Florida Senate - 2020                              CS for SB 352
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and Space; and
       Senator Hutson
       
       
       
       
       583-02271-20                                           2020352c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to unlawful use of uniforms, medals,
    3         or insignia; amending s. 817.312, F.S.; prohibiting
    4         certain misrepresentations concerning military service
    5         when made for specified purposes; providing criminal
    6         penalties; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Section 817.312, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   11  read:
   12         817.312 Unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia.—
   13         (1)(a) A person may not:
   14         1. Misrepresent himself or herself as a member or veteran
   15  of the United States Air Force, United States Army, United
   16  States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States
   17  Navy, or National Guard; or
   18         2. Wear the uniform of or any medal or insignia authorized
   19  for use by members or veterans of the United States Air Force,
   20  United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States
   21  Marine Corps, United States Navy, or the National Guard which he
   22  or she is not authorized to wear,
   23  
   24  while soliciting for charitable contributions or for the purpose
   25  of material gain, including, but not limited to, obtaining
   26  employment or public office resulting in receiving compensation.
   27         (b) This subsection section does not prohibit persons in
   28  the theatrical profession from wearing such uniforms, medals, or
   29  insignia while actually engaged in such profession.
   30         (2) A person who violates subsection (1) commits a felony
   31  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
   32  775.083, or s. 775.084.
   33         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2020.