| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Family Readiness Program; amending |
| 3 | s. 250.5206, F.S.; expanding purpose, eligibility, and |
| 4 | annual report provisions of the Family Readiness Program |
| 5 | within the Department of Military Affairs; providing an |
| 6 | effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Subsections (1), (4), and (7) of section |
| 11 | 250.5206, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 12 | 250.5206 Family Readiness Program.--The Department of |
| 13 | Military Affairs shall establish a state Family Readiness |
| 14 | Program headed by a program director and based on the United |
| 15 | States Department of Defense National Guard and Reserve Family |
| 16 | Readiness Strategic Plan 2004-2005 initiative. |
| 17 | (1) PROGRAM PURPOSE.--The purpose of the program shall be |
| 18 | to provide need-based assistance to families of servicemembers |
| 19 | of the Florida National Guard and United States Reserve Forces, |
| 20 | including the Coast Guard Reserves, who are on active duty |
| 21 | serving in the Global War on Terrorism and who are federally |
| 22 | deployed or participating in state operations for homeland |
| 23 | defense, and the families of such servicemembers. |
| 24 | (4) ELIGIBILITY.--Eligible recipients shall include |
| 25 | servicemembers and persons designated as beneficiaries on the |
| 26 | United States Department of Defense Form 93, or who are |
| 27 | otherwise dependents of eligible servicemembers, and who are |
| 28 | residents of the State of Florida. The period of eligibility to |
| 29 | request assistance from the fund continues for 120 days |
| 30 | following termination of the servicemember's service member's |
| 31 | military orders for qualifying service and return to home of |
| 32 | record. |
| 33 | (7) ANNUAL REPORT.--The department shall maintain |
| 34 | sufficient data to provide an annual report to the Governor and |
| 35 | the Legislature on the servicemembers and families served under |
| 36 | the program, the types of services provided, and the allocation |
| 37 | of funds spent. |
| 38 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |