Legislation
The 2016 Florida
Legislative Session began Jan. 12, 2016.
The 60-day session is scheduled to end March 12, 2016.
Here is a quick summary of
proposed veteran-related legislation under review in Florida’s 2016 Legislative
Session. Note: Some listed bills have
companion legislation in the other legislative body.
Florida
House of Representatives
HB 83 - Relating to Identification Cards
and Driver Licenses –
The word "Veteran" shall be exhibited on the
identification card of a veteran upon the payment of an additional $1 fee for
the identification card and the presentation of a copy of the person's DD Form
214, issued by the United States Department of Defense, or another acceptable
form specified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Until a veteran's
identification card is next renewed, the veteran may have the word
"Veteran" added to his or her identification card upon surrender of
his or her current identification card, payment of a $2 fee to be deposited
into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and presentation of a copy of his
or her DD Form 214 or another acceptable form specified by the Department of
Veterans' Affairs. If the applicant is
not conducting any other transaction affecting the identification card, a
replacement identification card shall be issued with the word
"Veteran" without payment of the fee required in s. 51 322.21(1)(f)3.
The word "Veteran" shall be exhibited on the driver license of a
veteran upon the payment of an additional $1 fee for the license and the
presentation of a copy of the person's DD Form 214, issued by the United States
Department of Defense, or another acceptable form specified by the Department
of Veterans' Affairs. Until a veteran's license is next renewed, the veteran
may have the word "Veteran" added to his or her license upon
surrender of his or her current license, payment of a $2 fee to be deposited
into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and presentation of a copy of his
or her DD Form 214 or another acceptable form specified by the Department of
Veterans' Affairs. If the applicant is not conducting any other transaction
affecting the driver license, a replacement license shall be issued with the
word "Veteran" without payment of the fee required in s.
322.21(1)(e). (See
SB 158.)
HB 235 - Relating to Parking for
Disabled Veterans – (See SB 222.)
HB 263 - Relating to Small Business
Financial Assistance –
Creates
Veterans Employment Small Business Grant Program within Department of Veterans'
Affairs; directs Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., to administer program;
authorizes corporation to accept & administer moneys appropriated for such
grants; limits grant amount small businesses may receive under program;
provides requirements for receiving grants; requires corporation to provide
certain notice to regional small business development centers; provides for
program termination. Effective Date: July 1, 2016. (See SB 404.)
HB 269 – Relating to Services for Combat
Veterans and Their Families –
Requires
DCF to establish Florida Combat Veterans' Care Coordination Program to provide
combat veterans & their families with behavioral healthcare referral &
care coordination services & to contract with managing entities to enter
into agreements with Florida 211 Network participants for such services;
provides for statewide delivery of services by program teams; requires Florida
211 Network participants to collect & submit certain information to DCF;
requires DCF to submit report to Governor & Legislature; provides appropriation. (See SB 128.)
HB 279 - Relating to Annual Sales Tax
Holiday for Veterans of the United States Armed Forces –
Creates annual sales tax
holiday for veterans of US Armed Forces; specifies items eligible for sales tax
holiday; specifies tax treatment of layaways, exchanges, & Internet sales;
provides definitions; specifies reporting requirements of retailers; authorizes
DOR to adopt emergency rules. (See SB 538.)
HB 429 - Relating to Military and
Veterans Affairs –
Creates
Military & Overseas Voting Assistance Task Force within DOS; provides
legislative findings; requires application form for original, renewal, or
replacement driver licenses or identification cards to include option for
veterans to request information on local, state, & federal benefits &
services available as result of military service; requires DHSMV to report
veteran contact information monthly to DVA; requires DVA to provide such
information to third-party provider & county or city veteran service
officers; prohibits third-party provider from selling such information;
requires third-party provider to maintain confidentiality of information. (See SB 184.)
HB 435 - Relating to Gold Star License
Plates – (See SB 88.)
HB 439 - Relating to Mental Health
Services in Criminal Justice System –
Expands eligibility for
military veterans & service members for certain programs. Expanding the definition of “veteran,” for
the purpose of eligibility for veterans’ court, to include veterans who were
discharged or released under a general discharge. (See
SB 604.)
HB 505 – Relating to Voter
Identification –
Expanding the list of
acceptable forms of identification for certain voter registration applicants to
include a Veteran health identification card issued by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. (See SB 666.)
HB 511 - Relating to Special License
Plates –
Requires
money received from sale of Woman Veteran license plates to be used for certain
purposes; provides for special license plate to be issued to recipient of
Bronze Star. (See SB 518.)
HB 581 – Relating to State Veterans’
Nursing Homes –
Directs FDVA
to contract for study to determine need for additional state veterans' nursing
home & most appropriate county for home; directs FDVA to submit study to
Governor & Legislature; provides study criteria for ranking each county
according to need; requires FDVA to use specified studies to select new veterans'
nursing home sites; directs FDVA to conduct subsequent studies & to submit
studies to Governor & Legislature.
