Senate Bill 0714er
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1999 Legislature CS for SB 714
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2 An act relating to the Florida World War II
3 Veterans Memorial; providing for the
4 construction of a memorial to the Florida
5 residents who served during World War II;
6 specifying source of moneys; directing the
7 Commission on Veterans' Affairs to cooperate
8 with the Capitol Center Planning Commission to
9 report on the cost and appropriate location of
10 the memorial; directing the Governor to arrange
11 for an appropriate ceremony; providing a
12 contingent effective date.
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14 WHEREAS, currently there are approximately 600,000
15 World War II veterans residing in the State of Florida, and
16 WHEREAS, though it has been over 53 years since the end
17 of World War II, these veterans still are not honored by a
18 national or state war memorial, and
19 WHEREAS, legislation authorizing a national memorial
20 honoring World War II veterans was introduced in Congress 12
21 years ago, in 1987, and
22 WHEREAS, because of years of debate over the project,
23 and because a design for the memorial has failed to be
24 approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National
25 Capital Planning Commission, a national memorial has yet to
26 become a reality, and
27 WHEREAS, it has been estimated that the nation is
28 losing World War II veterans at the rate of 1,000 each day, or
29 30,000 per month, and
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1999 Legislature CS for SB 714
1 WHEREAS, time is running out for the opportunity to
2 honor these brave military soldiers and nurses during their
3 lifetime, and
4 WHEREAS, the State of Florida recognizes the high moral
5 purpose and idealism that motivated this nation's defenders in
6 the defining event of the 20th century, and
7 WHEREAS, through the construction of a memorial to the
8 residents of Florida who served on active military duty in the
9 Armed Services of the United States during World War II, the
10 State of Florida will appropriately honor its veterans for
11 their sacrifices and commitment to the common defense of the
12 nation and to the broader causes of securing freedom from
13 tyranny and the restoration of peace throughout the world,
14 NOW, THEREFORE,
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16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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18 Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Florida World
19 War II Veterans Memorial Act."
20 Section 2. The Florida World War II Veterans Memorial
21 Matching Trust Fund, if created by law, within the Department
22 of Veterans' Affairs shall receive private contributions and
23 matching state funds specifically appropriated by the
24 Legislature for the purpose of matching private donations
25 deposited into the trust fund to build a Florida World War II
26 Veterans Memorial as provided by this act. The department is
27 authorized to use moneys in the trust fund, if created by law,
28 in a manner which will generate increased funding for the
29 Florida World War II Veterans Memorial. Contributions to the
30 Florida World War II Veterans Memorial Matching Trust Fund
31 must be returned to those entities or individuals contributing
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1999 Legislature CS for SB 714
1 to the trust fund if the Florida World War II Veterans
2 Memorial is not constructed as provided for in section 3.
3 Section 3. If sufficient funds are available in the
4 Florida World War II Veterans Memorial Matching Trust Fund to
5 cover the full costs of the project, construction must have
6 begun by June 30, 2005, from funds in the Florida World War II
7 Veterans Memorial Matching Trust Fund, on an appropriate
8 memorial to the residents of the State of Florida who served
9 on active duty in the Armed Services of the United States
10 during World War II. The memorial must be located within the
11 Florida Capitol Center Planning District described in section
12 272.12, Florida Statutes. The memorial must contain the
13 opening and closing dates of World War II, and other
14 inscriptions and features as may be recommended by the
15 Commission on Veterans' Affairs.
16 Section 4. The Commission on Veterans' Affairs shall
17 consider the appropriate design of the memorial and may
18 solicit design proposals from members of the public. The
19 Commission on Veterans' Affairs, in cooperation with the
20 Capitol Center Planning Commission, shall consider the
21 location of the memorial within the Florida Capitol Center
22 Planning District. On or before January 31, 2002, the
23 Commission on Veterans' Affairs shall submit to the Governor,
24 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
25 Representatives its recommendations for the location and
26 design of the memorial. The report must include an estimate of
27 the cost to acquire the site for the memorial and of the cost
28 to construct the memorial in accordance with the design
29 proposal recommended by the Commission on Veterans' Affairs,
30 as well as the life-cycle cost estimate required by section
31 255.255, Florida Statutes. The Department of Management
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1 Services shall assist the Commission on Veterans' Affairs in
2 preparing the estimates for timely inclusion in the report.
3 Section 5. Upon completion of the memorial, the
4 Governor shall arrange an appropriate dedication and unveiling
5 ceremony. The ceremony shall be held on a date of the
6 Governor's choosing which is the same as the date of the
7 anniversary of a significant and meaningful event in the
8 history of World War II.
9 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999, if
10 SB 716 or similar legislation is adopted in the same
11 legislative session or an extension thereof.
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