Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1524
By Senator Grall
29-01072A-25 20251524__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to duties of the Department of State;
3 amending s. 257.031, F.S.; revising the entity that
4 accredits a specified library school program; amending
5 s. 257.12, F.S.; revising duties of the State Library
6 Council; authorizing the Secretary of State to review
7 and edit certain funding recommendations made by the
8 council; amending s. 257.17, F.S.; conforming
9 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
10 257.191, F.S.; requiring the secretary to ensure that
11 construction grant funds meet certain criteria and are
12 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to
13 submit a recommended list to the Legislature for
14 funding consideration; amending s. 257.23, F.S.;
15 requiring the secretary to ensure that construction
16 grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for
17 certain purposes; repealing s. 257.34, F.S., relating
18 to the Florida International Archive and Repository;
19 amending s. 257.42, F.S.; requiring the secretary to
20 ensure that library cooperative grant funds meet
21 certain criteria and are used for certain purposes;
22 amending s. 265.283, F.S.; deleting definitions;
23 amending s. 265.284, F.S.; replacing the term “chief
24 cultural officer” with the term “chief arts and
25 culture officer”; providing that the secretary is the
26 chief arts and culture officer of the state; amending
27 s. 265.285, F.S.; revising the membership of the
28 Florida Council on Arts and Culture; prohibiting
29 council members from receiving financial compensation
30 under specified circumstances; providing an exception;
31 revising duties of the council; amending s. 265.286,
32 F.S.; authorizing the Division of Arts and Culture to
33 accept applications for arts and cultural grants for
34 specified purposes; specifying eligibility criteria;
35 deleting review panel member appointments and
36 criteria; authorizing the secretary to review a
37 specified list to ensure that specified grant funds
38 meet certain criteria and are used for certain
39 purposes; requiring the secretary to submit a
40 recommended list to the Legislature for funding
41 consideration; providing activities and programs for
42 which the division may award grants; revising items
43 for which the division may adopt rules; prohibiting
44 applicants for grant funding from having substantial
45 interests for certain recommendations; requiring the
46 secretary to submit a recommended list to the
47 Legislature for funding consideration; providing
48 requirements for prioritized funding; providing an
49 expiration date for certain purposes; amending s.
50 265.2865, F.S.; authorizing, rather than requiring,
51 the council to accept and recommend nominations for
52 certain purposes annually; revising the number of
53 members the secretary may name to the Florida Artists
54 Hall of Fame in any nomination year; authorizing,
55 rather than requiring, the secretary to annually
56 request an appropriation for certain purposes;
57 amending s. 265.701, F.S.; revising the purposes for
58 which grant funds may be used; authorizing the
59 secretary to review a specified list to ensure that
60 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are
61 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to
62 make certain recommendations to the Legislature before
63 a certain date; amending s. 265.703, F.S.; revising
64 the programs for which citizen support organizations
65 may provide support; amending s. 265.803, F.S.;
66 revising the programmatic set-up and functions of the
67 Florida Folklife Council; amending s. 267.0612, F.S.;
68 requiring the secretary to review special category
69 historic preservation grants-in-aid recommendations of
70 the Florida Historical Commission; amending s.
71 267.0617, F.S.; deleting a provision that requires
72 certain funds to be credited to the Historical
73 Resources Operating Trust Fund; authorizing the
74 secretary to review specified lists to ensure that
75 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are
76 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to
77 submit recommended lists to the Legislature for
78 funding consideration; repealing s. 267.0722, F.S.,
79 relating to the Florida Museum of Black History;
80 amending s. 267.075, F.S.; deleting provisions
81 relating to The Grove Advisory Council; amending s.
82 267.21, F.S.; revising mechanisms by which state funds
83 to assist abandoned African-American cemeteries may be
84 awarded specified grant funds; authorizing the
85 secretary to review a specified list to ensure that
86 specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are
87 used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to
88 submit a recommended list to the Legislature for
89 funding consideration; amending s. 267.22, F.S.;
90 revising the programmatic duties and make-up of the
91 Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council;
92 requiring the council to evaluate proposals for awards
93 of grants relating to abandoned African-American
94 cemeteries; providing an effective date.
95
96 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
97
98 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 257.031, Florida
99 Statutes, is amended to read:
100 257.031 State Librarian; appointment and duties.—
101 (1) The State Librarian shall be appointed by the Secretary
102 of State, shall have completed a library school program
103 accredited by a national library professional the American
104 Library association, and shall serve as the director of the
105 Division of Library and Information Services of the Department
106 of State. The Secretary of State may, in making the appointment
107 of State Librarian, consult the members of the State Library
108 Council.
109 Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 257.12,
110 Florida Statutes, to read:
111 257.12 Division of Library and Information Services
112 authorized to accept and expend federal funds.—
113 (4) The State Library Council, as provided in s. 257.02,
114 shall develop recommendations for providing available federal
115 funds to public libraries. The secretary may review and edit the
116 funding recommendation list to ensure that federal grant funds
117 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all
118 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only
119 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age
120 groups.
