Bill Text: FL S1666 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Veterans
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Fiscal Policy [S1666 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S1666-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Veterans
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Fiscal Policy [S1666 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S1666-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1666
By Senator Collins
14-00734C-24 20241666__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to veterans; amending s. 295.21, F.S.;
3 revising the purpose of Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.;
4 revising the duties of the corporation to require that
5 it conduct specified activities directed toward its
6 target market; defining the term “target market”;
7 deleting obsolete language; providing that the
8 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
9 of Representatives may each appoint only one member
10 from his or her chamber to the corporation’s board of
11 directors; making technical changes; amending s.
12 295.22, F.S.; defining terms; revising the purpose of
13 the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program;
14 revising the functions that Florida Is For Veterans,
15 Inc., must perform in administering a specified
16 program; authorizing the program to prioritize grant
17 funds; revising the uses of specified grant funds;
18 authorizing a business to receive certain other grant
19 funds in addition to specified grant funds;
20 authorizing the use of grant funds to provide for a
21 specified educational stipend; requiring the
22 corporation and the University of Florida to enter
23 into a grant agreement before certain funds are
24 expended; requiring the corporation to determine the
25 amount of the stipend; providing that specified
26 training must occur for a specified duration;
27 authorizing the corporation to provide certain
28 assistance to state agencies and entities, to provide
29 a website that has relevant hyperlinks, and to
30 collaborate with specified state agencies and other
31 entities for specified purposes; conforming provisions
32 to changes made by the act; making technical changes;
33 creating s. 295.25, F.S.; prohibiting the Department
34 of State from charging veterans who reside in this
35 state fees for the filing of specified documents;
36 amending s. 379.353, F.S.; providing free hunting,
37 freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses to
38 certain disabled veterans; amending s. 381.78, F.S.;
39 revising the membership, appointment, and meetings of
40 the advisory council on brain and spinal cord
41 injuries; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring
42 instruction on the history and importance of Veterans’
43 Day and Memorial Day; requiring that certain
44 instruction consist of two 45-minute lessons that must
45 occur within a certain timeframe; amending s.
46 288.0001, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
47 reenacting ss. 379.3581(2)(b) and 379.401(2)(b) and
48 (3)(b), F.S., relating to special authorization
49 hunting licenses and the suspension and forfeiture of
50 licenses and permits, respectively, to incorporate the
51 amendment made to s. 379.353, F.S., in references
52 thereto; providing an effective date.
53
54 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
55
56 Section 1. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (3),
57 and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 295.21, Florida
58 Statutes, are amended to read:
59 295.21 Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.—
60 (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the corporation is to serve as
61 the state’s initial point of military transition assistance
62 dedicated to promoting promote Florida as a veteran-friendly
63 state helping that seeks to provide veterans and their spouses
64 with employment opportunities and promoting that promotes the
65 hiring of veterans and their spouses by the business community.
66 The corporation shall encourage retired and recently separated
67 military personnel to remain in this the state or to make this
68 the state their permanent residence. The corporation shall
69 promote the value of military skill sets to businesses in this
70 the state, assist in tailoring the training of veterans and
71 their spouses to match the needs of the employment marketplace,
72 and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of veterans and their
73 spouses.
74 (3) DUTIES.—The corporation shall:
75 (a) Conduct marketing, awareness, and outreach activities
76 directed toward its target market. As used in this section, the
77 term “target market” means those members, and their spouses, of
78 the United States Armed Forces with 24 months or less until
79 discharge, veterans with 36 months or less since discharge, and
80 members of the Florida National Guard or reserves research to
81 identify the target market and the educational and employment
82 needs of those in the target market. The corporation shall
83 contract with at least one entity pursuant to the competitive
84 bidding requirements in s. 287.057 and the provisions of s.
85 295.187 to perform the research. Such entity must have
86 experience conducting market research on the veteran
87 demographic. The corporation shall seek input from the Florida
88 Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation on the scope, process,
89 and focus of such research.
90 (4) GOVERNANCE.—
91 (a) The corporation shall be governed by a nine-member
92 board of directors. The Governor, the President of the Senate,
93 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each
94 appoint three members to the board. In making appointments, the
95 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
96 House of Representatives must consider representation by active
97 or retired military personnel and their spouses, representing a
98 range of ages and persons with expertise in business, education,
99 marketing, and information management. The President of the
100 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may each
101 appoint only one member from the body over which he or she
102 presides.
