Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1072
By Senator Calatayud
38-00567B-26 20261072__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Antisemitism Task Force;
3 creating s. 16.571, F.S.; creating the Antisemitism
4 Task Force adjunct to the Office of Civil Rights
5 within the Department of Legal Affairs for a specified
6 purpose; requiring the department to provide
7 administrative and staff support to the task force;
8 providing for appointment and terms of task force
9 members; providing for per diem and travel expenses;
10 requiring the task force to meet quarterly;
11 authorizing more frequent meetings at the call of the
12 co-chairs; providing duties of the task force;
13 requiring the task force to annually submit a report
14 and policy recommendations to the Governor and the
15 Legislature by a specified date; providing for future
16 repeal; providing an effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Section 16.571, Florida Statutes, is created to
21 read:
22 16.571 Antisemitism Task Force.—
23 (1) The Antisemitism Task Force, a task force as defined in
24 s. 20.03(5), is created adjunct to the Office of Civil Rights
25 within the Department of Legal Affairs for the express purpose
26 of combating antisemitism in this state. Except as otherwise
27 provided in this section, the task force shall operate in a
28 manner consistent with s. 20.052. The department shall provide
29 administrative and staff support relating to the functions of
30 the task force.
31 (2)(a) The task force is composed of the following members:
32 1. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate,
33 one of whom must be a representative of a Jewish community
34 organization in this state and one of whom must have expertise
35 in combating antisemitism. The President of the Senate shall
36 designate one of his or her appointees as co-chair of the task
37 force.
38 2. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
39 Representatives, one of whom must be a representative of a
40 Jewish community organization in this state and one of whom must
41 have expertise in combating antisemitism. The Speaker of the
42 House of Representatives shall designate one of his or her
43 appointees as co-chair of the task force.
44 3. One member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority
45 Leader of the Senate.
46 4. One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by
47 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
48 5. Two members appointed by the Governor, one of whom must
49 have legal expertise in civil rights law.
50 6. The Attorney General or his or her designee.
51 7. The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
52 8. The chair of the Florida Commission on Human Relations
53 or his or her designee.
54 9. One member appointed by the Florida Association of
55 Counties.
56 10. One member appointed by the Florida League of Cities.
57 11. One member appointed by the Florida Prosecuting
58 Attorneys Association.
59 12. One member appointed by the Florida Police Chiefs
60 Association.
61 13. One member appointed by the Florida Association of
62 District School Superintendents.
63 (b) Members of the task force shall serve 2-year terms. A
64 vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term
65 in the same manner as the original appointment.
66 (c) Members of the task force shall serve without
67 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and
68 travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061.
69 (3) The task force shall hold its first meeting by August
70 1, 2026. The task force shall convene at least once quarterly
71 but, at the call of the co-chairs, may meet more often as
72 necessary to complete the duties prescribed in this section.
73 (4) The task force shall:
74 (a) Identify and acknowledge the growing threat of
75 antisemitism in this state by conducting a comprehensive review
76 of the prevalence of antisemitism within this state.
77 (b) Strengthen community relations by identifying and
78 creating opportunities for new connections between state and
79 local governments and local Jewish communities.
80 (c) Engage with local Jewish communities and provide public
81 officials across this state with recommendations and support for
82 combating antisemitism.
83 (d) Advise on training programs for law enforcement
84 relating to the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.
85 (e) Assess existing state programs relating to education in
86 digital media literacy, including identifying educational gaps,
87 studying education efficacy, and planning for enhanced
88 educational offerings.
89 (f) Identify best practices from efforts to combat
90 antisemitism in other states and jurisdictions.
91 (g) Evaluate this state’s hate crime statutes and consider
92 whether amendments thereto would better protect residents from
93 antisemitism.
94 (h) Recommend strategies, programs, and legislation to
95 combat antisemitism in this state. The initial report provided
96 pursuant to paragraph (i) shall examine antisemitism in schools
97 and universities.
98 (i) Before January 31 of each year, submit a report and
99 policy recommendations to the Governor, the President of the
100 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
101 Minority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House
102 of Representatives, the chair of the Judiciary Committee of the
103 Senate, and the chair of the Security and Threat Assessment
104 Committee of the House of Representatives.
105 (5) In accordance with s. 20.052(8), this section is
106 repealed October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
107 through reenactment by the Legislature.
108 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.