(1) The Legislature finds that certain place names for geographic sites are offensive or derogatory to the state’s people, history, and heritage. The state encourages tolerance and understanding between all of its residents and these geographic place names are a barrier to that effort. The Legislature finds that these offensive or derogatory place names should be replaced by names that reflect the state’s people, history, and heritage without resorting to offensive stereotypes, slurs, names, words, or phrases.
(2) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Commission” means the Florida Historical Commission within the Department of State.
(b) “Geographic site” means a location or publicly owned structure in this state, and includes, but is not limited to, rivers and other navigable waters of the state, geographic features, and parks, or state or local roads, bridges, and publicly owned buildings.
(c) “Offensive or derogatory place names” means a place name that is a racial, ethnic, or religious slur.
(3)(a) By October 1, 2004, each state agency or political subdivision that owns or manages public land, waters, or structures in this state shall identify any geographic sites under its jurisdiction which contain offensive or derogatory place names as defined in subsection (2) and shall file a report identifying those names with the division. A political subdivision shall also include a recommended replacement name for each identified offensive or derogatory place name.
(b) The division shall compile the reports required to be filed pursuant to this section and provide a copy to the commission. The commission shall advise the division in its review of recommended place names and in the development of alternative names to replace offensive or derogatory place names with place names that reflect the state’s diversity and culture.
(c) By March 1, 2005, the division shall choose a new name for each geographic site reported by an agency or political subdivision.
(4) The division shall:(a) Notify each entity that has reported an offensive or derogatory place name pursuant to subsection (3) of the alternative name selected by the division; each agency or political subdivision shall ensure that whenever it updates a map or recorded plat, or replaces a sign, interpretive marker, or any other marker because of wear or vandalism, the new name is used.
(b) Notify the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Management Services, and any other entity that compiles information for or develops maps or markers for the state of the name change so that it may be reflected on subsequent editions of any maps, informational literature, or markers produced by those entities.
(c) Place a formal request with the United States Board on Geographic Names to render a decision on each proposed name change so that each new name will be reflected on all maps of the United States Board on Geographic Names.
(d) Report to the Governor and the Legislature by no later than July 1, 2005, regarding implementation of the provisions of this section by the department. The report shall identify at least the following:1. Each offensive or derogatory place name identified by an agency or political subdivision.
2. The replacement name selected by the department.
3. Whether any markers and maps have been changed to reflect the name changes.
4. The date that requests to change names were filed with the United States Board of Geographic Names and whether those changes have been made.
5. Any other relevant information that the department finds appropriate.
