Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1606
By Senator Powell
24-01604A-23 20231606__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to a Florida Museum of Black History;
3 creating s. 267.0722, F.S.; creating a Florida Museum
4 of Black History Task Force within the Division of
5 Historical Resources of the Department of State;
6 providing the purpose of the task force; providing for
7 the appointment of task force members by the
8 Legislature; prohibiting compensation for members of
9 the task force; providing that task force members are
10 entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and
11 travel expenses; requiring the division to provide
12 staff and authorizing the division to expend funds as
13 necessary to assist the task force; requiring the task
14 force to develop certain plans and recommendations;
15 requiring the task force to submit a report to the
16 Governor and the Legislature before a certain date;
17 providing for the expiration of the task force;
18 requiring the division, at the direction of the
19 Legislature, to oversee the construction, operation,
20 and administration of a Florida Museum of Black
21 History; requiring the Legislature to provide certain
22 appropriations to the division; providing an effective
23 date.
24
25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27 Section 1. Section 267.0722, Florida Statutes, is created
28 to read:
29 267.0722 Florida Museum of Black History.—
30 (1) There is created within the division the Florida Museum
31 of Black History Task Force for the purpose of providing
32 recommendations to the division for the planning, construction,
33 operation, and administration of a Florida Museum of Black
34 History. The museum shall be a multipurpose facility capable of
35 generating self-sustaining revenues, with meeting rooms, a 250
36 to 500 seat banquet hall, a banquet kitchen, and a performing
37 arts theater that shall be made available for private events.
38 (2) The members of the task force shall be appointed by the
39 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
40 Representatives.
41 (3) Members of the task force shall serve without
42 compensation or honorarium but shall be entitled to receive
43 reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s.
44 112.061.
45 (4) The division shall provide the task force with staff
46 and may expend funds as necessary to assist the task force in
47 the performance of its duties.
48 (5) The task force shall develop the following:
49 (a) Plans for the location, design, and construction of the
50 museum.
51 (b) Recommendations for the operation and administration of
52 the museum upon completion of construction.
53 (c) A marketing plan that may be executed by the Florida
54 Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation to promote the museum.
55 (d) A transition plan under which the museum will become
56 financially self-sufficient.
57 (e) Recommendations for exhibits, installations, and
58 educational materials that complement and support required
59 instruction provided in public schools in accordance with s.
60 1003.42(2)(h). The recommendations must include materials
61 relating to:
62 1. The Tuskegee Airmen, in Tuskegee, Alabama, and at Dale
63 Mabry Army Air Field in Tallahassee, and a replica of a “Red
64 Tail” World War II aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen.
65 2. General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., of Pensacola.
66 3. The history of slavery in the state.
67 4. The history of Jim Crow in the state.
68 5. The Groveland Four.
69 6. Ax Handle Saturday in Jacksonville.
70 7. Zora Neale Hurston.
71 8. Notable African Americans in this state.
72 9. The Tallahassee bus boycott.
73 10. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, including the founding of
74 Bethune-Cookman University.
75 11. The history of historically black colleges and
76 universities in this state.
77 12. The inherent worth and dignity of human life, with a
78 focus on the prevention of genocide.
79 (6) Before July 1, 2024, the task force shall submit a
80 report detailing its plans and recommendations to the Governor,
81 the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
82 Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the
83 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Upon submission
84 of the report, the task force shall expire.
85 (7) After receiving the report of the task force, the
86 Legislature shall direct the division to oversee the
87 construction, operation, and administration of the museum.
88 (8) The Legislature shall provide to the division a
89 $500,000 appropriation for the planning, construction,
90 operation, and administration of the museum, and annually
91 thereafter shall provide to the division a $1 million
92 appropriation for the operation and administration of the
93 museum.
94 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.