HB 0021CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Health & Families Council recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to the social status of black men and
7boys; creating the Council on the Social Status of Black
8Men and Boys; providing for the appointment and
9qualification of members; providing for the appointment of
10members to fill vacant positions; requiring the council to
11make a systematic study of conditions affecting black men
12and boys; requiring the Office of the Attorney General to
13provide administrative support; requiring the council to
14submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature;
15providing for reimbursement for per diem and travel
16expenses; providing that the council and any subcommittees
17it forms are subject to public records and meetings
18requirements; providing financial disclosure requirements
19for council members; requiring the Attorney General to
20organize the initial meeting of the council; providing for
21the expiration of the council; providing an effective
22date.
23
24Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26     Section 1.  Council on the Social Status of Black Men and
27Boys.--
28     (1)  The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys
29is established within the Department of Legal Affairs and shall
30consist of 19 members appointed as follows:
31     (a)  Two members of the Senate who are not members of the
32same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate
33with the advice of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
34     (b)  Two members of the House of Representatives who are
35not members of the same political party, appointed by the
36Speaker of the House of Representatives with the advice of the
37Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
38     (c)  The Secretary of Children and Family Services or his
39or her designee.
40     (d)  The director of the Mental Health Program Office
41within the Department of Children and Family Services or his or
42her designee.
43     (e)  The Secretary of Health or his or her designee.
44     (f)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
45     (g)  The Secretary of Corrections or his or her designee.
46     (h)  The Attorney General or his or her designee.
47     (i)  The Secretary of Management Services or his or her
48designee.
49     (j)  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation or
50his or her designee.
51     (k)  A businessperson of black origin appointed by the
52Governor.
53     (l)  Two persons appointed by the President of the Senate
54who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state
55government. One of the appointees must be a clinical
56psychologist.
57     (m)  Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of
58Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or
59employed by state government. One of the appointees must be an
60Africana studies professional.
61     (n)  The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency for
62Health Care Administration or his or her designee.
63     (o)  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice or his or her
64designee.
65     (2)  Each member of the council shall be appointed to a 4-
66year term; however, for the purpose of providing staggered
67terms, of the initial appointments, 9 members shall be appointed
68to 2-year terms and 10 members shall be appointed to 4-year
69terms. A member of the council may be removed at any time by the
70member's appointing authority who shall fill the vacancy on the
71council.
72     (3)(a)  At the first meeting of the council each year, the
73members shall elect a chair and a vice chair.
74     (b)  A vacancy in the office of chair or vice chair shall
75be filled by vote of the remaining members.
76     (4)(a)  The council shall make a systematic study of the
77conditions affecting black men and boys, including, but not
78limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates,
79poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual
80income levels, school performance in all grade levels including
81postsecondary levels, and health issues.
82     (b)  The council shall propose measures to alleviate and
83correct the underlying causes of the conditions described in
84paragraph (a). These measures may consist of changes to the law
85or systematic changes that can be implemented without
86legislative action.
87     (c)  The council may study other topics suggested by the
88Legislature or as directed by the chair of the council.
89     (d)  The council shall receive suggestions or comments
90pertinent to the applicable issues from members of the
91Legislature, governmental agencies, public and private
92organizations, and private citizens.
93     (5)  The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff
94and administrative support to the council.
95     (6)  The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at
96the call of the chair or as determined by a majority of council
97members and approved by the Attorney General.
98     (7)  Eleven of the members of the council shall constitute
99a quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
100present is required for final action.
101     (8)(a)  The council shall issue its first annual report by
102December 15, 2007, and by December 15 each following year,
103stating the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
104council. The council shall submit the report to the Governor,
105the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
106Representatives, and the chairpersons of the standing committees
107of jurisdiction in each chamber.
108     (b)  The initial report must include the findings of an
109investigation into factors causing black-on-black crime from the
110perspective of public health related to mental health, other
111health issues, cultural disconnection, and cultural identity
112trauma.
113     (9)  Members of the council shall serve without
114compensation. Members are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
115and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
116State officers and employees shall be reimbursed from the budget
117of the agency through which they serve. Other members may be
118reimbursed by the Department of Legal Affairs.
119     (10)  The council and any subcommittees it forms shall be
120subject to the provisions of chapter 119, Florida Statutes,
121related to public records, and the provisions of chapter 286,
122Florida Statutes, related to public meetings.
123     (11)  Each member of the council who is not otherwise
124required to file a financial disclosure statement pursuant to s.
1258, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144, Florida
126Statutes, must file a disclosure of financial interests pursuant
127to s. 112.3145, Florida Statutes.
128     (12)  Notwithstanding subsection (6), the Attorney General
129shall:
130     (a)  Within 60 days after the effective date of this act,
131fix a date for the initial meeting of the council.
132     (b)  Notify each member of the council of the time, date,
133and place where the initial meeting will be held.
134     (c)  Make any other arrangements concerning the initial
135meeting of the council.
136     (d)  Serve as the presiding officer at the initial meeting
137of the council until a chair is elected.
138     (13)  This section expires July 1, 2012, unless reenacted
139by the Legislature.
140     Section 2.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2007.


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