| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to misrepresentation of military status; |
| 3 | amending s. 496.415, F.S.; prohibiting a person from |
| 4 | falsely representing himself or herself as a member of or |
| 5 | representing the United States Armed Forces or the |
| 6 | National Guard for the purpose of solicitation of |
| 7 | charitable contributions or participation in a charitable |
| 8 | or sponsor sales promotion; creating s. 817.312, F.S.; |
| 9 | prohibiting a person from wearing the uniform of or any |
| 10 | medal or insignia authorized for use by members or |
| 11 | veterans of the United States Armed Forces or the National |
| 12 | Guard with the intent to misrepresent himself or herself |
| 13 | as a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces |
| 14 | or the National Guard while soliciting for charitable |
| 15 | contributions; providing criminal penalties; providing an |
| 16 | effective date. |
| 17 |
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| 18 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 19 |
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| 20 | Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 496.415, Florida |
| 21 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 22 | 496.415 Prohibited acts.-It is unlawful for any person in |
| 23 | connection with the planning, conduct, or execution of any |
| 24 | solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to: |
| 25 | (6) Falsely state that he or she the person is a member of |
| 26 | or represents a representative of a charitable organization or |
| 27 | sponsor, or falsely state or represent that he or she the person |
| 28 | is a member of or represents the United States Air Force, United |
| 29 | States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine |
| 30 | Corps, United States Navy, the National Guard, or a law |
| 31 | enforcement or emergency service organization. |
| 32 | Section 2. Section 817.312, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 33 | to read: |
| 34 | 817.312 Unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia.- |
| 35 | (1) A person may not misrepresent himself or herself as a |
| 36 | member or veteran of the United States Air Force, United States |
| 37 | Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, |
| 38 | United States Navy, or National Guard and wear the uniform of or |
| 39 | any medal or insignia authorized for use by members or veterans |
| 40 | of the United States Air Force, United States Army, United |
| 41 | States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States |
| 42 | Navy, or the National Guard while soliciting for charitable |
| 43 | contributions. |
| 44 | (2) A person who violates subsection (1) commits a felony |
| 45 | of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. |
| 46 | 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
| 47 | Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2010. |