Florida Senate - 2011                       CS for CS for SB 520
       
       
       
       By the Committees on Governmental Oversight and Accountability;
       and Military Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; and Senators
       Bennett, Gaetz, Sachs, Altman, and Richter
       
       
       585-03912-11                                           2011520c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to state memorials; creating s.
    3         265.003, F.S.; providing legislative intent;
    4         establishing the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame on the
    5         Plaza Level of the Capitol Building; providing for the
    6         Department of Veterans’ Affairs to administer the
    7         Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame; authorizing the
    8         department to establish a nomination and selection
    9         process and an induction ceremony; providing an
   10         effective date.
   11  
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 265.003, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         265.003 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame.—
   17         (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and
   18  honor those military veterans who, through their works and lives
   19  during or after military service, have made a significant
   20  contribution to the State of Florida.
   21         (2) There is established the Florida Veterans’ Hall of
   22  Fame.
   23         (a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame shall be
   24  administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs without
   25  appropriation of state funds.
   26         (b) The Department of Management Services shall set aside
   27  an area on the Plaza Level of the Capitol Building along the
   28  northeast front wall and shall consult with the Department of
   29  Veterans’ Affairs regarding the design and theme of the area.
   30         (c) Each person who is inducted into the Florida Veterans’
   31  Hall of Fame shall have his or her name placed on a plaque
   32  displayed in the designated area of the Capitol.
   33         (3)(a) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall annually
   34  accept nominations of persons to be considered for induction
   35  into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame and shall transmit its
   36  recommendations to the Governor and the Cabinet who shall select
   37  the nominees to be inducted.
   38         (b) In making such recommendations, the department shall
   39  give precedence to veterans who were born in Florida or adopted
   40  this state as their home state or base of operation and who have
   41  made a significant contribution to this state in civic,
   42  business, public service, or other pursuits.
   43         (4) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs may establish
   44  criteria and set specific time periods for acceptance of
   45  nominations and for the process of selecting nominees for
   46  membership and establish a formal induction ceremony to coincide
   47  with the annual commemoration of Veterans’ Day. The initial
   48  nomination review committee shall be chaired by Col. Bruce J.
   49  Host, USAF, Ret., in cooperation with the Florida Veterans
   50  Foundation.
   51         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.