Legislative UpdateLegislative UpdateAs of April 3rd, 2014As of April 3rd, 2014

Florida GI Bill Florida GI Bill HB 7015HB 7015

• Numerous Veterans Provisions passed on March 11th, 2014• Expands Florida's veterans' preference in state employment to

include all veterans.• Grants out-of-state tuition waivers to student veterans.• Removes one-year residency for State Veteran Nursing Homes• Authorizes the Florida Veterans Walk of Honor and Memorial

Gardens• Allows military experience to count towards certain professional

licenses• Extends the time frame for veterans to get professional license fee

waivers from Departments of Health and Business and Professional Regulation

Florida GI Bill ContinuedFlorida GI Bill ContinuedHB 7015HB 7015

• Allows for military spouses/dependents to keep their state of residence driver licenses while stationed in Florida.

• Automatically extends military spouse/dependent driver licenses while stationed outside of Florida.

• Streamlines the application process for military physicians to volunteer their services at community clinics.

• Creates a non-profit corporation to attract veterans to Florida, assist veterans with finding employment, and offer training grants to business who hire veterans. Also creates a veterans entrepreneurship program at a Florida University.

• Expands the Florida National Guard education program.• Funds Florida National Guard Armory Renovations• Funds Military Base Protection land purchases.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Resident Status for Tuition Purposes–HB 35, HB 205, SB 84; HB 7015–Classifies veterans of U.S. Armed Services,

including reserve components thereof, as residents for tuition purposes.– Effective July 1, 2014

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Taxes on Businesses – SB 110, HB 249– Creating the "Florida Veterans Employment Act" – establishing a $5,000 tax credit against the Florida Corporate

Income Tax for the hiring of veterans – establishing an additional $5,000 tax credit against the

Florida Corporate Income Tax for the hiring of disabled veterans

– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 249: Withdrawn from consideration– SB 110: In Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Driver Licenses –SB 140– The spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces is

not required to obtain a Florida driver license because he or she enters his or her children in public school in this state under certain circumstances

– A dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces is not required to obtain a Florida driver license under certain circumstances

– The spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces is granted an automatic extension for the expiration of a certain class of driver license under certain circumstances, etc.

– Included in the Florida GI Bill

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Fee Waivers for Military Veterans– SB 418; HB 7015– Increases the amount of time available for a military

veteran to apply for a fee waiver to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for certain licenses from 24 to 60 months.

– Included in the Florida GI Bill

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Military Veterans– HB 559; SB 724 – Revises Florida Statutes references from Korean Conflict

and Vietnam Era to Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively.

– Creates the Combat Medical Badge license plate for recipients of the Army’s Combat Medical Badge.

– Revises other military plates to include a picture of the medal or badge.

– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 559 sent to the Floor; SB 724 in Appropriations

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to County and Municipal Parks– SB 378; HB 677– Requires County and Municipal Parks to give discounted

annual passes to military, law enforcement or firefighters.– Senate version amended to include discounted fares on

Regional Transportation Systems.– Effective July 1, 2014– SB 378: Final Committee Stop.– HB 677: Final Committees Stop.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Engineers– HB 713; SB 692– Allows military servicemembers an additional

two attempts at the Professional Engineer Exam before requiring additional college courses.

– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 713: On the House Floor Calendar.– SB 692: On the Senate Floor Calendar.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• POW-MIA Chair of Honor Memorial– SB 608; HB 731– Establishes the POW-MIA Chair of Honor

Memorial at the Florida State Capitol.– Effective on becoming law.– SB 608: Final Committee Stop.– HB 731: Passed in the House, Sent to Senate.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Fee and Toll Waivers for Purple Heart Recipients–HB 763; SB 958– Recipients of Purple Heart to receive lifetime family annual

passes to State Parks.– Recipients of Purple Heart, who are residents of the state,

will receive a prepaid toll account at no cost.– Valid for all state-owned toll facilities– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 763- Not heard by House Veteran and Military Affairs– SB 958 – Toll Waivers Removed in Senate Transportation

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Employment of Veterans– HB 873; SB 970– A private employer may give priority in its hiring

practices to an eligible person who is:• An honorably discharged veteran• The spouse of a service-disabled veteran

– This section does not violate any state or local equal employment opportunity law.

– Effective July 1, 2014– Included in Florida GI Bill.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Relating to Gas Stations– HB 185; SB 1184– Requires self-service gas stations to display the

telephone number of the station on the pump for disabled persons to call for assistance.

– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 185: Moved to House Floor.– SB 1184: Two Committee Stop left.

Veteran-Related LegislationVeteran-Related LegislationItems during the 2014 Legislative SessionItems during the 2014 Legislative Session

• Purple Heart Tuition Waivers for Technical Centers– HB 851; SB 1400– Grant tuition waivers to State Technical Centers for

recipients of the Purple Heart or other combat decorations superior in precedence.

– Effective July 1, 2014– HB 851: Passed by the House.– SB 1400 Two Committee Stops left.

www.FloridaVets.orgwww.FloridaVets.org