HB 21

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the social status of African-American
3men and boys; creating the Council on the Social Status of
4African-American Men and Boys; providing for the
5appointment and qualification of members; providing for
6the appointment of members to fill vacant positions;
7requiring the council to make a systematic study of
8conditions affecting African-American men and boys;
9requiring the Office of the Attorney General to provide
10administrative support; requiring the council to submit an
11annual report to the Governor and Legislature; providing
12for reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses;
13requiring the Attorney General to organize the initial
14meeting of the council; providing for the expiration of
15the council; providing an effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19     Section 1.  Council on the Social Status of African-
20American Men and Boys.--
21     (1)  The Council on the Social Status of African-American
22Men and Boys is established and shall consist of 19 members
23appointed as follows:
24     (a)  Two members of the Senate who are not members of the
25same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate
26with the advice of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
27     (b)  Two members of the House of Representatives who are
28not members of the same political party, appointed by the
29Speaker of the House of Representatives with the advice of the
30Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
31     (c)  The Secretary of Children and Family Services or his
32or her designee.
33     (d)  The director of the Mental Health Program Office
34within the Department of Children and Family Services or his or
35her designee.
36     (e)  The Secretary of Health or his or her designee.
37     (f)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
38     (g)  The Secretary of Corrections or his or her designee.
39     (h)  The Attorney General or his or her designee.
40     (i)  The Secretary of Management Services or his or her
41designee.
42     (j)  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation or
43his or her designee.
44     (k)  A businessperson of African-American origin appointed
45by the Governor.
46     (l)  Two persons appointed by the President of the Senate
47who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state
48government. One of the appointees must be a clinical
49physiologist.
50     (m)  Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of
51Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or
52employed by state government. One of the appointees must be an
53Africana studies professional.
54     (n)  The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency for
55Health Care Administration or his or her designee.
56     (o)  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice or his or her
57designee.
58     (2)  A member of the council may be removed at any time by
59the member's appointing authority who shall fill the vacancy on
60the council.
61     (3)(a)  At the first meeting of the council each year, the
62members shall elect a chair and a vice chair.
63     (b)  A vacancy in the office of chair or vice chair shall
64be filled by vote of the remaining members.
65     (4)(a)  The council shall make a systematic study of the
66conditions affecting African-American men and boys, including,
67but not limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration
68rates, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate
69annual income levels, school performance in all grade levels
70including postsecondary levels, and health issues.
71     (b)  The council shall propose measures to alleviate and
72correct the underlying causes of the conditions described in
73paragraph (a). These measures may consist of changes to the law
74or systematic changes that can be implemented without
75legislative action.
76     (c)  The council may study other topics suggested by the
77Legislature or as directed by the chair of the council.
78     (d)  The council shall receive suggestions or comments
79pertinent to the applicable issues from members of the
80Legislature, governmental agencies, public and private
81organizations, and private citizens.
82     (5)  The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff
83and administrative support to the council.
84     (6)  The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at
85the call of the chair or as determined by a majority of council
86members.
87     (7)  Ten of the members of the council shall constitute a
88quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
89present is required for final action.
90     (8)  The council shall issue its first annual report by
91December 15, 2007, and by December 15 each following year,
92stating the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
93council. The council shall submit the report to the Governor,
94the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
95Representatives, and the chairpersons of the standing committees
96of jurisdiction in each chamber.
97     (9)  Members of the council shall serve without
98compensation, but members who are not government employees are
99entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as
100provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
101     (10)  Notwithstanding subsection (6), the Attorney General
102shall:
103     (a)  Within 60 days after the effective date of this act,
104fix a date for the initial meeting of the council.
105     (b)  Notify each member of the council of the time, date,
106and place where the initial meeting will be held.
107     (c)  Make any other arrangements concerning the initial
108meeting of the council.
109     (d)  Serve as the presiding officer at the initial meeting
110of the council until a chair is elected.
111     (11)  This section expires July 1, 2012, unless reenacted
112by the Legislature.
113     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.


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