ENROLLED
2012 Legislature SB 276, 1st Engrossed
2012276er
1
2 An act relating to recognition of military personnel
3 and veterans; amending s. 265.003, F.S.; creating the
4 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council within the
5 Department of Veterans’ Affairs; providing for
6 membership, terms of members, and organization of the
7 council; revising provisions relating to nomination of
8 persons to the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame;
9 providing for annual acceptance of nominations by the
10 council; authorizing the council to establish criteria
11 for such nominations; creating s. 683.146, F.S.;
12 designating August 7 of each year as “Purple Heart
13 Day”; providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Section 265.003, Florida Statutes, is amended to
18 read:
19 265.003 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame.—
20 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and
21 honor those military veterans who, through their works and lives
22 during or after military service, have made a significant
23 contribution to the State of Florida.
24 (2) There is established the Florida Veterans’ Hall of
25 Fame.
26 (a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame is administered by
27 the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs without
28 appropriation of state funds.
29 (b) The Department of Management Services shall set aside
30 an area on the Plaza Level of the Capitol Building along the
31 northeast front wall and shall consult with the Department of
32 Veterans’ Affairs regarding the design and theme of the area.
33 (c) Each person who is inducted into the Florida Veterans’
34 Hall of Fame shall have his or her name placed on a plaque
35 displayed in the designated area of the Capitol Building.
36 (3)(a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council is
37 created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as an
38 advisory council, as defined in s. 20.03(7), consisting of seven
39 members who are all honorably discharged veterans, at least four
40 of whom must be members of a congressionally chartered veterans
41 service organization. The Governor, the President of the Senate,
42 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney
43 General, the Chief Financial Officer, the Commissioner of
44 Agriculture, and the executive director of the Department of
45 Veterans’ Affairs shall each appoint one member. For the
46 purposes of ensuring staggered terms, the council members
47 appointed by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Chief
48 Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall be
49 appointed to 4-year terms beginning on January 1 of the year of
50 appointment, and the council members appointed by the President
51 of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
52 the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
53 shall be appointed to 2-year terms beginning on January 1 of the
54 year of appointment. After the initial appointments, all
55 appointees shall be appointed to 4-year terms. A member whose
56 term expires shall continue to serve on the council until a
57 replacement is appointed.
58 (b) The members shall annually elect a chair from among
59 their number. The council shall meet at the call of the chair,
60 at the request of the executive director of the Department of
61 Veterans’ Affairs, or at such times as may be prescribed by the
62 council. A majority of the members of the council currently
63 appointed constitutes a quorum, and a meeting may not be held
64 unless a quorum is present. The affirmative vote of a majority
65 of the members of the council present is necessary for any
66 official action by the council.
67 (c) Members of the council may not receive compensation or
68 honorarium for their services. Members may be reimbursed for
69 travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as
70 provided in s. 112.061, however, no state funds may be used for
71 this purpose.
72 (d) The original appointing authority may remove his or her
73 appointee from the council for misconduct or malfeasance in
74 office, neglect of duty, incompetence, or permanent inability to
75 perform official duties or if the member is adjudicated guilty
76 of a felony.
77 (4)(3)(a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council
78 Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall annually accept
79 nominations of persons to be considered for induction into the
80 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame and shall then transmit a list of
81 up to 20 nominees its recommendations to the Department of
82 Veterans’ Affairs for submission to the Governor and the Cabinet
83 who will select the nominees to be inducted.
84 (b) In selecting its nominees for submission making its
85 recommendations to the Governor and the Cabinet, the Florida
86 Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council Department of Veterans’ Affairs
87 shall give preference to veterans who were born in Florida or
88 adopted Florida as their home state or base of operation and who
89 have made a significant contribution to the state in civic,
90 business, public service, or other pursuits.
91 (5)(4) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council
92 Department of Veterans’ Affairs may establish criteria and set
93 specific time periods for acceptance of nominations and for the
94 process of selection of nominees for membership and establish a
95 formal induction ceremony to coincide with the annual
96 commemoration of Veterans’ Day.
97 Section 2. Section 683.146, Florida Statutes, is created to
98 read:
99 683.146 Purple Heart Day.—
100 (1) August 7 of each year is designated as “Purple Heart
101 Day.”
102 (2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation
103 designating August 7 as “Purple Heart Day.” Public officials,
104 schools, private organizations, and all residents of the state
105 are encouraged to commemorate Purple Heart Day and honor those
106 wounded or killed while serving in any branch of the United
107 States Armed Services.
108 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.