Senate Bill sb0436
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 436
By Senator Wilson
33-17-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the social status of black
3 men and boys; creating the Council on the
4 Social Status of Black Men and Boys; providing
5 for the appointment and qualification of
6 members; providing for the appointment of
7 members to fill vacant positions; providing for
8 terms of office; requiring the council to make
9 a systematic study of conditions affecting
10 black men and boys; requiring the Office of the
11 Attorney General to provide administrative
12 support; requiring the council to submit an
13 annual report to the Governor and Legislature;
14 providing for reimbursement for per diem and
15 travel expenses; requiring the Attorney General
16 to organize the initial meeting of the council;
17 providing for the expiration of the council;
18 providing an appropriation; providing an
19 effective date.
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21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Legislative findings.--The Legislature
24 finds that there is a chronological record of the status of
25 black men and boys in American society, and in this state's
26 society, which reveals startling and disturbing conditions and
27 trends. This record includes a disproportionate share of black
28 men and boys in this state's correctional facilities; a higher
29 rate of black men and boys being victimized by black-on-black
30 crime; a higher drop-out rate from high school; an average
31 income lower than that of other segments of society, along
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 436
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1 with a lowering of the income earned; a higher death rate from
2 illness; and a lower life expectancy than males in other
3 ethnic and racial groups.
4 Section 2. Council on the Social Status of Black Men
5 and Boys.--
6 (1) The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and
7 Boys is established and shall consist of 19 members appointed
8 as follows:
9 (a) Two members of the Senate who are not members of
10 the same political party, appointed by the President of the
11 Senate with the advice of the minority leader of the Senate.
12 (b) Two members of the House of Representatives who
13 are not members of the same political party, appointed by the
14 Speaker of the House of Representatives with the advice of the
15 minority leader of the House of Representatives.
16 (c) The Secretary of Children and Family Services or
17 his or her designee.
18 (d) The director of the Mental Health Program Office
19 within the Department of Children and Family Services or his
20 or her designee.
21 (e) The Secretary of Health or his or her designee.
22 (f) The Commissioner of Education or his or her
23 designee.
24 (g) The Secretary of Corrections or his or her
25 designee.
26 (h) The Attorney General or his or her designee.
27 (i) The Secretary of Management Services or his or her
28 designee.
29 (j) The director of Workforce Innovation or his or her
30 designee.
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 436
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1 (k) A business person of African-American origin
2 appointed by the Governor.
3 (l) Two persons appointed by the President of the
4 Senate who are not members of the Legislature or employed by
5 state government. One of the appointments must be a clinical
6 physiologist.
7 (m) Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House
8 of Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or
9 employed by state government. One of the appointments must be
10 an Africana studies professional.
11 (n) The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency
12 for Health Care Administration or his or her designee.
13 (o) The Secretary of Juvenile Justice or his or her
14 designee.
15 (2) Each member of the council shall be appointed to a
16 4-year term; however, for the purpose of providing staggered
17 terms, of the initial appointments 10 members shall be
18 appointed to 2-year terms and 11 members shall be appointed to
19 4-year terms. A member of the council may be removed at any
20 time by the member's appointing authority, who shall fill the
21 vacancy on the council for the remainder of the unexpired
22 term. The terms of the legislative members expire at the time
23 they cease to hold legislative office, and the vacancy shall
24 be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
25 (3)(a) At the first meeting of the council each year,
26 the members shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson.
27 (b) A vacancy in the office of chairperson or vice
28 chairperson shall be filled by vote of the remaining members.
29 (4)(a) The council shall make a systematic study of
30 the conditions affecting black men and boys, including, but
31 not limited to, the homicide rates, arrest and incarceration
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 436
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1 rates, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate
2 annual income levels, and health issues.
3 (b) The council shall propose measures to alleviate
4 and correct the underlying causes of the conditions described
5 in paragraph (a). These measures may consist of changes to law
6 or systemic changes that can be implemented without
7 legislative actions.
8 (c) The council may study other topics suggested by
9 the Legislature or as directed by the chairperson of the
10 council.
11 (d) The council shall receive suggestions or comments
12 pertinent to the applicable issues from members of the
13 Legislature, governmental agencies, public and private
14 organizations, and private citizens.
15 (5) The Office of the Attorney General shall provide
16 staff and administrative support to the council.
17 (6) The council shall meet quarterly and additional
18 meetings may be held at the call of the chairperson and at
19 other times as determined by a majority of council members.
20 (7) Eleven of the members of the council constitute a
21 quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
22 present is required for final action.
23 (8)(a) The council shall issue its initial annual
24 report by December 15, 2007, and by December 15th of each
25 following year, stating the findings, conclusions, and
26 recommendations of the council. This report shall be submitted
27 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
28 the House of Representatives, and the chairpersons of the
29 standing committees of jurisdiction in each chamber.
30 (b) The initial report must include the findings of an
31 investigation into factors causing black-on-black crime from
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 436
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1 the perspective of public health related to mental health,
2 other health issues, cultural disconnection, and cultural
3 identity trauma.
4 (9) Members of the council shall serve without
5 compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
6 and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061, Florida
7 Statutes.
8 (10) Notwithstanding subsection (6), the Attorney
9 General shall:
10 (a) Fix a date for the initial meeting of the council;
11 (b) Notify each member of the council of the time,
12 date, and place where the initial meeting will be held;
13 (c) Make any other arrangements concerning the initial
14 meeting of the council; and
15 (d) Serve as the presiding officer at the initial
16 meeting of the council until a chairperson is elected.
17 (11) This section expires July 1, 2012, unless
18 reenacted by the Legislature.
19 Section 3. A sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the
20 General Revenue Fund for the Council on the Social Status of
21 Black Men and Boys.
22 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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25 SENATE SUMMARY
26 Creates the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and
Boys to study the conditions affecting black men and boys
27 and to issue an annual report. Provides for the Office of
the Attorney General to provide administrative support.
28 Provides for the council to expire on July 1, 2012.
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