| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the convention and tourism industry; |
| 3 | providing for the formation of a partnership between the |
| 4 | Florida Commission on Tourism, the Florida Black Business |
| 5 | Investment Board, and the Office of Tourism, Trade, and |
| 6 | Economic Development for the purpose of establishing a |
| 7 | cooperative program to utilize African-American businesses |
| 8 | in publicizing the tourism advantages of the state; |
| 9 | providing for the formation of a committee to enforce |
| 10 | fairness with respect to African-American participation |
| 11 | and utilization in the convention and tourism industry; |
| 12 | providing for the consideration of specified mechanisms by |
| 13 | the commission, the board, and the office to increase the |
| 14 | participation of businesses owned by African-Americans in |
| 15 | the convention and tourism industry; providing an |
| 16 | effective date. |
| 17 |
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| 18 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 19 |
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| 20 | Section 1. (1) The Florida Commission on Tourism, the |
| 21 | Florida Black Business Investment Board, and the Office of |
| 22 | Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall form a |
| 23 | partnership for the purpose of establishing a cooperative |
| 24 | program to utilize African-American businesses in publicizing |
| 25 | the tourism advantages of the state. The commission may contract |
| 26 | with its direct-support organization to administer the program. |
| 27 | (2) A committee shall be formed to enforce fairness with |
| 28 | respect to African-American participation and utilization in the |
| 29 | convention and tourism industry. The committee members shall be |
| 30 | appointed by the Florida Black Business Investment Board and |
| 31 | approved by the Governor. |
| 32 | (3) The Florida Commission on Tourism, the Florida Black |
| 33 | Business Investment Board, and the Office of Tourism, Trade, and |
| 34 | Economic Development shall consider the use of price preferences |
| 35 | of up to 10 percent, weighted preference formulas, or other |
| 36 | preferences for vendors as determined appropriate pursuant to |
| 37 | guidelines established in accordance with s. 287.09451(4), |
| 38 | Florida Statutes, to increase the participation of businesses |
| 39 | owned by African-Americans in the convention and tourism |
| 40 | industry. |
| 41 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |