Title: Task Force on Missing and Murdered African-American Women

Summary: Creating the task force within the Department of Law Enforcement; requiring the department to provide meeting space and administrative assistance; requiring the task force to examine and report on specified issues; requiring the task force to submit a report containing specified information to certain legislative committees by a specified date, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to the Task Force on Missing and Murdered African-American Women; creating the task force within the Department of Law Enforcement; providing the purpose of the task force; requiring that members be appointed by a specified date; providing for membership of the task force; specifying that members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority; requiring that a vacancy be filled in the same manner as the appointment; requiring the members to elect a chair and a vice chair; authorizing the members to elect other officers; requiring the task force to meet at least quarterly and if called by the chair; authorizing the task force to hold meetings throughout the state; requiring the task force to seek out and enlist the assistance of specified entities; requiring the task force to initially meet before a specified date; requiring the department to provide meeting space and administrative assistance; requiring the task force to examine and report on specified issues; requiring the task force to submit a report containing specified information to certain legislative committees by a specified date; providing for expiration of the task force; providing an appropriation; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American Women.  (1)   CREATION; PURPOSE. The Task Force on Missing and Murdered African-American Women, a task force as defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, is created within the Department of Law Enforcement to advise the executive director of the department and report to the Legislature on recommendations to address and reduce violence against African-American women and girls in this state. The task force may also serve as a liaison between the executive director, agencies, and nongovernmental organizations that provide services to victims, victims  families, and victims  communities. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the task force shall operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052, Florida Statutes. (2)   MEMBERSHIP.  (a)   Task force members must be appointed by September 1, 2024. The task force shall be composed of the following persons, or the persons  designees, who are knowledgeable in crime victims  rights or violence prevention and, unless otherwise specified, are appointed by the executive director of the department: 1.   Two members of the Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. 2. Two members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 3. Two representatives from among the following: a. The Florida Police Chiefs Association. b. The Florida Sheriffs Association. 4. One or more representatives from among the following: a. The Florida Association of County Attorneys; b. A United States Attorney s Office in this state; or c. A judge or attorney working in juvenile court. 5. A medical examiner, a representative from a statewide medical examiner s association, or a representative of the Department of Health. 6. Three or more representatives from among the following: a. A statewide or local organization that provides legal services to African-American women and girls; b. A statewide or local organization that provides advocacy or counseling for African-American women and girls who have been victims of violence; c. A statewide or local organization that provides services to African-American women and girls; or d. An African-American woman who is a survivor of gender based violence. (b) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until the task force expires. Vacancies must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (3) OFFICERS; MEETINGS.  (a) The task force members shall annually elect a chair and vice chair from among the task force s members and may elect other officers as necessary. The task force shall meet at least quarterly, or upon the call of its chair, and may hold meetings throughout this state. The task force shall meet as often as it deems necessary to complete the duties provided in subsection (4). (b) The task force shall seek out and enlist the cooperation and assistance of nongovernmental organizations, community and advocacy organizations working with the African American community, and academic researchers and experts, specifically those specializing in violence against African American women and girls, those representing diverse communities disproportionately affected by violence against women and girls, or those focusing on issues relating to gender-based violence and violence against African-American women and girls. (c) The first meeting of the task force must convene no later than October 1, 2024. The department shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance as necessary for the task force to conduct its work. (4) DUTIES. The task force shall examine and report on the following: (a) The systemic causes behind violence against African American women and girls, including patterns and underlying factors that explain why disproportionately high levels of violence occur against African-American women and girls, including underlying historical, social, economic, institutional, and cultural factors that may contribute to such violence. (b) Appropriate methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against African-American women and girls, including data on missing and murdered African-American women and girls. (c) Institutions such as police, child welfare agencies, coroners, and other governmental institutions and their policies and practices that impact violence against African-American women and girls and the investigation and prosecution of crimes of gender-based violence against African-Americans. (d) Measures necessary to address and reduce or eliminate violence against African-American women and girls. (e) Measures to help victims, victims  families, and victims  communities prevent and heal from violence that occurs against African-American women and girls. (5) REPORT. The task force shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members, if applicable, of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety, human services, and state government on the work of the task force, including, but not limited to, the issues to be examined as specified in this section, and the report must include institutional policies and practices or proposed institutional policies and practices that are effective in reducing gender-based violence and increasing the safety of African-American women and girls. The report must include recommendations to reduce or eliminate violence against African-American women and girls and to help victims and communities heal from gender violence and violence against African-American women and girls. The report must be submitted to the legislative committees by December 15, 2025. (6) EXPIRATION. The task force and this section expire on December 31, 2025. Section 2.  For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sum of $150,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the Department of Law Enforcement to implement this act. Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.