PLEASE NOTE: the Sign-up page for supporting the Florida Historical Commission White Paper is now on the Florida Association of Museums web site at http://www.flamuseums.org. Please sign-in your information. The names will be collected and provided to key legislators and the Governor to show support for the Division of Historical Resources. Florida Historical Commission White Paper In Response to Proposed Changes Related to the Department of State Historical Programs Commission Members Dr. Judith A Bense, Chair Mr. Jorge L. Hernandez, AIA (Vice Chair) Ms. Althemese Barnes Dr. Kathleen A. Deagan Dr. David H. Jackson, Jr. Hon. Virginia Littrell Mr. Lex McKeithen Mr. Carter Quina, AIA Ms. Ellen Uguccioni Dr. Carolyn Williams February 20, 2003 FLORIDA HISTORICAL COMMISSION WHITE PAPER Concerns about unexpected eliminations and reductions to the Florida Division of Historical Resources contained in the Governor’s budget released on January 21, 2003 led to a Special Session of the Florida Historical Commission, February 17, 2003 in Tallahassee. The meeting included expert and public testimony on the proposed changes and their potential impacts. Based on this information, the Florida Historical Commission concludes that: The proposed eliminations and reductions will have a severe negative impact on the financial and historical resources of the people of Florida; and The people of Florida and their elected leadership will be better served by keeping intact the organizational structure, services, and staffing of the Division of Historical Resources. Keeping the services and organization intact is consistent with the review of the Department’s Divisions of Historical Resources and Cultural Affairs performed by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), an independent reviewing agency of the Florida Legislature, completed in December 2002. The OPPAGA review stated: "We found no compelling benefit, such as cost savings or increased efficiencies, which could be achieved from moving these programs and thus concluded the activities should remain in the Department of State." As currently structured, the Department of State’s historic preservation programs and services are extremely interdependent and provide the basis for the following public/private partnerships which are at risk: An economic impact which generates over $4.2 billion annually; A $3.7 billion industry based on Florida history museums and heritage tourism (visiting Florida museums is 6th on the list of primary visitor activities); A multi-million dollar private for profit cultural resource industry stimulated by state and federal mandates; and, More than a half-million dollars of federal funds appropriated by Congress to the Florida Department of State because of the existing historic preservation program. The Florida Historical Commission recognizes the need to identify potential efficiencies in all of state government and, therefore, proposes to assist the Governor’s Office and the Legislature in a thorough and professional review of the organizational structure, staffing, and funding of the Division of Historical Resources. This review shall include a review of all state and federally mandated processes with which the Division of Historical Resources must comply. The review and recommendation will be delivered not later than October 1, 2003. RELEVANT INFORMATION Examples of concerns voiced about to the proposed restructuring, reductions, and eliminations include: Native Americans objections to the lack of nation-to-nation consultations as required by the National Historic Preservation Act as amended and 36CFR Part 800 The lack of identification of the actual savings to taxpayers The increasing demand for historic preservation services by the general public, local governments, and land developers such as review of ad valorem tax exemptions for historic preservation The potential delays and loss of resources in highway, cell tower, airport, and infrastructure due to drastic reductions in review and compliance personnel in DHR The importance of the research facilities (archives, collections, and state library) to historic preservation programs and the general education and cultural well being of the state The loss of folk life and history fair programs and history museums throughout the State Direct Economic Income Generated by Historic Preservation Activities1 Heritage Tourism $3.721 Billion Historic Rehabilitation $350 Million Net Historical Museum Operations $58 Million Net Main Street Program Activity $64 Million 1 "Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation in Florida" University of Florida and Rutgers University, 2002 Business and Professionals Attending the Special Session of the FHC Heritage Tourism Cultural Resource Management Industry Museum Industry Archaeologists Architects Architectural Historians Historians Librarians Archivists Genealogists Educators and students Folklorists Concerned Professional Organizations National Trust for Historic Preservation American Cultural Resource Association Society for American Archaeology Society for Historical Archaeology African American Conference Seminole Tribe of Florida The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians The Muscogee Nation of Florida Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Florida Association of Museums Florida Anthropological Society (statewide chapters) Florida Archaeological Council Florida Folklife Council Genealogical Societies Florida Historical Society Signing onto the FHC White Paper The White Paper is available from website Florida Association of Museums website http://www.flamuseums.org/ for individuals and organizations to sign on to FHC White Paper and from the Florida Archaeological