103 Section 2. Section 295.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to
104 read:
105 295.22 Veterans Employment and Training Services Program.—
106 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds
107 that the state has a compelling interest in ensuring that each
108 veteran or his or her spouse who is a resident of this the state
109 finds employment that meets his or her professional goals and
110 receives the training or education necessary to meet those
111 goals. The Legislature also finds that connecting dedicated,
112 well-trained veterans with businesses that need a dedicated,
113 well-trained workforce is of paramount importance. The
114 Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not
115 currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida
116 employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional
117 workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the
118 demands of the marketplace. It is the intent of the Legislature
119 that the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program
120 coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and their spouses and
121 the business community to enhance the economy of this state.
122 (2) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the
123 term:
124 (a) “Secondary industry business” is a business that the
125 state has an additional interest in supporting and for which
126 veterans and their spouses may have directly transferrable
127 skills. These businesses are in the fields of health care,
128 agriculture, commercial construction, education, law
129 enforcement, and public service.
130 (b) “Spouse” means a person who is married to a veteran, or
131 a person who was married to a veteran killed in action and is
132 not remarried.
133 (c) “Target industry business” is a business as defined in
134 s. 288.005.
135 (d) “Target market” has the same meaning as in s.
136 295.21(3)(a).
137 (e) “Veteran” means a person who the definition of veteran
138 in s. 1.01(14) or is an active or former member of the National
139 Guard or United States Coast Guard, including reserve
140 components.
141 (3) CREATION.—The Veterans Employment and Training Services
142 Program is created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
143 assist in connecting linking veterans or their spouses in search
144 of employment with businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well
145 trained workers and with opportunities for entrepreneurship
146 education, training, and resources. The purpose of the program
147 is to meet the workforce demands of businesses in this the state
148 by facilitating access to training and education in high-demand
149 fields for veterans or their spouses and to inspire the growth
150 and development of veteran-owned small businesses.
151 (4)(3) ADMINISTRATION.—Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall
152 administer the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program
153 and perform all of the following functions:
154 (a) Conduct marketing and recruiting efforts directed at
155 veterans or their spouses within the target market who reside in
156 or who have an interest in relocating to this state and who are
157 seeking employment. Marketing must include information related
158 to how a veteran’s military experience can be valuable to a
159 target industry or secondary industry business. Such efforts may
160 include attending veteran job fairs and events, hosting events
161 for veterans and their spouses or the business community, and
162 using digital and social media and direct mail campaigns. The
163 corporation shall also include such marketing as part of its
164 main marketing campaign.
165 (b) Assist veterans or their spouses who reside in or
166 relocate to this state and who are seeking employment with
167 target industry or secondary industry businesses. The
168 corporation shall offer skills assessments to veterans or their
169 spouses and assist them in establishing employment goals and
170 applying for and achieving gainful employment.
171 1. Assessment may include skill match information, skill
172 gap analysis, résumé creation, translation of military skills
173 into civilian workforce skills, and translation of military
174 achievements and experience into generally understood civilian
175 workforce skills.
176 2. Assistance may include providing the veteran or his or
177 her spouse with information on current workforce demand by
178 industry or geographic region, creating employment goals, and
179 aiding or teaching general knowledge related to completing
180 applications. The corporation may provide information related to
181 industry certifications approved by the Department of Education
182 under s. 1008.44 as well as information related to earning
183 academic college credit at public postsecondary educational
184 institutions for college-level training and education acquired
185 in the military under s. 1004.096.
186 3. The corporation shall encourage veterans or their
187 spouses to register with the state’s job bank system and may
188 refer veterans to local one-stop career centers for further
189 services. The corporation shall provide each veteran with
190 information about state workforce programs and shall consolidate
191 information about all available resources on one website that,
192 if possible, includes a hyperlink to each resource’s website and
193 contact information, if available.
194 4. Assessment and assistance may be in person or by
195 electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most
196 efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses.
