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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Family Readiness Program; amending

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s. 250.5206, F.S.; expanding the purpose, eligibility, and

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annual report provisions of the Family Readiness Program

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within the Department of Military Affairs; providing an

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effective date.

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

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     Section 1.  Subsections (1), (4), and (7) of section

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250.5206, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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     250.5206  Family Readiness Program.--The Department of

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Military Affairs shall establish the a state Family Readiness

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Program headed by a program director and based on the United

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States Department of Defense National Guard and Reserve Family

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Readiness Strategic Plan 2004-2005 initiative.

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     (1) PROGRAM PURPOSE.--The purpose of the program is shall

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be to provide need-based financial assistance to eligible

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families of servicemembers of the Florida National Guard and

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United States Reserve Forces, including the Coast Guard Reserves,

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who are on active duty serving in the Global War on Terrorism and

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who are federally deployed or participating in state operations

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for homeland defense, and eligible families of such

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servicemembers.

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     (4)  ELIGIBILITY.--

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     (a) The following persons are eligible to receive financial

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assistance from the Family Readiness Program:

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     1. Florida residents who are members of the Florida

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National Guard and United States Reserve Forces, including the

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Coast Guard Reserves, who are on active duty serving in the

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Global War on Terrorism and who are federally deployed or

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participating in state operations for homeland defense; and

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     2. Florida residents who are designated as beneficiaries on

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the United States Department of Defense Form 93, or who are

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otherwise dependents, of a servicemember eligible under

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subparagraph 1. and who are family members of such servicemember.

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     (b) An eligible person may request financial assistance

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from the Family Readiness Program for 120 days following

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termination of the eligible servicemember's military orders for

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qualifying service and return to home of record. Eligible

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recipients shall include persons designated as beneficiaries on

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the United States Department of Defense Form 93, or who are

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otherwise dependents of eligible servicemembers, and who are

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residents of the State of Florida. The period of eligibility to

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request assistance from the fund continues for 120 days following

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termination of the service member's military orders for

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qualifying service and return to home of record.

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     (7)  ANNUAL REPORT.--The department shall maintain

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sufficient data to provide an annual report to the Governor and

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the Legislature on the servicemembers and families served under

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the program, the types of services provided, and the allocation

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of funds spent.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.