121 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
122 257.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
123 257.17 Operating grants.—A political subdivision that has
124 been designated by a county or municipality as the single
125 library administrative unit is eligible to receive from the
126 state an annual operating grant of not more than 25 percent of
127 all local funds expended by that political subdivision during
128 the second preceding fiscal year for the operation and
129 maintenance of a library, under the following conditions:
130 (2) The library established or maintained by such political
131 subdivision shall:
132 (a) Be operated under a single administrative head who is
133 an employee of the single library administrative unit and who
134 has completed a library education program accredited by a
135 national library professional the American Library association.
136 The single administrative head shall have at least 2 years of
137 full-time paid professional experience, after completing the
138 library education program, in a public library that is open to
139 the public for a minimum of 40 hours per week.
140 Section 4. Section 257.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to
141 read:
142 257.191 Construction grants.—
143 (1) The Division of Library and Information Services may
144 accept and administer library construction moneys appropriated
145 to it and shall allocate such appropriation to municipal,
146 county, and regional libraries in the form of library
147 construction grants on a matching basis. The local matching
148 portion shall be no less than the grant amount, on a dollar-for
149 dollar basis, up to the maximum grant amount, unless the
150 matching requirement is waived by s. 288.06561. Initiation of a
151 library construction project 12 months or less prior to the
152 grant award under this section shall not affect the eligibility
153 of an applicant to receive a library construction grant. The
154 division shall adopt rules for the administration of library
155 construction grants. For the purposes of this section, s. 257.21
156 does not apply.
157 (2) The secretary must ensure that the library construction
158 grants awarded under this section are expended in compliance
159 with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are
160 used only for activities and programs that are appropriate for
161 all age groups. The secretary shall submit a recommended list to
162 the Legislature for funding consideration.
163 Section 5. Section 257.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to
164 read:
165 257.23 Application for grant.—
166 (1) The board of county commissioners of any county, the
167 chief executive officer of a municipality, or the governing body
168 of a special district or a special tax district desiring to
169 receive a grant under the provisions of ss. 257.14-257.25 shall
170 apply therefor to the Division of Library and Information
171 Services on or before October 1 of each year on a form to be
172 provided by the division. The application shall be signed by the
173 chair of the board of county commissioners and attested by the
174 clerk of the circuit court or the appropriate officer in a
175 charter county, by the chief executive officer of a municipality
176 and attested by the clerk of the municipality, or by the chair
177 of the governing body and attested by the chief financial
178 officer of a special district or a special tax district. The
179 county, municipality, special district, or special tax district
180 shall agree to observe the standards established by the division
181 as authorized in s. 257.15. On or before December 1 each year,
182 the applicant shall certify the annual tax income and the rate
183 of tax or the annual appropriation for the free library or free
184 library service, and shall furnish such other pertinent
185 information as the division may require.
186 (2) The secretary shall ensure that any grants awarded
187 under this section are expended in compliance with all federal,
188 state, and local laws and regulations and are used only for
189 activities and programs that are appropriate for all age groups.
190 Section 6. Section 257.34, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
191 Section 7. Section 257.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to
192 read:
193 257.42 Library cooperative grants.—
194 (1) The administrative unit of a library cooperative is
195 eligible to receive an annual grant from the state for the
196 purpose of sharing library resources based upon an annual plan
197 of service and expenditure and an annually updated 5-year, long
198 range plan of cooperative library resource sharing. Those plans,
199 which must include a component describing how the cooperative
200 will share technology and the use of technology, must be
201 submitted to the division for evaluation and possible
202 recommendation for funding in the division’s legislative budget
203 request. Grant funds may not be used to supplant local funds or
204 other funds. A library cooperative must provide from local
205 sources matching cash funds equal to 10 percent of the grant
206 award.
207 (2) The secretary must ensure that state grant funds
208 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all
209 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only
210 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age
211 groups.
212 Section 8. Subsections (12), (16), and (17) of section
213 265.283, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
214 265.283 Definitions.—The following definitions shall apply
215 to ss. 265.281-265.703:
216 (12) “Panel” means a grant review panel.
217 (16) “State touring program grants” means grants used to
218 provide performances, activities, and exhibitions by Florida
219 artists to communities.