197 (c) Assist Florida target industry and secondary industry
198 businesses in recruiting and hiring veterans and veterans’
199 spouses. The corporation shall provide services to Florida
200 businesses to meet their hiring needs by connecting businesses
201 with suitable veteran applicants for employment. Suitable
202 applicants include veterans or veterans’ spouses who have
203 appropriate job skills or may need additional training to meet
204 the specific needs of a business. The corporation shall also
205 provide information about the state and federal benefits of
206 hiring veterans.
207 (d) Create a grant program to provide funding to assist
208 veterans in meeting the workforce-skill needs of target industry
209 and secondary industry businesses seeking to hire, promote, or
210 generally improve specialized skills of veterans, establish
211 criteria for approval of requests for funding, and maximize the
212 use of funding for this program. Grant funds may be used only in
213 the absence of available veteran-specific federally funded
214 programs. Grants may fund specialized training specific to a
215 particular business.
216 1. The program may prioritize If grant funds to be are used
217 to provide a technical certificate, a license licensure, or
218 nondegree training from the Master Credentials List pursuant to
219 s. 445.004(4)(h); any federally created certifications or
220 licenses; and any skills-based industry certifications or
221 licenses deemed relevant or necessary by the corporation. a
222 degree, Funds may be allocated only upon a review that includes,
223 but is not limited to, documentation of accreditation and
224 licensure. Instruction funded through the program terminates
225 when participants demonstrate competence at the level specified
226 in the request but may not exceed 12 months. Preference shall be
227 given to target industry businesses, as defined in s. 288.005,
228 and to businesses in the defense supply, cloud virtualization,
229 health care, or commercial aviation manufacturing industries.
230 2. Costs and expenditures are shall be limited to $8,000
231 per veteran trainee. Qualified businesses must cover the entire
232 cost for all of the training provided before receiving
233 reimbursement from the corporation equal to 50 percent of the
234 cost to train a veteran who is a permanent, full-time employee.
235 Eligible costs and expenditures include, but are not limited to:
236 a. Tuition and fees.
237 b. Books and classroom materials.
238 c. Rental fees for facilities.
239 3. Before funds are allocated for a request pursuant to
240 this section, the corporation shall prepare a grant agreement
241 between the business requesting funds and the corporation. Such
242 agreement must include, but need not be limited to:
243 a. Identification of the personnel necessary to conduct the
244 instructional program, instructional program description, and
245 any vendors used to conduct the instructional program.
246 b. Identification of the estimated duration of the
247 instructional program.
248 c. Identification of all direct, training-related costs.
249 d. Identification of special program requirements that are
250 not otherwise addressed in the agreement.
251 e. Permission to access aggregate information specific to
252 the wages and performance of participants upon the completion of
253 instruction for evaluation purposes. The agreement must specify
254 that any evaluation published subsequent to the instruction may
255 not identify the employer or any individual participant.
256 4. A business may receive a grant under any state program
257 the Quick-Response Training Program created under s. 288.047 and
258 a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee.
259 5. A portion of grant funds, as determined by the
260 corporation, may be used for veterans who are not active members
261 of the United States Armed Forces for educational stipends while
262 training at any location of the University of Florida’s
263 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences within this state.
264 The corporation and the University of Florida shall enter into a
265 grant agreement before funds are expended. The corporation must
266 determine the amount of the stipend. The training for any
267 individual may not be less than 4 months and not more than 6
268 months.
269 (e) Contract with one or more entities to administer an
270 entrepreneur initiative program for veterans in this state which
271 connects business leaders in the state with veterans seeking to
272 become entrepreneurs.
273 1. The corporation shall award each contract in accordance
274 with the competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057 to one
275 or more public or private entities that:
276 a. Demonstrate the ability to implement the program and the
277 commitment of resources, including financial resources, to such
278 programs.
279 b. Have a demonstrated experience working with veteran
280 entrepreneurs.
281 c. As determined by the corporation, have been recognized
282 for their performance in assisting entrepreneurs to launch
283 successful businesses in this the state.
284 2. Each contract must include performance metrics,
285 including a focus on employment and business creation. The
286 entity may also work with a university or college offering
287 related programs to refer veterans or to provide services. The
288 entrepreneur initiative program may include activities and
289 assistance such as peer-to-peer learning sessions, mentoring,
290 technical assistance, business roundtables, networking
291 opportunities, support of student organizations, speaker series,
292 or other tools within a virtual environment.
