State Immigration Enforcement Council.

The State Immigration Enforcement Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03, is created within the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for the purpose of advising the board.

(1) The council must be composed of eight members. The Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture each must appoint one police chief. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must each appoint two sheriffs. The State Board of Immigration Enforcement must unanimously elect a sheriff from among the council’s membership to serve as chair.

(2)(a) Members shall be appointed to terms of 4 years. Any vacancy shall be filled within 2 weeks after such a vacancy by appointment by the original appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term. For the purpose of providing staggered terms, the initial appointments by the Cabinet shall be for a term of 2 years.

(b) Membership on the council shall not disqualify a member from holding any other public office or being employed by a public entity, except that no member of the Legislature shall serve on the council. The Legislature finds that the council serves a state, county, and municipal purpose and that service on the council is consistent with a member’s principal service in a public office or employment.

(c) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.

(3) The first meeting of the council shall be held no later than April 1, 2025. Thereafter, the council must meet quarterly. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the chair. A majority of members of the council constitutes a quorum. Council meetings may be conducted by teleconference or other electronic means.

(4) The council shall:

(a) Assist the State Board of Immigration Enforcement on issues related to immigration enforcement, provided such requests are made after unanimous approval of the board.

(b) Recommend to the board program participation expenses related to s. 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357, which should be reimbursable under the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program established in s. 908.1033 and funding criteria for the program.

(c) Request guidance from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for training opportunities and strategies to further s. 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357, program participation in the state and advise the board on new training activities that could be considered for reimbursement under the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program.

(d) Advise the board on the efforts of local law enforcement agencies related to the enforcement of federal immigration laws within the state.

(e) Provide recommendations on the financial resources necessary to aid local law enforcement agencies, and any other resources necessary to facilitate the training of such agencies, in the cooperation and coordination with the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

(f) Provide recommendations to enhance information sharing between state entities, local governmental entities, law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal immigration laws within the state. The recommendations must provide for enhanced use and coordination of the following Federal Government centers, including, but not limited to:

1. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Terrorist Screening Center.

2. The United States Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center.

3. The United States Department of Homeland Security Fusion Centers.

4. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Unit.

(g) Provide recommendations on strategies to increase the number of available detention beds for use by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(h) Upon unanimous approval of the board, assist in the collection of data from law enforcement agencies as required under s. 908.1031(3)(e).

(5) The Department of Law Enforcement must provide administrative support to the State Immigration Enforcement Council.