CS/CS/SB 620 — Military-friendly Initiatives
by Rules Committee; Military and Veterans Affairs and Space Committee; and Senator Broxson
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Military and Veterans Affairs and Space Committee (MS)
This bill provides a number of benefits to servicemembers and their families and additional protections and benefits for military organizations, land uses, and interests.
The bill requires K-12 public education school districts to accept a permanent change of station order as proof of residency for all public school programs. In accepting the order as proof of residency, the district must provide preferential treatment to the student in the entire controlled open enrollment process. The bill also enables an active duty member or a family member residing in the state to qualify for in-state tuition at the time of acceptance for admission at a public postsecondary institution, even if the active duty member is subsequently transferred.
To further protect military lands, the bill adds the Naval Support Activity Orlando and the United States Southern Command to the list of military installations that designated local governments are required to coordinate with on the compatibility of land development. The bill also provides that a conservation easement created to prevent the encroachment to a military installation survives a sale of property for the nonpayment of taxes.
Finally, the bill establishes the Blue Angels license plate as a specialty license plate, to be designed and implemented by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Blue Angels, or the Navy Flight Exhibition Team based in Pensacola, Florida, has performed flight shows since 1946 for almost 500 million fans. Annual use fees collected will be remitted to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation for further distribution to fund the activities of the National Naval Aviation Museum and the National Flight Academy in Pensacola. However, the development of the plate is contingent upon the enactment of legislation creating the annual use fee for the Blue Angels license plate.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2019.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 113-0