293 (f) Administer a As the state’s principal assistance
294 organization under the United States Department of Defense’s
295 SkillBridge initiative program for target industry and secondary
296 industry qualified businesses in this state and for eligible
297 veterans transitioning servicemembers who reside in, or who wish
298 to reside in, this state. In administering the initiative, the
299 corporation shall:
300 1. Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification
301 for the SkillBridge initiative program or any other similar
302 workforce training and transition programs established by the
303 United States Department of Defense;
304 2. Educate businesses, business associations, and eligible
305 veterans transitioning servicemembers on the SkillBridge
306 initiative program and its benefits, and educate military
307 command and personnel within the state on the opportunities
308 available to eligible veterans transitioning servicemembers
309 through the SkillBridge program;
310 3. Assist businesses in obtaining approval for skilled
311 workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge initiative
312 program, including, but not limited to, apprenticeships,
313 internships, or fellowships; and
314 4. Match eligible veterans transitioning servicemembers who
315 are deemed eligible for SkillBridge participation by their
316 military command with training opportunities offered by the
317 corporation or participating businesses, with the intent of
318 having them transitioning servicemembers achieve gainful
319 employment in this state upon completion of their SkillBridge
320 training.
321 (g) Assist veterans and their spouses in accessing
322 training, education, and employment in health care professions.
323 (h) Coordinate with the Office of Veteran Licensure
324 Services within the Department of Health to assist veterans and
325 their spouses in obtaining licensure pursuant to s. 456.024.
326 (5) COLLABORATION.—The corporation may assist state
327 agencies and entities with recruiting veteran talent into their
328 workforce. The corporation is encouraged to, and may collaborate
329 with state agencies and other entities in efforts to, maximize
330 access to and provide information on one website that, if
331 possible, includes hyperlinks to the websites of and contact
332 information, if available, for state agencies and other entities
333 that maintain benefits, services, training, education, and other
334 resources that are available to veterans and their spouses.
335 (a) Outreach, information exchange, marketing, and
336 referrals between agencies, entities, and the corporation
337 regarding programs and initiatives that may be conducted
338 include, but are not limited to, the Veterans Employment and
339 Training Services Program and those within any of the following:
340 1. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs:
341 a. Access to benefits and assistance programs.
342 b. Hope Navigators Program.
343 2. The Department of Commerce:
344 a. The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program and Local Veteran
345 Employment Representatives.
346 b. CareerSource Florida, Inc., and local workforce boards
347 employment and recruitment services.
348 c. The Quick-Response Training Program.
349 d. Select Florida.
350 3. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation,
351 reciprocity and the availability of certain license and fee
352 waivers.
353 4. The Department of Education:
354 a. CAPE industry certifications under s. 1008.44.
355 b. Information related to earning postsecondary credit at
356 public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level
357 training and education acquired in the military under s.
358 1004.096.
359 5. The Department of Health:
360 a. The Office of Veteran Licensure Services.
361 b. The Florida Veterans Application for Licensure Online
362 Response expedited licensing.
363 (b) The corporation may coordinate and collaborate with the
364 Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help, the State
365 University System, the Florida College System, the Florida
366 Defense Support Task Force, the Florida Small Business
367 Development Center Network, and the Florida Talent Development
368 Council, as necessary.
369 Section 3. Section 295.25, Florida Statutes, is created to
370 read:
371 295.25 Veterans exempt from certain filing fees.—The
372 Department of State may not charge veterans who reside in this
373 state the applicable fees for filing articles of organization,
374 articles of incorporation, a certificate of limited partnership,
375 or a partnership registration statement, or for the designation
376 of a registered agent, if applicable, as provided in s.
377 605.0213, s. 607.0122, s. 617.0122, s. 620.1109, or s.
378 620.81055.
379 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 379.353, Florida
380 Statutes, is amended to read:
381 379.353 Recreational licenses and permits; exemptions from
382 fees and requirements.—
383 (1) The commission shall issue without fee hunting,
384 freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses and permits
385 shall be issued without fee to any resident who is certified or
386 determined to be:
387 (a) To be Totally and permanently disabled for purposes of
388 workers’ compensation under chapter 440 as verified by an order
389 of a judge of compensation claims or written confirmation by the
390 carrier providing workers’ compensation benefits, or to be
391 totally and permanently disabled by the Railroad Retirement
392 Board, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or
393 its predecessor, or by any branch of the United States Armed
394 Forces, or who holds a valid identification card issued under
395 the provisions of s. 295.17, upon proof of such certification or
396 determination same. Any license issued under this paragraph
397 after January 1, 1997, expires after 5 years and must be
398 reissued, upon request, every 5 years thereafter.
