Florida Senate - 2017 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7008
FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Military and Veterans
Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
583-00876A-17 20177008pb
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
3 direct-support organization; amending s. 292.055,
4 F.S.; abrogating the scheduled repeal of provisions
5 governing a direct-support organization established by
6 the department; providing an effective date.
7
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10 Section 1. Section 292.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to
11 read:
12 292.055 Direct-support organization.—
13 (1) SHORT TITLE; DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED.
14 This section may be cited as the “Sergeant First Class Paul R.
15 Smith Memorial Act.” The Department of Veterans’ Affairs may
16 establish a direct-support organization to provide assistance,
17 funding, and support for the department in carrying out its
18 mission. This section governs the creation, use, powers, and
19 duties of the direct-support organization.
20 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
21 (a) “Department” means the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
22 (b) “Direct-support organization” means an organization
23 that is:
24 1. A Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated under
25 chapter 617, exempted from filing fees, and approved by the
26 Department of State.
27 2. Organized and operated exclusively to obtain funds;
28 request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of moneys;
29 acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer in its own name
30 securities, funds, or property; and make expenditures to or for
31 the direct or indirect benefit of the department, the veterans
32 of this state, and congressionally chartered veteran service
33 organizations having subdivisions that are incorporated in this
34 state.
35 3. Determined by the department to be operating in a manner
36 consistent with the goals of the department and in the best
37 interest of the state.
38 (c) “Personal services” includes full-time or part-time
39 personnel.
40 (3) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—The direct-support organization
41 shall be governed by a board of directors.
42 (a) The board of directors shall consist of no fewer than
43 five members appointed by the executive director of the
44 department. Veteran service organizations in this state may
45 recommend nominees to the executive director of the department.
46 (b) The term of office of the board members shall be 3
47 years, except that the terms of the initial appointees shall be
48 for 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years in order to achieve staggered
49 terms. A member may be reappointed when his or her term expires.
50 The executive director of the department or his or her designee
51 shall serve as an ex officio member of the board of directors.
52 (c) Members must be current residents of this state. A
53 majority of the members must be veterans, as defined in s.
54 1.01(14), and highly knowledgeable about the United States
55 military, its service personnel, its veterans, and its missions.
56 The executive director of the department may remove any member
57 of the board for cause and with the approval of a majority of
58 the members of the board of directors. The executive director of
59 the department shall appoint a replacement for any vacancy that
60 occurs.
61 (4) CONTRACT.—A direct-support organization shall operate
62 under a written contract with the department. The written
63 contract must provide for:
64 (a) Certification by the department that the direct-support
65 organization is complying with the terms of the contract and is
66 doing so consistent with the goals and purposes of the
67 department and in the best interests of the state. This
68 certification must be made annually and reported in the official
69 minutes of a meeting of the direct-support organization.
70 (b) The reversion of moneys and property held by the
71 direct-support organization:
72 1. To the department if the direct-support organization is
73 no longer approved to operate for the department;
74 2. To the department if the direct-support organization
75 ceases to exist; or
76 3. To the state if the department ceases to exist.
77 (c) The disclosure of the material provisions of the
78 contract, and the distinction between the department and the
79 direct-support organization, to donors of gifts, contributions,
80 or bequests, including such disclosure on all promotional and
81 fundraising publications.
82 (5) USE OF PROPERTY.—
83 (a) The department may permit the use of property,
84 facilities, and personal services of the department by the
85 direct-support organization, subject to this section.
86 (b) The department may prescribe by contract any condition
87 with which the direct-support organization must comply in order
88 to use property, facilities, or personal services of the
89 department.
90 (c) The department may not permit the use of its property,
91 facilities, or personal services by any direct-support
92 organization organized under this section which does not provide
93 equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of
94 race, color, national origin, gender, age, or religion.
95 (6) ACTIVITIES; RESTRICTIONS.—Any transaction or agreement
96 between the direct-support organization organized under this
97 section and another direct-support organization or other entity
98 must be approved by the executive director of the department.
99 (7) ANNUAL BUDGETS AND REPORTS.—
100 (a) The fiscal year of the direct-support organization
101 shall begin on July 1 of each year and end on June 30 of the
102 following year.
103 (b) The direct-support organization shall submit to the
104 department its federal Internal Revenue Service Application for
105 Recognition of Exemption form (Form 1023) and its federal
106 Internal Revenue Service Return of Organization Exempt from
107 Income Tax form (Form 990).
108 (8) ANNUAL AUDIT.—The direct-support organization shall
109 provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s.
110 215.981.
111 (9) CONFIDENTIALITY OF DONORS.—
112 (a) Any information identifying a donor or prospective
113 donor to the direct-support organization who desires to remain
114 anonymous is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
115 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
116 (b) Portions of meetings of the direct-support organization
117 during which the identity of a donor or prospective donor, whose
118 identity is confidential and exempt pursuant to paragraph (a),
119 is discussed are exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of
120 the State Constitution.
121 (10) REPEAL.—This section is repealed October 1, 2017,
122 unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
123 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.