice, and recommendations to the division 598 in: 599 (c)Evaluating proposals for awards of special category 600 historic preservation grants-in-aid administered by the 601 division. Pursuant thereto, the commission shall review and 602 evaluate proposals for special category grants and shall make 603 recommendations, including a priority ranking, reflecting such 604 evaluation. In making such evaluation and recommendations, the 605 commission shall, at a minimum, consider the purpose, economic 606 and other public benefit, location, compatibility with statewide 607 historic preservation priorities, and cost of each proposal for 608 special category grant assistance. Special category historic 609 preservation grants-in-aid recommendations of the commission 610 shall be reviewed by the Secretary of State as provided in s. 611 267.0617. 612 Section 17.Subsections (2) and (3) of section 267.0617, 613 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 614 267.0617Historic Preservation Grant Program. 615 (2)The division is authorized to conduct and carry out a 616 program of historic preservation grants-in-aid, including 617 matching grants, to any department or agency of the state; any 618 unit of county, municipal, or other local government; any 619 corporation, partnership, or other organization, whether public 620 or private or whether or not for profit; or any individual for 621 projects having as their purpose the identification, 622 acquisition, protection, preservation, rehabilitation, 623 restoration, or construction of historic sites and properties, 624 or Florida history, or the planning of such activities. Funds 625 appropriated from general revenue for the historic preservation 626 grants-in-aid program shall not be provided for a project owned 627 by private individuals or owned by for-profit corporations. All 628 moneys received from any source as appropriations, deposits, or 629 contributions to this program shall be paid and credited to the 630 Historical Resources Operating Trust Fund. 631 (3)All grants of state funds to assist in the preservation 632 of historic properties shall be made from the Historical 633 Resources Operating Trust Fund and may be awarded only pursuant 634 to applications for such assistance made to the Division of 635 Historical Resources. The Florida Historical Commission shall 636 review each application for a special category historic 637 preservation grant-in-aid. Special category historic 638 preservation grants-in-aid are those reviewed and recommended by 639 the Secretary of State for submission for legislative funding 640 consideration. Grant review panels appointed by the Secretary of 641 State and chaired by a member of the Florida Historical 642 Commission or a designee appointed by the commissions presiding 643 officer shall review each application for other historic 644 preservation grants-in-aid. Each The reviewing body shall submit 645 annually to the Secretary of State for approval lists of all 646 historic preservation grant-in-aid applications that are 647 recommended by the reviewing body for the award of grants, 648 arranged in order of priority. The Secretary of State may review 649 and edit the recommended lists to ensure that state grant funds 650 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all 651 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only 652 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age 653 groups. The Secretary shall submit the recommended lists to the 654 Legislature for funding consideration. 655 Section 18.Section 267.0722, Florida Statutes, is 656 repealed. 657 Section 19.Section 267.075, Florida Statutes, is amended 658 to read: 659 267.075The Grove; management; stewardship Advisory 660 Council; creation; membership; purposes. 661 (1)The Call/Collins House, commonly known as The Grove, 662 located in Tallahassee, Leon County, shall be utilized as a 663 house museum of history for the educational benefit of the 664 citizens of this state. The utilization of The Grove as a museum 665 of history shall emphasize the lives and accomplishments of The 666 Groves first owner, Richard Keith Call, Floridas last 667 Territorial Governor, and LeRoy Collins, Floridas 33rd 668 Governor, who, with his wife, Mary Call Darby Collins, were the 669 last owners of The Grove. The faithful restoration and 670 maintenance of The Grove undertaken by LeRoy Collins and Mary 671 Call Darby Collins during the nearly six decades of Collins 672 family ownership and stewardship which has preserved the 673 original plan of construction and design of The Grove shall be 674 continued as provided for in this section. 675 (2)There is created within the Department of State The 676 Grove Advisory Council for the purpose of advising the Division 677 of Historical Resources on the operation, maintenance, 678 preservation, and protection of the Call/Collins House, commonly 679 known as The Grove, its grounds, cemetery, and all structures 680 thereon; the furniture and furnishings located therein; any 681 changes in the architecture, structure, furnishings, or 682 landscaping deemed necessary or desirable by the council; and 683 the design and development of interpretive programs and exhibits 684 in connection therewith. 685 (3)(a)The Grove Advisory Council shall be composed of 686 eight members, as follows: 687 1.Five members shall be private citizens appointed by the 688 Secretary of State. 689 2.One member shall be the Secretary of Management Services 690 or his or her designee. 691 3.One member shall be the director of the Division of 692 Historical Resources of the Department of State. 693 4.At least one member shall be a direct descendant of Mary 694 Call Darby Collins appointed by the Secretary of State with the 695 advice of the oldest living generation of lineal descendants of 696 Mary Call Darby Collins. 697 698 Of the citizen members, at least one member shall have 699 professional curatorial and museum expertise, one member shall 700 have professional architectural expertise in the preservation of 701 historic buildings, and one member shall have professional 702 landscape expertise. The five citizen members of the council 703 appointed by the Secretary of State and the member of the 704 council who is a direct descendant of Mary Call Darby Collins 705 appointed by the Secretary of State shall be appointed for 706 staggered 4-year terms. The Secretary of State shall fill the 707 remainder of unexpired terms for the five citizen members of the 708 council and the member of the council who is a direct descendant 709 of Mary Call Darby Collins. 710 (b)The council shall annually elect a chair from among the 711 five citizen members of the council appointed by the Secretary 712 of State and the member of the council who is a direct 713 descendant of Mary Call Darby Collins appointed by the Secretary 714 of State. The chair shall serve for a term of 1 year. Meetings 715 of the council shall be held at the call of the chair, at the 716 request of a majority of its membership, at the request of the 717 Secretary of State, or at such times as may be prescribed by 718 rules of the council. The council shall meet at least twice 719 annually. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum 720 for the transaction of business. 721 (c)The council shall obtain clerical, expert, technical, 722 or other services from the Division of Historical Resources. The 723 Department of Management Services shall provide reasonable 724 assistance to the Department of State in carrying out the 725 purposes of this section. 726 (d)Members of the council shall serve without compensation 727 or honorarium but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for 728 per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. All 729 expenses of the council shall be paid from appropriations to be 730 made by the Legislature to the Department of State. All vouchers 731 shall be approved by the Division of Historical Resources before 732 being submitted to the Chief Financial Officer for payment. 733 (2)(4)(a)The Division of Historical Resources, with the 734 advice and assistance of the council, shall maintain the 735 structure, style, character, and landscaping of The Grove, its 736 grounds, its private family cemetery, and all structures thereon 737 consistent with the character, plan, and design of The Grove at 738 the time the state takes physical possession of The Grove and 739 its surrounding property from Mary Call Darby Collins. It shall 740 preserve and protect the antique furnishings and other articles 741 of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects and articles used 742 or displayed in the premises. 743 (b)The Division of Historical Resources shall catalog and 744 maintain a descriptive, photographic inventory of the 745 furnishings, fixtures, and decorative objects and articles used 746 or displayed in the premises. 747 (c)The Division of Historical Resources may receive, on 748 behalf of the state, contributions, bequests, and gifts of 749 money, furniture, works of art, memorabilia, or other property 750 consistent with the use of The Grove as described in this 751 section. Title to all property which is received in this manner 752 shall vest in the state and shall be held in trust by the 753 Division of Historical Resources solely to further the purposes 754 of this section. No furniture, furnishings, fixtures, or 755 decorative objects acquired from the Collins family or any of 756 its members shall be used for any purpose except as a permanent 757 part of The Groves furniture, furnishings, fixtures, or 758 decorative objects, and any such item not so utilized shall 759 forthwith revert to the Collins family member or members from 760 whom it was acquired. No gifts, contributions, or bequests shall 761 be accepted for The Grove without the advice and recommendation 762 of the council. 763 Section 20.Subsection (2) of section 267.21, Florida 764 Statutes, is amended to read: 765 267.21Historic Cemeteries Program. 766 (2)(a)The Historic Cemeteries Program shall, subject to 767 legislative appropriation, provide grants to the following 768 entities: 769 1.(a)Research institutions, colleges and universities, and 770 qualified nonprofit organizations, for the purpose of conducting 771 genealogical and historical research necessary to identify and 772 contact the relatives and descendants of persons buried in 773 abandoned African-American cemeteries. 774 2.(b)Local governments and qualified nonprofit 775 organizations, for the purposes of repairing, restoring, and 776 maintaining abandoned African-American cemeteries. 777 (b)All grants of state funds to assist abandoned African 778 American cemeteries may be awarded only pursuant to applications 779 for such assistance made to the division. The Florida Historic 780 Cemeteries Program Advisory Council shall review each 781 application for an abandoned African-American cemeteries grant 782 made under this section. The council shall submit annually to 783 the Secretary of State a list of all abandoned African-American 784 cemeteries grant applications it recommends for the award of 785 grants, arranged in order of priority. The Secretary of State 786 may review and edit the list to ensure that state grant funds 787 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all 788 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only 789 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age 790 groups. The Secretary of State shall submit a recommended list 791 to the Legislature for funding consideration. 792 Section 21.Subsections (1) and (2) of section 267.22, 793 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 794 267.22Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council. 795 (1)The Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council, an 796 advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7), is created as a sub 797 council within the Florida Historical Commission created by s. 798 267.0612 division and shall consist of at least five but no more 799 than nine members appointed by the Florida Historical Commission 800 Secretary of State after considering the recommendations of the 801 director of the division. The council must be composed of an 802 inclusive group of members who are regionally distributed and 803 representative of communities throughout this state and may 804 include members of the Florida Historical Commission. Members in 805 place on July 1, 2025, may serve for the remainder of their 806 respective terms. New appointments to the council may not be 807 made until the retirement, resignation, removal, or expiration 808 of the terms of the initial members results in fewer than five 809 members remaining. Members shall serve 4-year terms; however, 810 for the purpose of providing staggered terms, four of the 811 appointees initially shall be appointed to 2-year terms and the 812 remaining five shall be appointed to 4-year terms. All new 813 subsequent appointments shall be for 2-year 4-year terms. 814 Annually As soon as practicable after July 1, 2023, the council 815 shall meet to elect a chair from its membership. Except as 816 otherwise provided in this section, the council shall operate in 817 a manner consistent with s. 20.052. 818 (2)The council shall provide guidance and recommendations 819 to the division and the Florida Historical Commission regarding 820 the duties and responsibilities of the Historic Cemeteries 821 Program created under s. 267.21. The council shall also evaluate 822 proposals for awards of abandoned African-American cemeteries 823 grants, as authorized by s. 267.21(2). Pursuant thereto, the 824 council must review and evaluate proposals for abandoned 825 African-American cemeteries grants and make recommendations to 826 the Secretary of State, including providing a priority ranking, 827 reflecting the evaluation. In making its evaluation and 828 recommendations, the council shall, at a minimum, consider the 829 purpose, public benefit, location, and cost of each proposal for 830 grant assistance. Abandoned African-American cemeteries grant 831 recommendations of the council shall be reviewed by the 832 Secretary of State in accordance with s. 267.21(2). 833 Section 22.This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.