399 (b) To be Disabled by the United States Social Security
400 Administration, upon proof of such certification or
401 determination same. Any license issued under this paragraph
402 after October 1, 1999, expires after 2 years and must be
403 reissued, upon proof of certification of disability, every 2
404 years thereafter.
405 (c) A disabled veteran of the United States Armed Forces
406 who was honorably discharged upon separation from service and
407 who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans
408 Affairs or its predecessor or by any branch of the United States
409 Armed Forces as having a service-connected disability percentage
410 rating of 50 percent or greater, upon proof of such
411 certification or determination.
412
413 A disability license issued after July 1, 1997, and before July
414 1, 2000, retains the rights vested thereunder until the license
415 has expired.
416 Section 5. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section 381.78,
417 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
418 381.78 Advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries.—
419 (1) There is created within the department a 16-member
420 advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries. The council
421 shall be composed of a minimum of:
422 (a) Two four individuals who have brain injuries or are
423 family members of individuals who have brain injuries., a
424 minimum of four
425 (b) Two individuals who have spinal cord injuries or are
426 family members of individuals who have spinal cord injuries.,
427 and a minimum of
428 (c) Two individuals who represent the special needs of
429 children who have brain or spinal cord injuries.
430 (d) Two individuals who have, or who are family members of
431 individuals who have or had, a traumatic brain injury, chronic
432 traumatic encephalopathy, or subconcussive impacts due to
433 sports.
434 (e) Two veterans as defined in s. 1.01(14) who have or have
435 had a traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy,
436 or subconcussive impacts due to military service, or family
437 members of such veterans.
438 (f) Six individuals who are The balance of the council
439 members shall be physicians, other allied health professionals,
440 administrators of brain and spinal cord injury programs, or and
441 representatives from support groups who that have expertise in
442 areas related to the rehabilitation of individuals who have
443 brain or spinal cord injuries.
444 (2) Members of the council specified in paragraphs (1)(a)
445 (e) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
446 Representatives. Members of the council specified in paragraph
447 (1)(f) shall be appointed to serve by the State Surgeon General.
448 All members’ terms shall be staggered terms of for 4 years. An
449 individual may not serve more than two terms. Any council member
450 who is unwilling or unable to properly fulfill the duties of the
451 office shall be succeeded by an individual chosen by the State
452 Surgeon General to serve out the unexpired balance of the
453 replaced council member’s term. If the unexpired balance of the
454 replaced council member’s term is less than 18 months, then,
455 notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the
456 succeeding council member may be reappointed by the State
457 Surgeon General twice.
458 (3) The council shall meet at least quarterly and may
459 adjourn a meeting only by unanimous consent two times annually.
460 Section 6. Paragraph (u) of subsection (2) of section
461 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
462 1003.42 Required instruction.—
463 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
464 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
465 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
466 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
467 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
468 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
469 approved methods of instruction, the following:
470 (u)1. In order to encourage patriotism, the sacrifices that
471 veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made in serving our
472 country and protecting democratic values worldwide. Such
473 instruction must occur on or before Medal of Honor Day,
474 Veterans’ Day, and Memorial Day. Members of the instructional
475 staff are encouraged to use the assistance of local veterans and
476 Medal of Honor recipients when practicable.
477 2. The history and importance of Veterans’ Day and Memorial
478 Day. Such instruction must include two 45-minute lessons that
479 occur on or before the respective holidays.
480
481 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
482 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
483 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
484 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
485 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
486 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
487 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
488 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
489 288.0001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
490 288.0001 Economic Development Programs Evaluation.—The
491 Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of
492 Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)
493 shall develop and present to the Governor, the President of the
494 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
495 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees the Economic
496 Development Programs Evaluation.
497 (2) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
498 OPPAGA shall provide a detailed analysis of economic development
499 programs as provided in the following schedule:
500 (c) By January 1, 2016, and every 3 years thereafter, an
501 analysis of the following:
502 1. The tax exemption for semiconductor, defense, or space
503 technology sales established under s. 212.08(5)(j).
