Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 2-18-22

State News
Cemeteries Bill Unanimously Passes House Subcommittee
House Bill 1215, Abandoned African American Cemeteries, unanimously passed the House Government Operations Sub- committee last Tuesday (Feb. 8th). The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, along with State Senator Janet Cruz.
The bill would create a His- toric Cemeteries Program within the Division of Historical Re- sources to coordinate research, repair, restoration, and mainte- nance efforts at abandoned African American cemeteries. It also creates a Historic Cemeteries Advisory Council and makes it
STATE REP. FENTRICE DRISKELL
easier for the state to preserve re- discovered cemeteries.
Rep. Driskell drafted the bill based on a report from the Task Force, which she helped get started, on Abandoned African American Cemeteries, after an article appeared in the local newspaper, in 2019 when it was discovered that Zion Cemetery was buried beneath a portion of Robles Park housing complex.
“Historically, African Ameri- can cemeteries were not subject to regulations, up keeping and other necessary efforts to uphold the dignity of the deceased as compared to their counterparts,”
Rep. Driskell said.
“Moreover, the land on which
African American cemeteries were contained at times was sold without any regard to those who were buried there. We now find our chance as a state to continue to work together to honor those who were forgotten and often- times degraded.”
The bill passed the committee without a single “no” vote. But not before committee members from both sides of the aisle praised the Tampa Democrat.
Rep. Driskell has a growing reputation for respect and sup- port among her colleagues.
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