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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Council on the Social Status of

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Black Men and Boys; amending s. 16.615, F.S.; removing

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outdated provisions; removing a provision that

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discontinues the council under certain conditions;

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providing an appropriation; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 16.615, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     16.615  Council on the Social Status of Black Men and

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Boys.--

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     (1)  The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys

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is established within the Department of Legal Affairs and shall

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consist of 19 members appointed as follows:

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     (a)  Two members of the Senate who are not members of the

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same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate

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with the advice of the Minority Leader of the Senate.

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     (b)  Two members of the House of Representatives who are not

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members of the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of

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the House of Representatives with the advice of the Minority

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Leader of the House of Representatives.

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     (c)  The Secretary of Children and Family Services or his or

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her designee.

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     (d)  The director of the Mental Health Program Office within

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the Department of Children and Family Services or his or her

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designee.

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     (e) The Secretary of Health State Surgeon General or his or

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her designee.

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     (f)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.

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     (g)  The Secretary of Corrections or his or her designee.

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     (h)  The Attorney General or his or her designee.

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     (i)  The Secretary of Management Services or his or her

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designee.

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     (j)  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation or

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his or her designee.

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     (k) A businessperson who is an African American, as defined

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in s. 760.80(2), of black origin appointed by the Governor.

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     (l)  Two persons appointed by the President of the Senate

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who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state

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government. One of the appointees must be a clinical

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psychologist.

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     (m)  Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or

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employed by state government. One of the appointees must be an

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Africana studies professional.

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     (n)  The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency for

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Health Care Administration or his or her designee.

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     (o)  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice or his or her

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designee.

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     (2)  Each member of the council shall be appointed to a 4-

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year term; however, for the purpose of providing staggered terms,

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of the initial appointments, 9 members shall be appointed to 2-

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year terms and 10 members shall be appointed to 4-year terms. A

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member of the council may be removed at any time by the member's

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appointing authority who shall fill the vacancy on the council.

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     (3)(a)  At the first meeting of the council each year, the

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members shall elect a chair and a vice chair.

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     (b)  A vacancy in the office of chair or vice chair shall be

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filled by vote of the remaining members.

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     (4)(a)  The council shall make a systematic study of the

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conditions affecting black men and boys, including, but not

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limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates,

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poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual

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income levels, school performance in all grade levels including

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postsecondary levels, and health issues.

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     (b)  The council shall propose measures to alleviate and

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correct the underlying causes of the conditions described in

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paragraph (a). These measures may consist of changes to the law

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or systematic changes that can be implemented without legislative

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action.

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     (c)  The council may study other topics suggested by the

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Legislature or as directed by the chair of the council.

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     (d)  The council shall receive suggestions or comments

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pertinent to the applicable issues from members of the

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Legislature, governmental agencies, public and private

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organizations, and private citizens.

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     (5)  The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff

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and administrative support to the council.

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     (6)  The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at

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the call of the chair or as determined by a majority of council

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members and approved by the Attorney General.

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     (7) Eleven of the members of the council shall constitute a

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quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members

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present is required for final action.

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     (8)(a)  The council shall issue its first annual report by

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December 15, 2007, and by December 15 each following year,

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stating the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the

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council. The council shall submit the report to the Governor, the

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President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives, and the chairpersons of the standing committees

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of jurisdiction in each chamber.

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     (b)  The initial report must include the findings of an

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investigation into factors causing black-on-black crime from the

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perspective of public health related to mental health, other

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health issues, cultural disconnection, and cultural identity

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trauma.

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     (9)  Members of the council shall serve without

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compensation. Members are entitled to reimbursement for per diem

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and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. State officers and

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employees shall be reimbursed from the budget of the agency

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through which they serve. Other members may be reimbursed by the

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Department of Legal Affairs.

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     (10) The council and any subcommittees it forms are shall

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be subject to the provisions of chapter 119, related to public

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records, and the provisions of chapter 286, related to public

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meetings.

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     (11)  Each member of the council who is not otherwise

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required to file a financial disclosure statement pursuant to s.

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8, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144, must file a

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disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.

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     (12) Notwithstanding subsection (6), the Attorney General

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shall:

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     (a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this act,

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fix a date for the initial meeting of the council.

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     (b) Notify each member of the council of the time, date,

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and place where the initial meeting will be held.

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     (c) Make any other arrangements concerning the initial

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meeting of the council.

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     (d) Serve as the presiding officer at the initial meeting

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of the council until a chair is elected.

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     (13) This section expires July 1, 2012, unless reenacted by

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the Legislature.

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     Section 2. The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the

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General Revenue Fund to the Department of Legal Affairs for the

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purpose of paying administrative expenses necessary for the

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Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to carry out

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its responsibilities under s. 16.615, Florida Statutes, during

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the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.