220 (17) “Underserved arts community assistance program grants”
221 means grants used by qualified organizations under the Rural
222 Economic Development Initiative, pursuant to ss. 288.0656 and
223 288.06561, for the purpose of economic and organizational
224 development for underserved cultural organizations.
225 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 265.284, Florida
226 Statutes, is amended to read:
227 265.284 Chief arts and culture cultural officer; director
228 of division; powers and duties.—
229 (1) The secretary of State is the chief arts and culture
230 cultural officer of the state.
231 Section 10. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) and
232 paragraphs (c), (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (2) of section
233 265.285, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
234 265.285 Florida Council on Arts and Culture; membership,
235 duties.—
236 (1)(a) The Florida Council on Arts and Culture is created
237 within the department as an advisory body, as defined in s.
238 20.03(7). The council shall be composed of 15 members. Nine
239 members shall be appointed by the Governor in consultation with
240 the Secretary of State, three members shall be appointed by the
241 President of the Senate, and three members shall be appointed by
242 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the nine members
243 appointed by the Governor, one member must be a licensed
244 architect who has expertise in cultural facilities; one member
245 must be an enrolled member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida; one
246 member must be a professional public folklorist; one member must
247 be a university-affiliated folklorist; and one member must be a
248 practicing or former professional artist. The remaining four
249 members appointed by the Governor and the three members
250 appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
251 House of Representatives, respectively, must be representatives
252 of the public with demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the
253 arts, culture, museums, folklore, and cultural heritage
254 traditions, consisting of 15 members. Seven members shall be
255 appointed by the Governor, four members shall be appointed by
256 the President of the Senate, and four members shall be appointed
257 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The appointments
258 that are, to be made in consultation with the Secretary of
259 State, shall recognize the need for geographical representation.
260 Effective July 1, 2025, the first vacancy existing or occurring
261 in a council seat previously occupied by a member appointed by
262 the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the first
263 vacancy existing or occurring in a council seat previously
264 occupied by a member appointed by the President of the Senate
265 shall be filled by the Governor. Council members appointed by
266 the Governor shall be appointed for 4-year terms beginning on
267 January 1 of the year of appointment. Council members appointed
268 by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
269 Representatives shall be appointed for 2-year terms beginning on
270 January 1 of the year of appointment. A member of the council
271 who serves two 4-year terms or two 2-year terms is not eligible
272 for reappointment for 1 year following the expiration of the
273 member’s second term. A member whose term has expired shall
274 continue to serve on the council until such time as a
275 replacement is appointed. Any vacancy on the council shall be
276 filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same
277 manner as for the original appointment. Members should have a
278 substantial history of community service in the performing or
279 visual arts, which includes, but is not limited to, theater,
280 dance, folk and traditional arts, music, architecture,
281 photography, literature, and media arts, or in the areas of
282 science, history, or children’s museums. In addition, it is
283 desirable that members have successfully served on boards of
284 cultural institutions such as museums and performing arts
285 centers or are recognized as patrons of the arts. A member may
286 not receive financial compensation as an employee or officer of
287 an entity that has received grant funds or as an applicant for
288 division grant funding recommendations. This prohibition does
289 not apply to an employee or officer of a state college or
290 university.
291 (c) Members of the council and panels may not receive any
292 compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for
293 travel and expenses incurred in the performance of their duties,
294 as provided in s. 112.061.
295 (2) The council shall:
296 (c) Encourage the participation in and appreciation of
297 arts, and culture, and folklife to meet the needs and
298 aspirations of persons in all parts of the state.
299 (e) Encourage arts and culture development within
300 communities and assist freedom of artistic expression that is
301 essential for the well-being of the arts.
302 (f) Advise the secretary in matters concerning the awarding
303 of grants for arts and culture as authorized in this act and
304 make funding recommendations for activities and programs that
305 are appropriate for all age groups.
306 (g) Promote and assist with division programs such as the
307 Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program, the
308 Arts and Culture recognition award program, and the
309 apprenticeship program the reading, writing, and appreciation of
310 poetry throughout the state and accept nominations and recommend
311 nominees for appointment as the State Poet Laureate under s.
312 265.2863.
313 Section 11. Section 265.286, Florida Statutes, is amended
314 to read:
315 265.286 Arts Art and cultural grants.—
316 (1) The division may accept applications for arts and
317 cultural grants for activities and programs identified in
318 subsection (7) and based on the rules adopted under this
319 section.
320 (2) To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
321 (a) Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt Florida corporation, or a
322 local or state governmental entity, school district, community
323 college, college, university, agency of state government, or
324 artist engaged in or concerned with arts and cultural
325 activities.
326 (b) Conduct activities and programs that are appropriate
327 for all age groups.
328 (c) Strictly conform with all applicable local, state, and
329 federal laws and regulations.
