Bill Text: FL S1632 | 2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: 40th Anniversary/End of the United States' Involvement in the Vietnam War

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-09 - Died in Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Appropriations, companion bill(s) passed, see SM 1080 (Adopted) [S1632 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-S1632-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2012                             CS for SB 1632
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Military Affairs, Space, and Domestic
       Security; and Senator Dean
       
       
       
       583-02789-12                                          20121632c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to commemoration of the 40th
    3         anniversary of the end of the United States’
    4         involvement in the Vietnam War; amending s. 683.01,
    5         F.S.; designating March 25, 2013, the 40th anniversary
    6         of the end of the United States’ involvement in the
    7         Vietnam War, as a legal holiday; creating s. 683.025,
    8         F.S.; designating a date for the observance of the
    9         anniversary; specifying purpose of the observance;
   10         creating s. 292.075, F.S.; requiring the Department of
   11         Veterans’ Affairs to collaborate with Florida’s
   12         veterans’ organizations and their local posts and
   13         chapters to administratively promote and support the
   14         efforts of counties, municipalities, and veterans’
   15         organizations that voluntarily hold special community
   16         events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the end
   17         of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War;
   18         providing for creation of a separate account within
   19         the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund of the
   20         Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the deposit of
   21         private donations to fund grants to counties,
   22         municipalities, and veterans’ organizations that
   23         voluntarily hold activities in support of such
   24         commemoration; providing for maintenance of the
   25         account for a limited period; providing for transfer
   26         of unused funds in the account after a specified date;
   27         providing for the creation of a special volunteer
   28         advisory board to the department for the purpose of
   29         reviewing and making recommendations with respect to
   30         activities and expenditures of private funds raised in
   31         support of such commemoration; amending ss. 320.08056
   32         and 320.08058, F.S.; creating the Vietnam Veterans
   33         license plate; establishing an annual use fee for the
   34         plate; providing for the distribution of use fees
   35         received from the sale of such plates; providing an
   36         effective date.
   37  
   38         WHEREAS, March 30, 2013, marks the 40th anniversary of the
   39  end of United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, and
   40         WHEREAS, because March 30, 2013, falls during Easter
   41  weekend, March 25, 2013, has been designated as the date on
   42  which the 40th anniversary of the end of the United States’
   43  involvement in the Vietnam War is to be commemorated in the
   44  State of Florida, and
   45         WHEREAS, it is the intent of this act to provide
   46  legislative direction and support for recognition of the
   47  importance of this event and to ensure the appropriate
   48  commemoration of this anniversary and proper demonstration of
   49  appreciation for the honorable service and tremendous sacrifice
   50  of veterans who served in the United States Armed Services
   51  during the Vietnam Era, NOW, THEREFORE,
   52  
   53  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   54  
   55         Section 1. Paragraph (v) is added to subsection (1) of
   56  section 683.01, Florida Statutes, to read:
   57         683.01 Legal holidays.—
   58         (1) The legal holidays, which are also public holidays, are
   59  the following:
   60         (v) The 40th anniversary of the end of United States’
   61  involvement in the Vietnam War, March 25, 2013.
   62         Section 2. Section 683.025, Florida Statutes, is created to
   63  read:
   64         683.025 Commemoration of 40th anniversary of end of United
   65  States’ involvement in Vietnam War.—In recognition of the
   66  historical significance of the 40th anniversary of the end of
   67  United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, March 25, 2013,
   68  shall be observed as the 40th anniversary of the end of United
   69  States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. The day shall be
   70  suitably observed for the purpose of providing opportunities
   71  throughout the state to demonstrate and express appreciation for
   72  the honorable service and sacrifice of veterans who served in
   73  the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era and shall
   74  otherwise be suitably observed by such public exercises in the
   75  State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate.
   76         Section 3. Section 292.075, Florida Statutes, is created to
   77  read:
   78         292.075 Commemoration of 40th anniversary of the end of
   79  United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.—
   80         (1) The department shall collaborate with Florida’s
   81  veterans’ organizations and their local posts and chapters to
   82  administratively promote and support the efforts of counties,
   83  municipalities, and bona fide veterans’ organizations that
   84  voluntarily hold special community events commemorating the 40th
   85  anniversary of the end of the United States’ involvement in the
   86  Vietnam War on March 25, 2013, as provided in s. 683.025. Such
   87  events shall include, but are not limited to, parades or
   88  ceremonies held on or about that date.
   89         (2) The Florida Veterans’ Foundation created under s.
   90  292.055 shall:
   91         (a) Establish a separate account within the Operations and
   92  Maintenance Trust Fund of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
   93  designated as the Vietnam War Commemoration Fund for the purpose
   94  of receiving private donations through June 30, 2013, to fund
   95  grants to counties, municipalities, and bona fide veterans’
   96  organizations that voluntarily hold commemorative activities
   97  contemplated by this section and s. 683.025. The Vietnam War
   98  Commemoration Fund shall be maintained through June 30, 2013.
   99  Any unused funds remaining in the account after June 30, 2013,
  100  shall be transferred to the Operations and Maintenance Trust
  101  Fund of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
  102         (b) Create a special volunteer advisory board, consisting
  103  of Vietnam veterans who are residents of the state, for the
  104  purpose of reviewing and making recommendations with respect to
  105  the activities contemplated by this section and s. 683.025 and
  106  major expenditures of private funds raised in support thereof.
  107         Section 4. Paragraph (aaaa) is added to subsection (4) of
  108  section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, to read:
  109         320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
  110         (4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be
  111  collected for the appropriate specialty license plates:
  112         (aaaa) Vietnam Veterans license plate, $25.
  113         Section 5. Subsection (79) is added to section 320.08058,
  114  Florida Statutes, to read:
  115         320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
  116         (79) VIETNAM VETERANS LICENSE PLATE.—
  117         (a) Notwithstanding s. 45 of chapter 2008-176, Laws of
  118  Florida, as amended by s. 21 of chapter 2010-223, Laws of
  119  Florida, the department shall develop a Vietnam Veterans license
  120  plate as provided in this section. Vietnam Veterans license
  121  plates must bear the colors and design approved by the
  122  department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
  123  plate, and the words “Vietnam Veterans” must appear at the
  124  bottom of the plate.
  125         (b) The license plate annual use fees generated through
  126  June 30, 2013, must be deposited in the separate account within
  127  the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund of the Department of
  128  Veterans’ Affairs designated as the Vietnam War Commemoration
  129  Fund, established under s. 292.075(2). All such moneys are to be
  130  administered by the direct-support organization of the
  131  Department of Veterans’ Affairs created under s. 292.055, the
  132  Florida Veterans’ Foundation, and must be used solely for the
  133  purposes of:
  134         1. Funding grants to counties, municipalities, and bona
  135  fide veterans’ organizations for activities related to the
  136  commemoration on March 25, 2013, of the 40th anniversary of the
  137  end of United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War; and
  138         2. The promotion and marketing of the license plate,
  139  subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
  140         (c) Funds generated by the sale of the Vietnam Veterans’
  141  license plate after June 30, 2013, shall be deposited into the
  142  Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund of the Department of
  143  Veterans’ Affairs.
  144         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.