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Legislative Update As of April 3rd, 2014. Florida GI Bill HB 7015. Numerous Veterans Provisions passed on March 11 th , 2014 Expands Florida's veterans' preference in state employment to include all veterans. Grants out-of-state tuition waivers to student veterans.
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Florida GI Bill HB 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 PASSED
Florida GI Bill ContinuedHB 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. PASSED
Veteran-Related LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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credit against the Florida Corporate Income Taxfor the hiring of disabled veterans • Effective July 1, 2014 • HB 249: Withdrawn from consideration • SB 110: In Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations
Veteran-Related LegislationItems 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 • Adependent 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 PASSED
Veteran-Related LegislationItems 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 PASSED
Veteran-Related LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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. PASSED
Veteran-Related LegislationItems 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 LegislationItems 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.