330 (3)(1) The secretary may appoint reviewers review panels
331 consisting of members from various art and cultural disciplines
332 and programs to assist the council in the grant application
333 review process. Appointed reviewers shall review Each panel
334 member shall be appointed to a 1-year term. Each panel shall
335 consist of practicing artists or other professionals actively
336 involved in the specific discipline or program for which the
337 panel has been appointed. Each panel shall review and score
338 grant applications and recommend to the council the applicants
339 to which grants may should be awarded. The panels shall submit
340 lists of eligible applicants by score. The division shall adopt
341 rules establishing a formula for such scoring.
342 (4)(2) The council and each panel shall provide a forum for
343 public comment before voting on any grant application.
344 (5)(3) After the council reviews the recommended lists of
345 eligible applicants submitted by each review panel, it shall
346 develop a list of recommended arts and culture grants two lists,
347 one of which must consist of eligible applicants for general
348 program support funding and one of which must consist of
349 eligible applicants for specific cultural project funding, and
350 submit the list lists to the secretary. The secretary may review
351 and edit the list to ensure that any grant funds awarded under
352 this section are expended in compliance with all federal, state,
353 and local laws and regulations and are used only for activities
354 and programs that are appropriate for all age groups. The
355 secretary shall submit the recommended list to the Legislature
356 annually for funding consideration shall review the council’s
357 recommendations and, beginning July 1, 2010, include the lists
358 of approved applicants in the department’s legislative budget
359 request submitted to the Legislature.
360 (6)(4) Arts and cultural Project grants shall be funded
361 from the secretary’s submitted approved list by score until all
362 appropriated funds are depleted. If specific project grant funds
363 are returned to the division, it shall award such funds to the
364 next grant applicant on the secretary’s list of approved
365 applicants. General program support grants shall be awarded to
366 applicants on the secretary’s list in amounts determined by
367 rule.
368 (7)(5) The division shall administer awarded grants fund:
369 (a) To supplement the financial support of artistic and
370 cultural activities and programs that, without the assistance,
371 may otherwise be unavailable to Florida residents Grants for
372 general program support for science museums, youth and
373 children’s museums, historical museums, local arts agencies,
374 state service organizations, and organizations that have
375 cultural program activities in any of the art and cultural
376 disciplines defined in s. 265.283.
377 (b) To activities and programs that have substantial
378 artistic and cultural significance and emphasize creativity and
379 professional excellence Grants for specific cultural projects
380 for arts in education, museums, Culture Builds Florida, or
381 nonprofit public or private organizations having cultural
382 project activity in any of the art and cultural disciplines.
383 (c) To activities and programs that meet the professional
384 standards or standards of authenticity of significant merit,
385 regardless of origin Grants for a touring program that has a
386 selection procedure that ensures the maximum opportunity for
387 Florida artists and cultural groups.
388 (d) To activities and programs that are appropriate for all
389 age groups An individual artist fellowship program. The division
390 shall establish a selection procedure that identifies individual
391 artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability and
392 distribute grant appropriations as provided by rule.
393 (e) To other programs consistent with the purpose of this
394 act.
395 (8)(6) The division may shall adopt rules establishing:
396 (a) Eligibility criteria for the award of grants, which may
397 include, but need not be limited to, application requirements,
398 allowable and nonallowable costs, program quality, artistic
399 quality, creativity, potential public exposure and benefit, the
400 ability to properly administer grant funds, professional
401 excellence, fiscal stability, state or regional impact and
402 economic development, matching requirements, and other
403 requirements to further the purposes of this act.
404 (b) Particular grant programs, categories of grants, and
405 procedures necessary for the prudent administration of the grant
406 programs.
407 (c) The panel review process, including, but not limited
408 to, criteria for reviewing grant applications to ensure
409 compliance with applicable federal and state law, including
410 those related to discrimination and conflicts of interest and
411 appropriateness of content for all age groups. The division may
412 not award any new grant that will, in whole or in part, inure to
413 the personal benefit of any council or review panel member
414 during the member’s term of office or reviewer if the council or
415 panel member or reviewer participated in the vote of the council
416 or reviewer panel recommending the award. This paragraph does
417 not prohibit the division from awarding a grant to an entity
418 with which a council or panel member or reviewer is associated.
419 (7) The division shall award grants:
420 (a) To supplement the financial support of artistic and
421 cultural activities and programs that, without the assistance,
422 may otherwise be unavailable to Florida residents.
423 (b) To activities and programs that have substantial
424 artistic and cultural significance and emphasize creativity and
425 professional excellence.
426 (c) To activities and programs that meet the professional
427 standards or standards of authenticity of significant merit,
428 regardless of origin.