HB 611 - Relating to Homestead Property
Tax Exemptions –
Exempts
surviving unremarried spouse of certain deceased veterans from payment of ad
valorem taxes for certain homesteads in this state, irrespective of state in
which veteran's homestead was located at time of death, if certain conditions
are met. (See SB 804.)
HB 641 – Relating to Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services –
Waives specified license
& registration fees for honorably discharged veterans of U.S. Armed Forces,
spouses of such veterans, or business entities that have majority ownership
held by such veterans or spouses of such veterans.
HB 799 – Relating to Out-of-State Fee
Waivers for Active Duty Service Members –
Provides
that active duty members of Armed Forces of U.S. residing or stationed outside
of this state may receive out-of-state fee waivers; requires tuition & fees
charged to such students to be below specified amount & for annual report
of all out-of-state fee waivers for such individuals. Effective Date: July 1,
2016. (See SB 944.)
HB 811 – Relating to Homestead Tax
Exemption/Spouses of Deceased Combat-disabled Veterans –
Proposes amendment to
State Constitution to authorize living spouse of deceased veteran, who upon his
or her death was aged 65 or older, partially or permanently disabled as result
of combat, & honorably discharged, to receive discount on payment of ad
valorem taxes assessed on homestead property based on percentage of veteran's
disability & to specify that exemption is transferrable to another
residence if spouse remains unmarried & uses residence as his or her
primary residence. (See SB 816 and SB 778 and HB
813.)
HB 813 – Relating to Homestead Tax
Exemptions -
Authorizes
surviving spouses of certain deceased veterans who owned homesteads to receive
homestead tax exemption; specifies duration of such exemption; provides that
letter from federal government to appropriate property appraiser establishes
evidence of entitlement to exemption; provides for construction of act;
provides for contingent effect. Effective Date: July 1, 2016, if HJR 811, or a
similar joint resolution having substantially the same specific intent and
purpose, is approved by the electors. (See SB 778
and SB 816 and HB 811).
HB 1321 - Relating to Discounts on
Public Park Entrance Fees and Transportation Fares –
Requires counties &
municipalities to provide discounts on public park entrance fees to military
members, veterans, & spouses & parents of certain deceased military
members, law enforcement officers, firefighters, & emergency workers;
requires regional transportation authorities to provide discounts on fares
& charges to certain disabled veterans. Effective Date: July 1, 2016
HB 1393 - Relating to Homestead Property
Tax Exemptions –
Authorizes parent or
parents of unmarried veteran who died from service-connected causes while on
active duty as member of U.S. Armed Forces to get ad valorem tax relief on
homestead property. Effective Date: this act shall take effect on the same date
that HJR 1391, or a similar joint resolution having substantially the same
specific intent and purpose.
HB 1391 - Relating to Homestead Tax
Relief for Parents of Unmarried Veterans Who Died from Service-connected Causes
–
Homestead
Tax Relief for Parents of Unmarried Veterans Who Died from Service-connected
Causes: Proposes amendment to State Constitution to authorize the Legislature,
by general law, to provide ad valorem tax relief on homestead property to
parents of unmarried veteran who died from service-connected causes while on
active duty as member of U.S. Armed Forces.
HB 7023 – Relating to Ad Valorem Tax
Exemption for Deployed Service members –
Expands
military operations that qualify certain service members who receive a
homestead exemption & were deployed during previous calendar year to
receive additional ad valorem tax exemption on that homestead property;
provides procedures for grant of exemption. Effective Date: upon becoming a
law. (See SB
160.)
Florida
Senate
SB 88 - Relating to Gold Star License
Plates –
Amends s. 320.0894, F.S.;
expanding certain individuals as qualified for issuance of a Gold Star license
plate.
SB 128 - Relating to Services for Combat
Veterans and Their Families –
Defining the term “combat
veteran;” requiring that the Department of Children and Families establish the
Florida Combat Veterans’ Care Coordination Program to provide combat veterans
and their families with behavioral health care referral and care coordination
services; requiring that the department contract with managing entities to
enter into agreements with Florida 211 Network participants for such services,
etc.
SB 158 - Relating to Identification
Cards and Driver Licenses – (See HB 83.)
SB 160 - Relating to Ad Valorem Tax
Exemption for Deployed Service members –
Expands
the military operations that qualify a service member deployed in support of
such an operation in the previous calendar year for an additional ad valorem
tax exemption; providing an extended deadline and specifying procedures for
filing an application for such tax exemption for a qualifying deployment during
the 2014 calendar year, etc. Effective Date: Upon becoming a law, and first
applies to ad valorem tax rolls for 2015
SB 184 - Relating to Military and
Veterans Affairs –
Requiring the application
form for an original, renewal, or replacement driver license or identification
card to include a voluntary checkoff authorizing veterans to request written or
electronic information on federal, state, and local benefits and services for
veterans; creating the Military and Overseas Voting Assistance Task Force
within the Department of State; providing legislative findings regarding
continuing education for veterans of the United States Armed Forces, etc.
SB 222 - Relating to Parking for
Disabled Veterans –
Requiring the governing
body of each publicly owned or publicly operated airport to grant free parking
to any vehicle displaying specified license plates for disabled veterans;
clarifying that such license plates, rather than “DV” license plates, are
exempt from certain parking fees charged by a county, municipality, or an
agency thereof, etc
.
