Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 614
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-00125-20                                            2020614__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida Complete Count
    3         Committee; creating the committee adjunct to the
    4         Department of State for specified purposes; specifying
    5         the membership of the committee; providing for the
    6         appointment of members and filling of vacancies;
    7         prescribing duties of the committee and the
    8         department; requiring each state agency to designate a
    9         census coordinator; defining the term “state agency”;
   10         prescribing reporting requirements; providing for
   11         expiration of the act; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. (1) The Florida Complete Count Committee, a
   16  committee as defined in s. 20.03(8), Florida Statutes, is
   17  created adjunct to the Department of State for the express
   18  purpose of developing, recommending, and assisting in the
   19  administration of a census outreach strategy to encourage the
   20  full participation of this state’s residents in the 2020 federal
   21  decennial census of population required by 13 U.S.C. s. 141.
   22  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the committee
   23  shall operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052, Florida
   24  Statutes.
   25         (2) The committee is composed of the following members:
   26         (a) The President of the Senate, or his or her designee.
   27         (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his or
   28  her designee.
   29         (c) The Minority Leader of the Senate, or his or her
   30  designee.
   31         (d) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or
   32  his or her designee.
   33         (e) One representative each from the following
   34  organizations:
   35         1. The Florida League of Cities.
   36         2. The Florida League of Mayors.
   37         3. The Florida Association of Counties.
   38         4. The Florida Association of District School
   39  Superintendents.
   40         5. Leadership Florida.
   41         (f) A designee of the Governor.
   42         (g) The Secretary of State.
   43         (h) A representative of Florida’s Local Update of Census
   44  Addresses effort.
   45         (i) One representative each from four different
   46  organizations representing the interests of minorities in this
   47  state, appointed by the Secretary of State.
   48         (j) One representative appointed from three different
   49  organizations representing the interests of businesses in this
   50  state, nominated by their organizations.
   51         (k) Three representatives of faith-based organizations,
   52  appointed by the Governor.
   53         (l) Two representatives of Native American communities,
   54  appointed by the Governor.
   55         (3) Members of the committee must be appointed no later
   56  than 15 days after the date that this act becomes a law, and may
   57  meet as often as deemed necessary in order to fulfill its duties
   58  and responsibilities provided under this section. Members of the
   59  committee shall serve at the pleasure of their respective
   60  appointing authority and any vacancies must be filled in the
   61  same manner as the initial appointment. Members of the committee
   62  shall designate a chair and a vice chair from among its
   63  membership.
   64         (4) In developing a recommended census outreach strategy,
   65  the committee shall consider, but is not limited to, the
   66  following:
   67         (a) State agency initiatives to encourage participation in
   68  the 2020 Census.
   69         (b) The establishment and support of school-based outreach
   70  programs.
   71         (c) Partnerships with nonprofit community-based
   72  organizations.
   73         (d) A multilingual and multimedia campaign designed to
   74  ensure an accurate and complete count of the state’s population.
   75         (5) To assist in carrying out its duties, the committee may
   76  establish, and appoint to from among its membership,
   77  subcommittees as it deems appropriate, and may solicit
   78  participation from relevant experts and practitioners involved
   79  in census issues.
   80         (6)(a) The Department of State shall review the committee’s
   81  recommendations on a census outreach strategy. Following such
   82  review, the department shall coordinate the implementation and
   83  administration of any adopted outreach strategy. The department
   84  shall provide administrative support to the committee and
   85  coordinate with all state agencies and constitutional officers,
   86  as well as units of local government, to identify effective
   87  methods of outreach to the state’s residents and to provide
   88  resources to ensure the success of the outreach program and that
   89  all of the state’s residents are counted.
   90         (b) Each state agency shall designate a census coordinator
   91  who shall cooperate and provide support to the committee as
   92  needed. Each state agency shall inform the department of its
   93  designated census coordinator.
   94         (c) For purposes of this subsection, the term “state
   95  agency” means any agency or department under the jurisdiction of
   96  the Governor, a Cabinet officer, or the Governor and Cabinet.
   97  Any other entities of state government, including the
   98  legislative and judicial branches, and units of local government
   99  shall cooperate and provide assistance or information to the
  100  committee upon request.
  101         (7) The committee shall submit a report to the Governor,
  102  the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
  103  Representatives by June 30, 2020, which contains its
  104  recommendations for a census outreach strategy with the
  105  objective of encouraging full participation and avoiding an
  106  undercount in the 2020 Census. Thereafter, the committee shall
  107  submit a final report to the Governor, the President of the
  108  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
  109  August 31, 2021, which details the results of the census
  110  outreach strategy.
  111         (8) This section expires September 30, 2021.
  112         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.