429 (d) For other reasons consistent with this act.
430 (8) Eligible grantees must:
431 (a) Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt Florida corporation; or
432 (b) A local or state governmental entity, school district,
433 community college, college, university, agency of state
434 government, or artist engaged in or concerned with arts and
435 cultural activities.
436 (9) In order to equitably distribute limited state funding,
437 applicants may apply for and be awarded only one grant per
438 annual grant cycle, except for cultural facilities, a cultural
439 endowment, or touring program grants and individual artist
440 fellowships.
441 (10) Of the total amount of grant funds available from all
442 sources for grants, except cultural facilities and cultural
443 endowments, 70 percent shall be awarded on at least a dollar-to
444 dollar matching basis. Up to 50 percent of the grantee’s match
445 may consist of in-kind funds. Up to 30 percent of all grant
446 funds may be awarded on a nonmatching basis, including
447 individual fellowships.
448 (11) An applicant seeking a recommendation from a reviewer
449 for grant funding may not have a substantial interest as set
450 forth in s. 120.569 in any of its requested recommendations.
451 (12)(11) The division may shall adopt rules to administer
452 and implement this section.
453 (13) Effective upon this act becoming a law, the secretary
454 shall request, and the council shall submit, an updated list of
455 activities and programs that comply with the requirements of
456 this section. After reviewing and making edits, the secretary
457 shall submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding
458 consideration in the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year
459 2025-2026. The council and the secretary must give priority to
460 activities and programs that support America250 and celebrate
461 the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
462 Independence on July 4, 1776. This subsection applies only if
463 the date this act becomes law occurs before the Legislature
464 passes the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025-2026.
465 This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
466 Section 12. Subsections (3), (4), and (7) of section
467 265.2865, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
468 265.2865 Florida Artists Hall of Fame.—
469 (3) The Florida Council on Arts and Culture may shall
470 accept nominations annually for persons to be recommended as
471 members of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The council may
472 shall recommend to the Secretary of State persons to be named as
473 members of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The council’s
474 recommended council shall recommend as members to of the Florida
475 Artists Hall of Fame must be persons who were born in Florida or
476 adopted Florida as their home state and base of operation and
477 who have made a significant contribution to the enhancement of
478 the arts in this state.
479 (4) The Secretary of State shall name no more than three
480 four members to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in any one
481 nomination year.
482 (7) The Secretary of State may shall annually request an
483 appropriation sufficient to carry out the purposes of this
484 section.
485 Section 13. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
486 265.701, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
487 added to that section, to read:
488 265.701 Cultural facilities; grants for acquisition,
489 renovation, or construction; funding; approval; allocation.—
490 (1) The Division of Arts and Culture may accept and
491 administer moneys appropriated to it for providing grants to
492 counties, municipalities, and qualifying nonprofit corporations
493 for the acquisition, renovation, or construction of cultural
494 facilities.
495 (2) A county, municipality, or qualified corporation may
496 apply for a grant of state funds for the acquisition,
497 renovation, or construction of a cultural facility. For the
498 purposes of this section, a “qualified corporation” is a
499 corporation which is designated a not-for-profit corporation
500 pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of
501 1954, and which is described in, and allowed to receive
502 contributions pursuant to the provisions of, s. 170 of the
503 Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and which is a corporation not
504 for profit incorporated pursuant to chapter 617. The state grant
505 must be matched by a contribution from the county, municipality,
506 or nonprofit corporation in an amount to be determined by the
507 Department of State.
508 (3) The Florida Council on Arts and Culture shall review
509 each application for a grant to acquire, renovate, or construct
510 a cultural facility which is submitted pursuant to subsection
511 (2) and shall submit annually to the Secretary of State for
512 approval lists of all applications that are recommended by the
513 council for the award of grants, arranged in order of priority.
514 The secretary may review and edit the list to ensure that state
515 grant funds awarded under this section are expended in
516 compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and
517 regulations and are used only for activities and programs that
518 are appropriate for all age groups. The secretary shall submit
519 the recommended list to the Legislature for funding
520 consideration. The division may allocate grants only for
521 projects that are approved or for which funds are appropriated
522 by the Legislature. Projects approved and recommended by the
523 Secretary of State which are not funded by the Legislature shall
524 be retained on the project list for the following grant cycle
525 only. All projects that are retained shall be required to submit
526 such information as may be required by the department as of the
527 established deadline date of the latest grant cycle in order to
528 adequately reflect the most current status of the project.
529 (6) Effective upon this act becoming a law, the secretary
530 shall request, and the council shall submit, an updated list of
531 projects that comply with the requirements of this section.