Society website http://www.fac-home.org/news.htm for downloading. Updates of the signatories from the FAM website will be summarized weekly and they will be made to the Governor’s office and legislative leadership including the chairs of pertinent committees in House and Senate In addition to signing on to this White Paper electronically via the web site, please personally contact the following committee members who will handle the proposed legislation and budget. Contact the House and Senate Transportation & Economic Development Committee members below in reference to the merger and all funding issues. House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Leslie Waters, Chair (St. Pete), waters.leslie@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-6197 Mike Hogan, Vice Chair (Jacksonville), hogan.mike@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-5102 Kim Berfield (Clearwater), berfield.kim@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-1540 Donna Clarke (Sarasota), clarke.donna@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-7754 Bill Galvano (Bradenton), galvano.bill@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-4086 Andy Gardiner (Orlando), gardiner.andy@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-9770 Marcel Llorente (Miami), llorente.marcelo@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-5047 Pat Patterson (DeLand), patterson.pat@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-9873 Ron Reagan (Sarasota), reagan.ron@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-6341 David Rivera (Miami), rivera.david@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-7897 Dave Russell (Spring Hill), russell.dave@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-6641 Loranne Ausley (Tallahassee), ausley.loranne@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-0965 Susan Bucher (West Palm Beach), bucher.susan@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-0175 Joyce Cusack (DeLand), cusack.joyce@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-0580 Audrey Gibson (Jacksonville), gibson.audrey@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-7417 Ed Jennings (Gainesville), jennings.ed@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-5794 Arthenia Joyner (Tampa), joyner.arthenia@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-5432 Senate Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Daniel Webster, Chair (Winter Garden), 850/487-5047 Jeff Atwater (Palm Beach Gardens), atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5100 Tony Hill (Jacksonville), hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5024 Tom Lee (Brandon), lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5072 Jim Sebesta (St. Pete), sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5075 Contact the House and Senate Commerce Committee members on the merger issue. Please note: the bill hasn't been released yet. House Commerce Committee Nancy Detert, Chair (Venice), detert.nancy@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-1171 Adam Hasner (Delray Beach), hasner.adam@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-2234 Bob Allen (Merritt Island), allen.bob@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-4669 Kevin Ambler (Tampa), ambler.kevin@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-0275 John Carassas (Largo), carassas.john@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-9960 Donna Clarke (Sarasota), clarke.donna@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-7754 Don Davis (Jacksonville Beach), davis.don@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-0001 Jim Kallinger (Winter Park), kallinger.jim@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-2742 Connie Mack (Fort Lauderdale), mack.connie@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-0635 Dave Murzin (Pensacola), murzin.dave@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-8278 John Quinones (Kissimmee), quinones.john@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-9240 Ron Reagan (Sarasota), reagan.ron@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-6341 Phillip Brutus (North Miami), brutus.phillip@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-4233 Ed Bullard (Miami), bullard.edward@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-5430 Terry Fields (Jacksonville), fields.terry@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-6893 Audrey Gibson (Jacksonville), gibson.audrey@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-7417 Hank Harper (Pahokee), harper.james@leg.state.fl.us, 850/488-8632 Sheri McInvale (Orlando), mcinvale.sheri@myfloridahouse.com, 850/488-0660 Senate Commerce, Economic Opportunities & Consumer Services Rudy Garcia, Chair (Hialeah), garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5106 JD Alexander (Winter Haven), alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5044 Dennis Jones (Seminole), jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5065 Evelyn Lynn (Ormond Beach), lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5033 Burt Saunders (Naples), saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5124 Stephen Wise (Jacksonville), wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5027 Ron Klein (Delray Beach), klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5091 Gwen Margolis (Miami Beach), margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5033 Les Miller (Tampa), miller.les.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5059 Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Pembroke Pines), schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5027 Frederica Wilson (Miami), wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov, 850/487-5116