1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to trust funds of the Department of

3

Veterans' Affairs; creating s. 20.375, F.S.; providing for

4

the administration of the Federal Grants Trust Fund, the

5

Grants and Donations Trust Fund, the Operations and

6

Maintenance Trust Fund, and the State Homes for Veterans

7

Trust Fund by the Department of Veterans' Affairs;

8

providing for sources of funds and purposes; providing for

9

annual carryforward of funds; amending ss. 296.11 and

10

296.38, F.S.; specifying an additional use of moneys in

11

the Grants and Donations Trust Fund of the department for

12

the benefit of veterans who are residents of the Veterans'

13

Domiciliary Home of Florida or a veterans' nursing home;

14

providing an effective date.

15

16

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17

18

     Section 1.  Section 20.375, Florida Statutes, is created to

19

read:

20

     20.375 Department of Veterans' Affairs; trust funds.--The

21

following trust funds shall be administered by the Department of

22

Veterans' Affairs:

23

     (1) Federal Grants Trust Fund.

24

     (a) Funds to be credited to and uses of the trust fund

25

shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of s.

26

215.32.

27

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

28

pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end

29

of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of

30

the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of

31

the trust fund.

32

     (2) Grants and Donations Trust Fund.

33

     (a) Funds to be credited to and uses of the trust fund

34

shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of ss.

35

215.32, 296.11, 296.38, and 320.089.

36

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

37

pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end

38

of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of

39

the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of

40

the trust fund.

41

     (3) Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund.

42

     (a) Funds to be credited to and uses of the trust fund

43

shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of ss.

44

215.32, 296.11, and 296.38.

45

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

46

pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end

47

of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of

48

the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of

49

the trust fund.

50

     (4) State Homes for Veterans Trust Fund.

51

     (a) Funds to be credited to and uses of the trust fund

52

shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of ss.

53

320.08058 and 320.0891.

54

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and

55

pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end

56

of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of

57

the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of

58

the trust fund.

59

     Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 296.11, Florida

60

Statutes, is amended to read:

61

     296.11  Funds of home and disposition of moneys.--

62

     (2)  The home shall deposit all moneys received pursuant to

63

s. 296.15 into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund. Moneys in the

64

Grants and Donations Trust Fund must be expended for the common

65

benefit of the residents of the home, such as improved

66

facilities, recreational equipment, and recreational supplies,

67

and goods and services offered or available to all residents,

68

subject to the requirements of chapter 216.

69

     Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 296.38, Florida

70

Statutes, is amended to read:

71

     296.38  Funds of home and disposition of moneys.--

72

     (2)  The home shall be empowered to receive and accept

73

gifts, grants, and endowments in the name of the home. All such

74

gifts, grants, and endowments are to be used for the benefit of

75

the home and its residents. The administrator, together with the

76

director, shall have the authority to determine how these gifts,

77

grants, and endowments could best benefit the home and its

78

residents unless the benefactor requests or instructs that the

79

gift, grant, or endowment be used for a specific purpose. The

80

home shall deposit all moneys received pursuant to this

81

subsection into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund. Moneys in

82

the Grants and Donations Trust Fund shall be expended for the

83

common benefit of the residents of the home, such as recreational

84

equipment, improved facilities, and recreational supplies, and

85

goods and services offered or available to all residents.

86

     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.