532 After reviewing and making edits, the secretary shall submit the
533 recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration in
534 the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025-2026. The
535 council and the secretary shall give priority in their funding
536 recommendations to projects that support America250 and
537 celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the
538 Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This subsection
539 applies only if the date this act becomes law occurs before the
540 Legislature passes the General Appropriations Act for fiscal
541 year 2025-2026. This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
542 Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 265.703, Florida
543 Statutes, is amended to read:
544 265.703 Citizen support organizations; use of state
545 administrative services and property; audit.—
546 (1) CITIZEN SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS.—The division may support
547 the establishment of citizen support organizations to provide
548 assistance, funding, and promotional support for the cultural,
549 arts, historical, and museum, and international and
550 intergovernmental programs of the division. For the purposes of
551 this section, a “citizen support organization” means an
552 organization which is:
553 (a) A Florida corporation not for profit incorporated under
554 the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of
555 State.
556 (b) Organized and operated to conduct programs and
557 activities; raise funds; request and receive grants, gifts, and
558 bequests of money; acquire, receive, hold, invest, and
559 administer, in its own name, securities, funds, objects of
560 value, or other property, real or personal; and make
561 expenditures to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the
562 division, or individual program units, or international and
563 intergovernmental programs of the division.
564 (c) Determined by the division to be consistent with the
565 goals of the division and in the best interests of the state.
566 (d) Approved in writing by the division to operate for the
567 direct or indirect benefit of the division. Such approval shall
568 be given in a letter of agreement from the division.
569 Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
570 265.803, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
571 265.803 Florida Folklife Council.—
572 (1)(a) The Florida Folklife Council is created as a sub
573 council within part of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture
574 created by s. 265.285 Department of State, to consist of seven
575 members appointed by the Secretary of State from the membership
576 of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Secretary of
577 State shall appoint each member for a 4-year term and shall
578 appoint a successor for each member within 90 days after the
579 expiration of the member’s term. The Secretary of State shall
580 fill any vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term within
581 90 days after the vacancy occurs. Members shall be appointed to
582 provide geographical, cultural, traditional ethnic, and
583 professional representation on the council.
584 Section 16. Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section
585 267.0612, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
586 267.0612 Florida Historical Commission; creation;
587 membership; powers and duties.—In order to enhance public
588 participation and involvement in the preservation and protection
589 of the state’s historic and archaeological sites and properties,
590 there is created within the Department of State the “Florida
591 Historical Commission.” The commission shall serve in an
592 advisory capacity to the director of the Division of Historical
593 Resources to assist the director in carrying out the purposes,
594 duties, and responsibilities of the division, as specified in
595 this chapter.
596 (6) It shall be the responsibility of the commission to
597 provide assistance, advice, and recommendations to the division
598 in:
599 (c) Evaluating proposals for awards of special category
600 historic preservation grants-in-aid administered by the
601 division. Pursuant thereto, the commission shall review and
602 evaluate proposals for special category grants and shall make
603 recommendations, including a priority ranking, reflecting such
604 evaluation. In making such evaluation and recommendations, the
605 commission shall, at a minimum, consider the purpose, economic
606 and other public benefit, location, compatibility with statewide
607 historic preservation priorities, and cost of each proposal for
608 special category grant assistance. Special category historic
609 preservation grants-in-aid recommendations of the commission
610 shall be reviewed by the Secretary of State as provided in s.
611 267.0617.
