HB 1241 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
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6	The Committee on Judiciary recommends the following:
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8	Committee Substitute
9	Remove the entire bill and insert:
10	A bill to be entitled
11	An act relating to veterans' affairs; amending s. 1.01,
12	F.S.; revising the definition of the term "veteran";
13	providing preference eligibility to veterans who served in
14	a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has
15	been authorized; providing an end date to the Persian Gulf
16	War; amending s. 295.07, F.S.; excluding active duty for
17	training from criteria for eligibility for veterans'
18	appointment and retention preference; amending s. 295.182,
19	F.S.; deleting timeframe for authorization to receive
20	contributions from public bodies to the Florida World War
21	II Veterans Memorial Matching Trust Fund; amending s.
22	296.10, F.S.; authorizing the automatic adjustment in
23	contributions to support a resident whenever there is an
24	increase in benefit amounts payable under Title II of the
25	Social Security Act; providing an effective date.
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27	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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29	Section 1. Subsection (14) of section 1.01, Florida
30	Statutes, is amended to read:
31	1.01 Definitions.--In construing these statutes and each
32	and every word, phrase, or part hereof, where the context will
33	permit:
34	(14) The term "veteran" means a person who served in the
35	active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or
36	released therefrom under honorable conditions only or who later
37	received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions,
38	notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of
39	Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with
40	other than honorable discharges. To receive benefits as a
41	wartime veteran, a veteran must have served in a campaign or
42	expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized ora
43	veteran must have served during one of the following periods of
44	wartime service:
45	(a) Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898, to July 4, 1902,
46	and including the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer
47	Rebellion.
48	(b) Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, to April 5, 1917,
49	in the case of a veteran who during such period served in
50	Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent
51	thereto.
52	(c) World War I: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918;
53	extended to April 1, 1920, for those veterans who served in
54	Russia; also extended through July 1, 1921, for those veterans
55	who served after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921,
56	provided such veterans had at least 1 day of service between
57	April 5, 1917, and November 12, 1918.
58	(d) World War II: December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946.
59	(e) Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955.
60	(f) Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.
61	(g) Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, to January 2, 1992
62	and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential
63	proclamation or by law.
64	Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
65	295.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
66	295.07 Preference in appointment and retention.--
67	(1) The state and political subdivisions in the state
68	shall give preference in appointment and retention in positions
69	of employment to:
70	(c) A veteran of any war as defined in s. 1.01(14). The
71	veteran must have served at least 1 day during a wartime period
72	to be eligible for veterans' preference. Active duty for
73	training shall not be allowed for eligibility under this
74	paragraph.
75	Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 295.182, Florida
76	Statutes, is amended to read:
77	295.182 Florida World War II Veterans Memorial Matching
78	Trust Fund; contributions; use.--
79	(2) For the 2002-2003 fiscal year only,The department may
80	receive contributions from public bodies as defined in s.
81	1.01(8). Public bodies are authorized to appropriate funds, in
82	lump sum or otherwise, for the purpose of making contributions
83	to the trust fund. This subsection expires July 1, 2003.
84	Section 4. Section 296.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to
85	read:
86	296.10 Residents; contribution to support.--
87	(1)(a)Each resident of the home who receives a pension,
88	compensation, or gratuity from the United States Government, or
89	income from any other source of more than $100 per month, with
90	adjustments in accordance with paragraph (b),shall contribute
91	to his or her maintenance and support while a resident of the
92	home in accordance with a schedule of payment determined by the
93	administrator and approved by the director. The total amount of
94	such contributions must be to the fullest extent possible, but
95	may not exceed the actual cost of operating and maintaining the
96	home.
97	(b) Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts
98	payable under Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.
99	401 et seq., as a result of a determination made under section
100	215(i) of such act, 42 U.S.C. s. 415(i), the administrator shall
101	increase the amount that each resident shall be allowed to
102	retain. The increased amount will be determined by the
103	percentage used to increase the benefits under the Social
104	Security Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 401 et seq. This first such increase
105	to residents' personal use funds will take place on January 1,
106	2004, and shall be continued each ensuing year that there is an
107	increase in benefits under the said act.
108	Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.