Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1476
By Senator Jones
34-01376A-25 20251476__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Florida Museum of Black
3 History; amending s. 267.0722, F.S.; specifying
4 functions and activities of the Florida Museum of
5 Black History; providing for legislative designation
6 of the permanent and temporary locations of the
7 museum; requiring a specified nonprofit organization
8 to create the exhibits for the temporary museum;
9 establishing a governing board for certain purposes;
10 providing requirements for the governing board;
11 requiring the governing board to submit a written
12 report to the Governor and Legislature by a specified
13 date; requiring the Department of State to provide
14 certain support; deleting obsolete provisions;
15 providing appropriations; providing an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Section 267.0722, Florida Statutes, is amended
20 to read:
21 267.0722 Florida Museum of Black History.—
22 (1) There is created within the division the Florida Museum
23 of Black History. The museum, once constructed, shall be a
24 multipurpose facility capable of generating revenues to offset
25 operating costs and expenses, with archival research and storage
26 facilities, meeting rooms, full-service banquet facilities, and
27 a locally funded performing arts theater.
28 (2) Based on the report delivered by the Florida Museum of
29 Black History governing board to the Governor, the President of
30 the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
31 Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the
32 House of Representatives, the Legislature:
33 (a) Determines that the City of Opa-locka shall be the
34 permanent location of the Florida Museum of Black History.
35 (b) Designates the Opa-locka Historic City Hall and Fire
36 Station as the interim location for a temporary museum.
37 (c) Designates the Ten North Group, a nonprofit
38 organization located in Opa-locka, as the entity responsible for
39 creating exhibits at the temporary museum.
40 (3)(a) A governing board is established to oversee the
41 predevelopment activities and the development and governance of
42 the museum. The governing board shall be composed of no more
43 than 25 members, appointed by July 31, 2025, as follows:
44 1. Two members appointed by the Executive Office of the
45 Governor.
46 2. Two members appointed by the President of the Senate.
47 3. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
48 Representatives.
49 4. Two members appointed by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County.
50 5. Two members appointed by the chair of the Miami-Dade
51 County Commission.
52 6. Two members appointed by a member of the Miami-Dade
53 County Commission, District 1.
54 7. Six members appointed by a majority vote of the Mayor of
55 the City of Opa-locka and the Opa-locka City Commission.
56 8. No more than seven members appointed by a majority vote
57 of the governing board members. At least three of these members
58 must have 5 or more years of experience as academic scholars in
59 Black studies or African-American history.
60 (b) Members of the governing board shall serve for a term
61 of 3 years or until replaced.
62 (c) Members of the governing board shall serve without
63 compensation but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per
64 diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
65 (d) The governing board shall hold its first meeting by
66 October 1, 2025.
67 (e) In conducting the predevelopment activities, the
68 governing board shall conduct site visits and guide the design
69 and planning phases with a focus on conceptual design,
70 regulatory compliance, and community engagement. Additionally,
71 the governing board may take an active role in securing
72 necessary funding and financing, approving detailed financial
73 models, establishing strategic partnerships, and coordinating
74 the procurement of contractors and resources to ensure that the
75 museum can seamlessly transition into the construction phase.
76 (f) By March 1, 2026, the governing board shall submit a
77 written report detailing its plans for constructing the
78 permanent museum to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
79 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
80 (4)(a) The Department of State shall provide support,
81 including administrative support, to implement the
82 predevelopment activities of the museum. The department shall
83 also make historical artifacts, as requested by the Ten North
84 Group, available as part of the exhibits for the temporary
85 museum.
86 (b) The Ten North Group must create at least two exhibits
87 at the temporary museum within the first year of the temporary
88 museum’s existence. Task Force for the purpose of providing
89 recommendations to the division for the planning, construction,
90 operation, and administration of a Florida Museum of Black
91 History. The museum shall be a multipurpose facility capable of
92 generating self-sustaining revenues, with archival research and
93 storage facilities, meeting rooms, full service banquet
94 facilities that include a kitchen capable of serving at least
95 250 people at a single event, and a performing arts theater that
96 shall be made available for private events.
97 (2) The task force shall be composed of nine members. Three
98 members shall be appointed by the Governor, three members shall
99 be appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members
100 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
101 Representatives. At least three of the appointed members must
102 have 5 or more years of experience in one of the following
103 areas: tenured faculty in history at a Florida public or private
104 university; historical research and publication; archival design
105 or preservation; multipurpose public building design or
106 construction; the hospitality and service industry; business;
107 finance; marketing; law; or education. All appointments shall be
108 made no later than July 31, 2023.
109 (3) Members of the task force shall serve without
110 compensation or honorarium but shall be entitled to receive
111 reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s.
112 112.061.
113 (4) The division shall provide the task force with staff
114 and expend funds as necessary to assist the task force in the
115 performance of its duties.
116 (5) The task force shall develop the following:
117 (a) Plans for the location, design, and construction of the
118 museum and all necessary facilities.
119 (b) Recommendations for the operation and administration of
120 the museum upon completion of construction.
121 (c) A marketing plan that may be executed by the Florida
122 Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation to promote the museum.
123 (d) A transition plan under which the museum will become
124 financially self-sufficient.
125 (e) Recommendations for archival and artifact acquisition,
126 preservation, and research; exhibits; installations; and
127 educational materials that complement and support required
128 instruction provided in public schools in accordance with s.
129 1003.42(2)(h). The recommendations must include materials
130 relating to:
131 1. The role of African-American participation in defending
132 and preserving Florida and the United States, including, by way
133 of example and without limitation, the contributions of the
134 residents of Fort Mose, the Tuskegee Airmen, and all African
135 American veterans.
136 2. The history of slavery in the state.
137 3. The history of segregation in the state.
138 4. Notable African Americans in this state.
139 5. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, including the founding of
140 Bethune Cookman University.
141 6. The history of historically black colleges and
142 universities in this state.
143 7. The inherent worth and dignity of human life, with a
144 focus on the prevention of genocide.
145 (6) Before July 1, 2024, the task force shall submit a
146 report detailing its plans and recommendations to the Governor,
147 the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
148 Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the
149 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Upon submission
150 of the report, the task force shall expire.
151 (7) After receiving the report of the task force, the
152 Legislature may consider legislation pertaining to the
153 commissioning, construction, operation, and administration of
154 the museum.
155 Section 2. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of
156 $750,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
157 Revenue Fund to the Florida Museum of Black History governing
158 board for predevelopment activities, with no more than 10
159 percent of the funds to be used for administrative expenses.
160 Section 3. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of
161 $750,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
162 Revenue Fund to the Florida Museum of Black History governing
163 board for use by the Ten North Group for expenses incurred in
164 creating the exhibits for the temporary museum.
165 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.