612 Section 17. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 267.0617,
613 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
614 267.0617 Historic Preservation Grant Program.—
615 (2) The division is authorized to conduct and carry out a
616 program of historic preservation grants-in-aid, including
617 matching grants, to any department or agency of the state; any
618 unit of county, municipal, or other local government; any
619 corporation, partnership, or other organization, whether public
620 or private or whether or not for profit; or any individual for
621 projects having as their purpose the identification,
622 acquisition, protection, preservation, rehabilitation,
623 restoration, or construction of historic sites and properties,
624 or Florida history, or the planning of such activities. Funds
625 appropriated from general revenue for the historic preservation
626 grants-in-aid program shall not be provided for a project owned
627 by private individuals or owned by for-profit corporations. All
628 moneys received from any source as appropriations, deposits, or
629 contributions to this program shall be paid and credited to the
630 Historical Resources Operating Trust Fund.
631 (3) All grants of state funds to assist in the preservation
632 of historic properties shall be made from the Historical
633 Resources Operating Trust Fund and may be awarded only pursuant
634 to applications for such assistance made to the Division of
635 Historical Resources. The Florida Historical Commission shall
636 review each application for a special category historic
637 preservation grant-in-aid. Special category historic
638 preservation grants-in-aid are those reviewed and recommended by
639 the Secretary of State for submission for legislative funding
640 consideration. Grant review panels appointed by the Secretary of
641 State and chaired by a member of the Florida Historical
642 Commission or a designee appointed by the commission’s presiding
643 officer shall review each application for other historic
644 preservation grants-in-aid. Each The reviewing body shall submit
645 annually to the Secretary of State for approval lists of all
646 historic preservation grant-in-aid applications that are
647 recommended by the reviewing body for the award of grants,
648 arranged in order of priority. The Secretary of State may review
649 and edit the recommended lists to ensure that state grant funds
650 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all
651 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only
652 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age
653 groups. The Secretary shall submit the recommended lists to the
654 Legislature for funding consideration.
655 Section 18. Section 267.0722, Florida Statutes, is
656 repealed.
657 Section 19. Section 267.075, Florida Statutes, is amended
658 to read:
659 267.075 The Grove; management; stewardship Advisory
660 Council; creation; membership; purposes.—
661 (1) The Call/Collins House, commonly known as “The Grove,”
662 located in Tallahassee, Leon County, shall be utilized as a
663 house museum of history for the educational benefit of the
664 citizens of this state. The utilization of The Grove as a museum
665 of history shall emphasize the lives and accomplishments of The
666 Grove’s first owner, Richard Keith Call, Florida’s last
667 Territorial Governor, and LeRoy Collins, Florida’s 33rd
668 Governor, who, with his wife, Mary Call Darby Collins, were the
669 last owners of The Grove. The faithful restoration and
670 maintenance of The Grove undertaken by LeRoy Collins and Mary
671 Call Darby Collins during the nearly six decades of Collins
672 family ownership and stewardship which has preserved the
673 original plan of construction and design of The Grove shall be
674 continued as provided for in this section.
675 (2) There is created within the Department of State The
676 Grove Advisory Council for the purpose of advising the Division
677 of Historical Resources on the operation, maintenance,
678 preservation, and protection of the Call/Collins House, commonly
679 known as “The Grove,” its grounds, cemetery, and all structures
680 thereon; the furniture and furnishings located therein; any
681 changes in the architecture, structure, furnishings, or
682 landscaping deemed necessary or desirable by the council; and
683 the design and development of interpretive programs and exhibits
684 in connection therewith.
685 (3)(a) The Grove Advisory Council shall be composed of
686 eight members, as follows:
687 1. Five members shall be private citizens appointed by the
688 Secretary of State.
689 2. One member shall be the Secretary of Management Services
690 or his or her designee.
691 3. One member shall be the director of the Division of
692 Historical Resources of the Department of State.
693 4. At least one member shall be a direct descendant of Mary
694 Call Darby Collins appointed by the Secretary of State with the
695 advice of the oldest living generation of lineal descendants of
696 Mary Call Darby Collins.
697
698 Of the citizen members, at least one member shall have
699 professional curatorial and museum expertise, one member shall
700 have professional architectural expertise in the preservation of
701 historic buildings, and one member shall have professional
702 landscape expertise. The five citizen members of the council
703 appointed by the Secretary of State and the member of the
704 council who is a direct descendant of Mary Call Darby Collins
705 appointed by the Secretary of State shall be appointed for
706 staggered 4-year terms. The Secretary of State shall fill the
707 remainder of unexpired terms for the five citizen members of the
708 council and the member of the council who is a direct descendant
709 of Mary Call Darby Collins.
710 (b) The council shall annually elect a chair from among the
711 five citizen members of the council appointed by the Secretary
712 of State and the member of the council who is a direct
713 descendant of Mary Call Darby Collins appointed by the Secretary
714 of State. The chair shall serve for a term of 1 year. Meetings
715 of the council shall be held at the call of the chair, at the
716 request of a majority of its membership, at the request of the
717 Secretary of State, or at such times as may be prescribed by
718 rules of the council. The council shall meet at least twice
719 annually. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum
720 for the transaction of business.
721 (c) The council shall obtain clerical, expert, technical,
722 or other services from the Division of Historical Resources. The
723 Department of Management Services shall provide reasonable
724 assistance to the Department of State in carrying out the
725 purposes of this section.
726 (d) Members of the council shall serve without compensation
727 or honorarium but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for
728 per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. All
729 expenses of the council shall be paid from appropriations to be
730 made by the Legislature to the Department of State. All vouchers
731 shall be approved by the Division of Historical Resources before
732 being submitted to the Chief Financial Officer for payment.
733 (2)(4)(a) The Division of Historical Resources, with the
734 advice and assistance of the council, shall maintain the
735 structure, style, character, and landscaping of The Grove, its
736 grounds, its private family cemetery, and all structures thereon
737 consistent with the character, plan, and design of The Grove at
738 the time the state takes physical possession of The Grove and
739 its surrounding property from Mary Call Darby Collins. It shall
740 preserve and protect the antique furnishings and other articles
741 of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects and articles used
742 or displayed in the premises.
