Senate Bill sb0444e1
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to abrogating offensive or
3 derogatory place names; creating s. 267.0625,
4 F.S.; providing legislative findings that
5 certain place names are offensive or
6 derogatory; providing definitions; requiring
7 the Florida Historical Commission and the
8 Division of Historic Resources to aid state
9 agencies and local governments in identifying
10 geographic sites having offensive or derogatory
11 place names; directing state agencies and local
12 governments to identify geographic sites having
13 offensive or derogatory place names by a
14 specified date; directing the commission to
15 recommend to the division replacement names;
16 directing the division to select replacement
17 names by a specified date; requiring state and
18 local governments to update maps and markers
19 with the new place names; directing the
20 division to notify the United States Board of
21 Geographic Names of name changes; providing
22 specified exceptions to the act; providing an
23 effective date.
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25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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27 Section 1. Section 267.0625, Florida Statutes, is
28 created to read:
29 267.0625 Abrogation of offensive and derogatory
30 geographic place names.--
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CS for SB 444 First Engrossed (ntc)
1 (1) The Legislature finds that certain place names for
2 geographic sites are offensive or derogatory to the state's
3 people, history, and heritage. The state encourages tolerance
4 and understanding between all of its residents and these
5 geographic place names are a barrier to that effort. The
6 Legislature finds that these offensive or derogatory place
7 names should be replaced by names that reflect the state's
8 people, history, and heritage without resorting to offensive
9 stereotypes, slurs, names, words, or phrases.
10 (2) As used in this section, the term:
11 (a) "Commission" means the Florida Historical
12 Commission within the Department of State.
13 (b) "Geographic site" means a location or
14 publicly-owned structure in this state, and includes, but is
15 not limited to, rivers and other navigable waters of the
16 state, geographic features, and parks, or state or local
17 roads, bridges, and publicly-owned buildings.
18 (c) "Offensive or derogatory place names" means a
19 place name that is a racial, ethnic, or religious slur.
20 (3)(a) By October 1, 2004, each state agency or
21 political subdivision that owns or manages public land,
22 waters, or structures in this state shall identify any
23 geographic sites under its jurisdiction which contain
24 offensive or derogatory place names as defined in subsection
25 (2) and shall file a report identifying those names with the
26 division. A political subdivision shall also include a
27 recommended replacement name for each identified offensive or
28 derogatory place name.
29 (b) The division shall compile the reports required to
30 be filed pursuant to this section and provide a copy to the
31 commission. The commission shall advise the division in its
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1 review of recommended place names and in the development of
2 alternative names to replace offensive or derogatory place
3 names with place names that reflect the state's diversity and
4 culture.
5 (c) By March 1, 2005, the division shall choose a new
6 name for each geographic site reported by an agency or
7 political subdivision.
8 (4) The division shall:
9 (a) Notify each entity that has reported an offensive
10 or derogatory place name pursuant to subsection (3) of the
11 alternative name selected by the division; each agency or
12 political subdivision shall ensure that whenever it updates a
13 map or recorded plat, or replaces a sign, interpretive marker,
14 or any other marker because of wear or vandalism, the new name
15 is used.
16 (b) Notify the Department of Transportation, the
17 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the
18 Department of Management Services, and any other entity that
19 compiles information for or develops maps or markers for the
20 state of the name change so that it may be reflected on
21 subsequent editions of any maps, informational literature, or
22 markers produced by those entities.
23 (c) Place a formal request with the United State Board
24 on Geographic Names to render a decision on each proposed name
25 change so that each new name will be reflected on all maps of
26 the United States Board on Geographic Names.
27 (d) Report to the Governor and the Legislature by no
28 later than July 1, 2005, regarding implementation of the
29 provisions of this section by the department. The report shall
30 identify at least the following:
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1 1. Each offensive or derogatory place name identified
2 by an agency or political subdivision.
3 2. The replacement name selected by the department.
4 3. Whether any markers and maps have been changed to
5 reflect the name changes.
6 4. The date that requests to change names were filed
7 with the United State Board of Geographic Names and whether
8 those changes have been made.
9 5. Any other relevant information that the department
10 finds appropriate.
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.
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