SB 404 - Relating to Small Business
Financial Assistance –
Creates the Veterans
Employment Small Business Grant Program within the Department of Veterans’
Affairs; requiring a small business to apply to and enter into an agreement
with the corporation to receive grants; requiring the corporation to notify the
appropriate regional small business development center of a small business’
participation; providing for termination of the program, etc. (See HB 263.)
SB 518 - Relating to Bronze Star License
Plates –
Creates
a special license plate for recipients of the Bronze Star medal, etc.
SB 538 - Relating to Annual Sales Tax
Holiday for Veterans of the United States Armed Forces –
Creates
an annual sales tax holiday for veterans; specifying items that are eligible
for the sales tax holiday; defining the term “veteran” for purposes of the
sales tax holiday, etc. (See HB 279.)
SB 604 - Relating to Mental Health
Services in the Criminal Justice System –
Expands eligibility for
military veterans & servicemembers for certain programs. Expanding the definition of “veteran,” for the
purpose of eligibility for veterans’ court, to include veterans who were
discharged or released under a general discharge. (See
HB 439.)
SB 626 – Relating to Consumer Credit –
Authorizes the Office of
Financial Regulation to deny a license or take disciplinary action against a
person who violates the Military Lending Act or the regulations adopted under
that act in connection with a consumer finance loan under the Florida Consumer
Finance Act, etc. Effective Date: 10/3/2016.
(See HB 717.)
SB 666 - Relating to Voter
Identification – (See HB 505)
SB 772 – Relating to Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services –
Waives specified license
& registration fees for honorably discharged veterans of U.S. Armed Forces,
spouses of such veterans, or business entities that have majority ownership
held by such veterans or spouses of such veterans. (See
HB 641.)
SB 778 - Relating to Homestead Tax
Exemption/Spouses of Combat-related Disabled Veterans –
Joint Resolution proposing
an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the discount on ad valorem
taxes on homestead property which is received by certain veterans who have
permanent, combat-related disabilities to carry over upon the death of the
veteran to the benefit of a surviving spouse until the surviving spouse
remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property and to specify that
the discount is transferrable to another permanent residence if the surviving
spouse remains unmarried, etc.
SB 804 - Relating to Homestead Property
Tax Exemptions –
Exempting the unremarried
surviving spouses of certain deceased veterans from payment of ad valorem taxes
for certain homesteads in this state, irrespective of the state in which the
veteran’s homestead was located at the time of death, if certain conditions are
met, etc. (See HB 611.)
SB 816 - Relating to Homestead Property
Tax Discount for Disabled Veterans –
Providing
for the transfer of a certain discount on ad valorem taxes on homestead property
to the surviving spouse of a specified disabled veteran under certain
circumstances; providing for the transfer of the discount by the surviving
spouse to a new residence under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 918 – Relating to Licensure of Health
Care Professionals –
Deleting the requirement
that applicants making initial application for certain licensure complete
certain courses; providing for the issuance of a license to practice under
certain conditions to a military health care practitioner in a profession for
which licensure in a state or jurisdiction is not required to practice in the
military; providing for the issuance of a temporary professional license under
certain conditions to the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces
of the United States who is a healthcare practitioner in a profession for which
licensure in a state or jurisdiction may not be required, etc. Effective Date:
7/1/2016. (See
HB 941.)
SB 944 – Relating to Out-of-State Fee
Waivers for Active Duty Service Members –
Requires state
universities, Florida College System institutions, and certain centers to waive
out-of-state fees for active duty members of the United States Armed Forces
residing or stationed outside of this state; prohibiting tuition and fees
charged to such students from exceeding a specified amount, etc. Effective
Date: 7/1/2016. (See
HB 799.)
SB 1504 - Relating to Credit For
Relevant Military Service –
Providing for the issuance
of a license to practice under certain conditions to a military health care
practitioner in a profession for which licensure in a state or jurisdiction is
not required to practice in the military; requiring the Construction Industry
Licensing Board and the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board to provide a
method by which honorably discharged veterans may apply for licensure, etc.
Effective Date: Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act
shall take effect July 1, 2016. (See SB 918 and HB
941.)
SB 1688 - Relating to Florida Veterans
Foundation –
Providing for voluntary
contributions of a minimum specified amount per applicant for certain motor
vehicle registrations, driver licenses or identification cards, and boat
registrations to the Florida Veterans Foundation, etc. Effective Date:
7/1/2016.
SB 7016 - Relating to Interstate Compact
on Educational Opportunity for Military Children –
Reenacts
provisions of law establishing and implementing the Interstate Compact on
Educational Opportunity for Military Children and provides for future
legislative review and repeal of the Compact on July 1, 2019. The Compact is an
agreement between states that is designed to assist member states in uniformly
addressing key educational transition issues in enrollment, placement,
attendance, eligibility, and graduation.
Point of Contact:
R. Steven Murray
Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret)
Communications Director
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
Office (850) 487-1533
Cell (850) 491-1092