Bill Text: FL S0430 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Veterans' Affairs

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S0430 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-S0430-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2011                       CS for CS for SB 430
       
       
       
       By the Committees on Budget Subcommittee on Higher Education
       Appropriations; and Higher Education; and Senator Altman
       
       
       
       605-04511-11                                           2011430c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to veterans’ affairs; amending s.
    3         1.01, F.S.; expanding the definition of the term
    4         “veteran” for purposes of construction of the Florida
    5         Statutes; amending s. 295.0185, F.S.; providing
    6         educational opportunity at state expense for dependent
    7         children of military personnel who die or suffer
    8         certain disability in specified military operations;
    9         providing an effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (14) of section 1.01, Florida
   14  Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1.01 Definitions.—In construing these statutes and each and
   16  every word, phrase, or part hereof, where the context will
   17  permit:
   18         (14) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the
   19  active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or
   20  released therefrom under honorable conditions only or who later
   21  received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions,
   22  notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of
   23  Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with
   24  other than honorable discharges. To receive benefits as a
   25  wartime veteran, a veteran must have served in a campaign or
   26  expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or a
   27  veteran must have served during one of the following periods of
   28  wartime service:
   29         (a) Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898, to July 4, 1902,
   30  and including the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer
   31  Rebellion.
   32         (b) Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, to April 5, 1917,
   33  in the case of a veteran who during such period served in
   34  Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent
   35  thereto.
   36         (c) World War I: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918;
   37  extended to April 1, 1920, for those veterans who served in
   38  Russia; also extended through July 1, 1921, for those veterans
   39  who served after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921,
   40  provided such veterans had at least 1 day of service between
   41  April 5, 1917, and November 12, 1918.
   42         (d) World War II: December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946.
   43         (e) Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955.
   44         (f) Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.
   45         (g) Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, to January 2, 1992.
   46         (h) Operation Enduring Freedom: October 7, 2001, and ending
   47  on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation
   48  or by law.
   49         (i) Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 19, 2003, to August 31,
   50  2010 and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by
   51  presidential proclamation or by law.
   52         (j) Operation New Dawn: September 1, 2010, and ending on
   53  the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or
   54  by law.
   55         Section 2. Section 295.0185, Florida Statutes, is amended
   56  to read:
   57         295.0185 Children of deceased or disabled military
   58  personnel who die or become disabled in Operation Enduring
   59  Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn;
   60  educational opportunity.—
   61         (1)(a) It is declared to be the policy of the state to
   62  provide educational opportunity at state expense for the
   63  dependent children of those military personnel who die or suffer
   64  a service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability
   65  rating for compensation as determined by the United States
   66  Department of Veterans Affairs, or who are determined to have a
   67  service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100
   68  percent and are in receipt of disability retirement pay from any
   69  branch of the United States Armed Services, while participating
   70  in any of the following military operations, if such military
   71  personnel have been residents of the state during the period of
   72  military action:
   73         1. Operation Enduring Freedom, which began on October 7,
   74  2001;, or while participating in
   75         2. Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003,
   76  and ended August 31, 2010; or
   77         3. Operation New Dawn, which began on September 1, 2010 if
   78  such military personnel have been residents of the state during
   79  the period of military action.
   80         (b) Any of the following constitutes prima facie evidence
   81  that the dependent children of military personnel under
   82  paragraph (a) are eligible for educational benefits:
   83         1. A certified copy of a death certificate;,
   84         2. A valid identification card issued in accordance with
   85  the provisions of s. 295.17;,
   86         3. A letter certifying the service-connected 100-percent
   87  total and permanent disability rating for compensation from the
   88  United States Department of Veterans Affairs;, or
   89         4. A letter certifying the service-connected total and
   90  permanent disability rating of 100 percent for retirement pay
   91  from any branch of the United States Armed Services is prima
   92  facie evidence that the dependent children of such military
   93  personnel are eligible for educational benefits.
   94         (2) Sections 295.03, 295.04, 295.05, and 1009.40 apply.
   95         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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