743 (b) The Division of Historical Resources shall catalog and
744 maintain a descriptive, photographic inventory of the
745 furnishings, fixtures, and decorative objects and articles used
746 or displayed in the premises.
747 (c) The Division of Historical Resources may receive, on
748 behalf of the state, contributions, bequests, and gifts of
749 money, furniture, works of art, memorabilia, or other property
750 consistent with the use of The Grove as described in this
751 section. Title to all property which is received in this manner
752 shall vest in the state and shall be held in trust by the
753 Division of Historical Resources solely to further the purposes
754 of this section. No furniture, furnishings, fixtures, or
755 decorative objects acquired from the Collins family or any of
756 its members shall be used for any purpose except as a permanent
757 part of The Grove’s furniture, furnishings, fixtures, or
758 decorative objects, and any such item not so utilized shall
759 forthwith revert to the Collins family member or members from
760 whom it was acquired. No gifts, contributions, or bequests shall
761 be accepted for The Grove without the advice and recommendation
762 of the council.
763 Section 20. Subsection (2) of section 267.21, Florida
764 Statutes, is amended to read:
765 267.21 Historic Cemeteries Program.—
766 (2)(a) The Historic Cemeteries Program shall, subject to
767 legislative appropriation, provide grants to the following
768 entities:
769 1.(a) Research institutions, colleges and universities, and
770 qualified nonprofit organizations, for the purpose of conducting
771 genealogical and historical research necessary to identify and
772 contact the relatives and descendants of persons buried in
773 abandoned African-American cemeteries.
774 2.(b) Local governments and qualified nonprofit
775 organizations, for the purposes of repairing, restoring, and
776 maintaining abandoned African-American cemeteries.
777 (b) All grants of state funds to assist abandoned African
778 American cemeteries may be awarded only pursuant to applications
779 for such assistance made to the division. The Florida Historic
780 Cemeteries Program Advisory Council shall review each
781 application for an abandoned African-American cemeteries grant
782 made under this section. The council shall submit annually to
783 the Secretary of State a list of all abandoned African-American
784 cemeteries grant applications it recommends for the award of
785 grants, arranged in order of priority. The Secretary of State
786 may review and edit the list to ensure that state grant funds
787 awarded under this section are expended in compliance with all
788 federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are used only
789 for activities and programs that are appropriate for all age
790 groups. The Secretary of State shall submit a recommended list
791 to the Legislature for funding consideration.
792 Section 21. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 267.22,
793 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
794 267.22 Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council.—
795 (1) The Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council, an
796 advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7), is created as a sub
797 council within the Florida Historical Commission created by s.
798 267.0612 division and shall consist of at least five but no more
799 than nine members appointed by the Florida Historical Commission
800 Secretary of State after considering the recommendations of the
801 director of the division. The council must be composed of an
802 inclusive group of members who are regionally distributed and
803 representative of communities throughout this state and may
804 include members of the Florida Historical Commission. Members in
805 place on July 1, 2025, may serve for the remainder of their
806 respective terms. New appointments to the council may not be
807 made until the retirement, resignation, removal, or expiration
808 of the terms of the initial members results in fewer than five
809 members remaining. Members shall serve 4-year terms; however,
810 for the purpose of providing staggered terms, four of the
811 appointees initially shall be appointed to 2-year terms and the
812 remaining five shall be appointed to 4-year terms. All new
813 subsequent appointments shall be for 2-year 4-year terms.
814 Annually As soon as practicable after July 1, 2023, the council
815 shall meet to elect a chair from its membership. Except as
816 otherwise provided in this section, the council shall operate in
817 a manner consistent with s. 20.052.
818 (2) The council shall provide guidance and recommendations
819 to the division and the Florida Historical Commission regarding
820 the duties and responsibilities of the Historic Cemeteries
821 Program created under s. 267.21. The council shall also evaluate
822 proposals for awards of abandoned African-American cemeteries
823 grants, as authorized by s. 267.21(2). Pursuant thereto, the
824 council must review and evaluate proposals for abandoned
825 African-American cemeteries grants and make recommendations to
826 the Secretary of State, including providing a priority ranking,
827 reflecting the evaluation. In making its evaluation and
828 recommendations, the council shall, at a minimum, consider the
829 purpose, public benefit, location, and cost of each proposal for
830 grant assistance. Abandoned African-American cemeteries grant
831 recommendations of the council shall be reviewed by the
832 Secretary of State in accordance with s. 267.21(2).
833 Section 22. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.