HB 0505 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to abrogating offensive or derogatory
3	place names; creating s. 267.0625, F.S.; providing
4	legislative findings that certain place names are
5	offensive or derogatory; providing definitions; requiring
6	the Florida Historical Commission and the Division of
7	Historical Resources to aid state agencies and local
8	governments in identifying geographic sites having
9	offensive or derogatory place names; directing state
10	agencies and local governments to identify geographic
11	sites having offensive or derogatory place names by a
12	specified date; directing the commission to recommend to
13	the division replacement names; directing the division to
14	select replacement names by a specified date; requiring
15	state and local governments to update maps and markers
16	with the new place names; directing the division to notify
17	the United States Board on Geographic Names of name
18	changes; providing specified exceptions to the act;
19	providing an effective date.
20
21	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23	Section 1. Section 267.0625, Florida Statutes, is created
24	to read:
25	267.0625 Abrogation of offensive and derogatory geographic
26	place names.--
27	(1) The Legislature finds that certain place names for
28	geographic sites are offensive or derogatory to the state's
29	people, history, and heritage. The state encourages tolerance
30	and understanding between all of its residents and these
31	geographic place names are a barrier to that effort. The
32	Legislature finds that these offensive or derogatory place names
33	should be replaced by names that reflect the state's people,
34	history, and heritage without resorting to offensive
35	stereotypes, names, words, or phrases.
36	(2) As used in this section, the term:
37	(a) "Commission" means the Florida Historical Commission
38	within the Department of State.
39	(b) "Geographic site" means a location or structure in
40	this state, and includes, but is not limited to, rivers, bodies
41	of water, roads, bridges, buildings, geographic features, and
42	parks.
43	(c) "Offensive or derogatory place name" means a name
44	deemed offensive on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender,
45	sexual orientation, or national origin.
46	(3) The commission shall assist the division in consulting
47	with state agencies and political subdivisions in order to
48	identify and inventory all public lands, waters, structures, and
49	other geographic sites having offensive or derogatory place
50	names. The commission shall also assist the division in
51	developing alternative names to replace offensive or derogatory
52	place names with place names that reflect the state's diversity
53	and culture.
54	(4)(a) Each state agency that owns or manages public
55	lands, waters, or structures in this state shall, by October 1,
56	2004, identify any geographic sites under its jurisdiction which
57	contain offensive or derogatory place names and inform the
58	commission of those geographic sites. The commission shall, by
59	January 1, 2005, recommend to the division a new name for each
60	geographic site to replace the offensive or derogatory place
61	name. The division shall, by March 1, 2005, choose a new name
62	for the geographic site. Thereafter, the agency shall ensure
63	that whenever the agency updates a map or replaces a sign,
64	interpretive marker, or any other marker because of wear or
65	vandalism, the offensive or derogatory place name is removed and
66	replaced with the name chosen by the division.
67	(b) Each political subdivision that owns or manages public
68	land, waters, or structures in this state shall, by October 1,
69	2004, identify any geographic sites under its jurisdiction which
70	contain offensive or derogatory place names and inform the
71	commission of those sites. The political subdivision shall at
72	the same time recommend a replacement name. The commission
73	shall, by January 1, 2005, recommend to the division a new name
74	for each geographic site to replace the offensive or derogatory
75	place name, giving preference to the name suggested by the
76	political subdivision. The division shall, by March 1, 2005,
77	choose a new name for the geographic site. Thereafter, the
78	political subdivision shall ensure that whenever it updates a
79	map or replaces a sign, interpretive marker, or any other marker
80	because of wear or vandalism, the offensive or derogatory place
81	name is removed and replaced with the name chosen by the
82	division.
83	(5) The division shall:
84	(a) Notify the Department of Transportation, the Office of
85	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the Department of
86	Management Services, and any other entity that compiles
87	information for or develops maps or markers for the state of the
88	name change so that it may be reflected on subsequent editions
89	of any maps, informational literature, or markers produced by
90	those entities.
91	(b) Place a formal request with the United States Board on
92	Geographic Names to render a decision on the proposed name
93	change so that the new name will be reflected on all maps of the
94	United States Board on Geographic Names.
95	(6) This section does not apply to a geographic place name
96	that is the same as the name of a historic person or event or
97	that is a nonpejorative place name.
98	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.