Florida Senate - 2010                             CS for SB 1824
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Commerce; and Senator Gelber
       
       
       
       
       577-02781-10                                          20101824c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to misrepresentation of military
    3         status; amending s. 496.415, F.S.; prohibiting a
    4         person from falsely representing himself or herself as
    5         a member of or representing the United States Armed
    6         Forces or the National Guard for the purpose of
    7         solicitation of charitable contributions or
    8         participation in a charitable or sponsor sales
    9         promotion; creating s. 817.312, F.S.; prohibiting a
   10         person from wearing the uniform of or any medal or
   11         insignia authorized for use by members or veterans of
   12         the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard
   13         with the intent to misrepresent himself or herself as
   14         a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces
   15         or the National Guard while soliciting for charitable
   16         contributions; providing criminal penalties; providing
   17         an effective date.
   18  
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 496.415, Florida
   22  Statutes, is amended to read:
   23         496.415 Prohibited acts.—It is unlawful for any person in
   24  connection with the planning, conduct, or execution of any
   25  solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to:
   26         (6) Falsely state that he or she the person is a member of
   27  or represents a representative of a charitable organization or
   28  sponsor, or falsely state or represent that he or she the person
   29  is a member of or represents the United States Armed Forces, the
   30  National Guard, or a law enforcement or emergency service
   31  organization.
   32         Section 2. Section 817.312, Florida Statutes, is created to
   33  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 Armed Forces or National
   37  Guard and wear the uniform of or any medal or insignia
   38  authorized for use by members or veterans of the United States
   39  Armed Forces or the National Guard while soliciting for
   40  charitable contributions.
   41         (2) A person who violates subsection (1) commits a felony
   42  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
   43  775.083, or s. 775.084.
   44         Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2010.