Florida Senate - 2019 SB 1306
By Senators Book and Pizzo
32-01658C-19 20191306__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Women’s Suffrage Centennial
3 Commemoration Committee; creating the committee
4 adjunct to the Department of State; providing for the
5 purpose of the committee; specifying the composition
6 of the committee and requirements of committee
7 members; prescribing duties of the committee in order
8 to ensure a suitable statewide observance of the
9 centennial of women’s suffrage; providing for the
10 establishment of a youth working group; requiring the
11 Division of Historical Resources of the department to
12 provide administrative and staff support; providing
13 for expiration of the act; providing an effective
14 date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. (1) The Women’s Suffrage Centennial
19 Commemoration Committee, a committee as defined in s. 20.03(8),
20 Florida Statutes, is created adjunct to the Department of State
21 for the express purpose of ensuring a suitable statewide
22 observance of the centennial of women’s suffrage in 2020. Except
23 as otherwise provided in this section, the committee shall
24 operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052, Florida Statutes.
25 (2) The committee is composed of the following members:
26 (a) The chair of the committee, appointed by the Governor.
27 (b) The Secretary of State, or his or her designee.
28 (c) The director of the Division of Historical Resources of
29 the Department of State.
30 (d) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President
31 of the Senate.
32 (e) Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed
33 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
34 (f) A women’s history scholar from a postsecondary
35 educational institution in this state, appointed by the
36 Governor.
37 (g) A member of the Florida Historical Commission,
38 appointed by the Governor.
39 (h) Two members of the Florida Commission on the Status of
40 Women, appointed by the Governor.
41 (i) A member of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, appointed
42 by the Governor.
43 (j) A representative of the League of Women Voters of
44 Florida, appointed by the Governor.
45 (k) A historian, appointed by the Governor.
46 (l) Two citizen members, appointed by the Governor.
47 (3) Appointed members of the committee shall serve at the
48 pleasure of the appointing authority and any vacancies shall be
49 filled in the same manner as the initial appointment. The
50 committee may meet as often as it deems necessary to fulfill the
51 duties prescribed in this section.
52 (4) In ensuring a suitable statewide observance of the
53 centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth
54 Amendment to the United States Constitution, the committee has
55 the following duties:
56 (a) Advise on the development of programs and activities
57 appropriate to commemorate the centennial of women’s suffrage,
58 and encourage the development of such programs and activities to
59 ensure that the commemoration results in a positive legacy and
60 has long-term benefits.
61 (b) Facilitate the observance of women’s suffrage-related
62 activities throughout the state.
63 (c) Encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, and
64 other organizations throughout the state to organize and
65 participate in activities to expand the understanding and
66 appreciation of women’s suffrage while also recognizing the
67 racial disparities that interfered with the exercise of the
68 right to vote by women of color upon the enfranchisement of
69 women.
70 (d) Coordinate and facilitate the public distribution of
71 scholarly research, publication, and interpretation of women’s
72 suffrage.
73 (e) Coordinate with the Department of Education regarding
74 the manner in which the centennial of women’s suffrage will be
75 commemorated in the state’s public secondary schools.
76 (f) Assist the Department of State in developing a
77 statewide public awareness campaign on the centennial of women’s
78 suffrage through such means as, but not limited to, public
79 service announcements, outdoor advertising, and a website.
80 (g) Encourage local organizations and nonprofit
81 organizations to further the commemoration of the centennial of
82 women’s suffrage.
83 (5) The committee may establish a youth working group to
84 advise and provide recommendations to the committee in
85 fulfilling its duties and responsibilities. Members of the youth
86 working group shall serve on a volunteer basis and must be
87 residents of this state between 15 and 30 years of age who
88 identify as women and demonstrate an interest in history. The
89 chair of the committee shall appoint members of the working
90 group upon review of applications.
91 (6) The Division of Historical Resources of the Department
92 of State shall provide administrative and staff support for the
93 committee.
94 (7) This section expires December 31, 2020.
95 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.