HB 0505

CS

CHAMBER ACTION

1	The Committee on Local Government & Veterans' Affairs recommends
2	the following:
3
4	Committee Substitute
5	Remove the entire bill and insert:
6	A bill to be entitled
7	An act relating to abrogating offensive or derogatory
8	place names; creating s. 267.0625, F.S.; providing
9	legislative findings that certain place names are
10	offensive or derogatory; providing definitions; requiring
11	state agencies and political subdivisions that own or
12	manage geographic sites that contain offensive or
13	derogatory place names to identify such sites and file a
14	report on their findings with the Division of Historical
15	Resources by a specified date; requiring the division to
16	compile such reports and provide them to the Florida
17	Historical Commission; directing the commission to
18	recommend to the division replacement names; directing the
19	division to select replacement names by a specified date;
20	requiring the division to notify certain entities of the
21	name changes; requiring state agencies and political
22	subdivisions to update maps and markers with the new place
23	names; directing the division to place a formal request
24	with the United States Board on Geographic Names to render
25	decisions on and update maps to reflect name changes;
26	requiring the division to provide a report to the Governor
27	and Legislature containing certain findings by a specified
28	date; providing an effective date.
29
30	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
31
32	Section 1.  Section 267.0625, Florida Statutes, is created
33	to read:
34	267.0625  Abrogation of offensive and derogatory geographic
35	place names.--
36	(1)  The Legislature finds that certain place names for
37	geographic sites are offensive or derogatory to the state's
38	people, history, and heritage. The state encourages tolerance
39	and understanding among all of its residents and these
40	geographic place names are a barrier to that effort. The
41	Legislature finds that these offensive or derogatory place names
42	should be replaced by names that reflect the state's people,
43	history, and heritage without resorting to offensive
44	stereotypes, slurs, names, words, or phrases.
45	(2)  As used in this section, the term:
46	(a)  "Commission" means the Florida Historical Commission
47	within the Department of State.
48	(b)  "Geographic site" means a location or publicly owned
49	structure in this state and includes, but is not limited to,
50	rivers and other navigable waters of this state, geographic
51	features, parks, and state or local roads, bridges, and publicly
52	owned buildings.
53	(c)  "Offensive or derogatory place name" means a place
54	name that is a racial, ethnic, or religious slur.
55	(3)(a)  By October 1, 2004, each state agency or political
56	subdivision that owns or manages public land, waters, or
57	structures in this state shall identify any geographic sites
58	within its jurisdiction that contain offensive or derogatory
59	place names as defined in subsection (2) and shall file a report
60	with the division identifying those names. A political
61	subdivision shall also include a recommended replacement name
62	for each identified offensive or derogatory place name.
63	(b)  The division shall compile the reports required to be
64	filed pursuant to this section and provide a copy to the
65	commission. The commission shall advise the division in its
66	review of recommended place names and in the development of
67	alternative names to replace offensive or derogatory place names
68	with place names that reflect the state's diversity and culture.
69	(c)  By March 1, 2005, the division shall choose a new name
70	for each geographic site reported by a state agency or political
71	subdivision.
72	(4)  The division shall:
73	(a)  Notify each entity that has reported an offensive or
74	derogatory place name pursuant to subsection (3) of the
75	alternative name selected by the division. Each state agency or
76	political subdivision shall ensure that whenever it updates a
77	map or recorded plat or replaces a sign, interpretive marker, or
78	any other marker because of wear or vandalism, the new name is
79	used.
80	(b)  Notify the Department of Transportation, the Office of
81	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the Department of
82	Management Services, and any other entity that compiles
83	information for or develops maps or markers for the state of the
84	name change so that such change may be reflected on subsequent
85	editions of any maps, informational literature, or markers
86	produced by those entities.
87	(c)  Place a formal request with the United States Board on
88	Geographic Names to render a decision on each proposed name
89	change so that each new name will be reflected on all maps of
90	the United States Board on Geographic Names.
91	(d)  Report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
92	and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by no later than
93	July 1, 2005, regarding implementation of the provisions of this
94	section by the division. The report shall include, but not be
95	limited to, the following:
96	1.  Each offensive or derogatory place name identified by a
97	state agency or political subdivision.
98	2.  The replacement name selected by the division.
99	3.  Whether any markers and maps have been changed to
100	reflect the name changes.
101	4.  The date that requests to change names were filed with
102	the United States Board on Geographic Names and whether those
103	changes have been made.
104	5.  Any other relevant information that the division finds
105	appropriate.
106	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.