504 2. The Military Base Protection Program established under
505 s. 288.980.
506 3. The Quick Response Training Program established under s.
507 288.047.
508 4. The Incumbent Worker Training Program established under
509 s. 445.003.
510 5. The direct-support organization and international trade
511 and business development programs established or funded under s.
512 288.012 or s. 288.826.
513 6. The program established under s. 295.22(3) s. 295.22(2).
514 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
515 made by this act to section 379.353, Florida Statutes, in a
516 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
517 379.3581, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
518 379.3581 Hunter safety course; requirements; penalty.—
519 (2)
520 (b) A person born on or after June 1, 1975, who has not
521 successfully completed a hunter safety course may apply to the
522 commission for a special authorization to hunt under
523 supervision. The special authorization for supervised hunting
524 shall be designated on any license or permit required under this
525 chapter for a person to take game or fur-bearing animals. A
526 person issued a license with a special authorization to hunt
527 under supervision must hunt under the supervision of, and in the
528 presence of, a person 21 years of age or older who is licensed
529 to hunt pursuant to s. 379.354 or who is exempt from licensing
530 requirements or eligible for a free license pursuant to s.
531 379.353.
532 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
533 made by this act to section 379.353, Florida Statutes, in
534 references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and
535 paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 379.401, Florida
536 Statutes, are reenacted to read:
537 379.401 Penalties and violations; civil penalties for
538 noncriminal infractions; criminal penalties; suspension and
539 forfeiture of licenses and permits.—
540 (2) LEVEL TWO VIOLATIONS.—
541 (b)1. A person who commits a Level Two violation but who
542 has not been convicted of a Level Two or higher violation within
543 the past 3 years commits a misdemeanor of the second degree,
544 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
545 2. Unless the stricter penalties in subparagraph 3. or
546 subparagraph 4. apply, a person who commits a Level Two
547 violation within 3 years after a previous conviction for a Level
548 Two or higher violation commits a misdemeanor of the first
549 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with
550 a minimum mandatory fine of $250.
551 3. Unless the stricter penalties in subparagraph 4. apply,
552 a person who commits a Level Two violation within 5 years after
553 two previous convictions for a Level Two or higher violation,
554 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
555 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum mandatory
556 fine of $500 and a suspension of any recreational license or
557 permit issued under s. 379.354 for 1 year. Such suspension shall
558 include the suspension of the privilege to obtain such license
559 or permit and the suspension of the ability to exercise any
560 privilege granted under any exemption in s. 379.353.
561 4. A person who commits a Level Two violation within 10
562 years after three previous convictions for a Level Two or higher
563 violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
564 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum
565 mandatory fine of $750 and a suspension of any recreational
566 license or permit issued under s. 379.354 for 3 years. Such
567 suspension shall include the suspension of the privilege to
568 obtain such license or permit and the suspension of the ability
569 to exercise any privilege granted under s. 379.353. If the
570 recreational license or permit being suspended was an annual
571 license or permit, any privileges under ss. 379.353 and 379.354
572 may not be acquired for a 3-year period following the date of
573 the violation.
574 (3) LEVEL THREE VIOLATIONS.—
575 (b)1. A person who commits a Level Three violation but who
576 has not been convicted of a Level Three or higher violation
577 within the past 10 years commits a misdemeanor of the first
578 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
579 2. A person who commits a Level Three violation within 10
580 years after a previous conviction for a Level Three or higher
581 violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
582 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum
583 mandatory fine of $750 and a suspension of any recreational
584 license or permit issued under s. 379.354 for the remainder of
585 the period for which the license or permit was issued up to 3
586 years. Such suspension shall include the suspension of the
587 privilege to obtain such license or permit and the ability to
588 exercise any privilege granted under s. 379.353. If the
589 recreational license or permit being suspended was an annual
590 license or permit, any privileges under ss. 379.353 and 379.354
591 may not be acquired for a 3-year period following the date of
592 the violation.
593 3. A person who commits a violation of s. 379.354(17) shall
594 receive a mandatory fine of $1,000. Any privileges under ss.
595 379.353 and 379.354 may not be acquired for a 5-year period
596 following the date of the violation.
597 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
