CS for CS for SB 676 First Engrossed
2021676e1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to specialty and special license
3 plates; amending s. 320.08053, F.S.; authorizing a
4 credit for or refund of the annual use fee if a
5 specified condition is met; providing that the
6 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may
7 not issue any new specialty license plates until a
8 sufficient number of plates are discontinued; amending
9 s. 320.08056, F.S.; providing an exception to the
10 requirement that specialty license plate annual use
11 fees and interest earned from those fees only be
12 expended in this state; requiring the department to
13 discontinue an independent college or university’s
14 existing specialty license plate if the college or
15 university elects to use the standard template
16 specialty license plate; amending s. 320.08058, F.S.;
17 providing legislative intent regarding the Florida
18 Indian River Lagoon license plate; revising the design
19 of such plate; revising distribution and application
20 of annual use fees from the sale of such plates;
21 revising distribution and use of annual use fees from
22 the sale of Wildlife Foundation of Florida license
23 plates; revising distribution of annual use fees from
24 the sale of Divine Nine license plates; providing
25 eligibility requirements for issuance of such plates;
26 authorizing such plates to be personalized;
27 prohibiting the transfer of such plates between
28 vehicle owners; requiring the department to develop
29 specified specialty license plates; providing for the
30 distribution and use of fees collected from the sale
31 of such plates; amending s. 320.0807, F.S.; revising
32 requirements for the issuance of certain special
33 license plates; amending s. 320.089, F.S.; authorizing
34 the department to issue Army of Occupation license
35 plates; specifying qualifications and requirements for
36 such license plates; providing an effective date.
37
38 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
39
40 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
41 (b) of subsection (3) of section 320.08053, Florida Statutes,
42 are amended to read:
43 320.08053 Establishment of specialty license plates.—
44 (2)
45 (b) Within 24 months after the presale specialty license
46 plate voucher is established, the approved specialty license
47 plate organization must record with the department a minimum of
48 3,000 voucher sales, or in the case of an out-of-state college
49 or university license plate, 4,000 voucher sales, before
50 manufacture of the license plate may commence. If, at the
51 conclusion of the 24-month presale period, the minimum sales
52 requirement has not been met, the specialty plate is
53 deauthorized and the department shall discontinue development of
54 the plate and discontinue issuance of the presale vouchers. Upon
55 deauthorization of the license plate or if the plate has met the
56 presale requirement but has not been issued, a purchaser of the
57 license plate voucher may use the annual use fee collected as a
58 credit towards any other specialty license plate or apply for a
59 refund on a form prescribed by the department.
60 (3)
61 (b) If the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty
62 license plates, the department may not issue make any new
63 specialty license plates available for design or issuance until
64 a sufficient number of plates are discontinued pursuant to s.
65 320.08056(8) such that the number of plates being issued does
66 not exceed 150. Notwithstanding s. 320.08056(8)(a), the 150
67 license-plate limit includes license plates above the minimum
68 sales threshold and those exempt from that threshold.
69 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (10) and subsection
70 (12) of section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, are amended to
71 read:
72 320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
73 (10)(a) A specialty license plate annual use fee collected
74 and distributed under this chapter, or any interest earned from
75 those fees, may not be used for commercial or for-profit
76 activities nor for general or administrative expenses, except as
77 authorized by s. 320.08058 or to pay the cost of the audit or
78 report required by s. 320.08062(1). The fees and any interest
79 earned from the fees may be expended only for use in this state
80 unless the annual use fee is derived from the sale of United
81 States Armed Forces and veterans-related specialty license
82 plates pursuant to paragraph (3)(d) for the Support Our Troops,
83 and American Legion, and Honor Flight license plates; paragraphs
84 (4)(b), (q), and (v) for the Florida Salutes Veterans, United
85 States Marine Corps, and Military Services license plates,
86 respectively; and s. 320.0891 for the U.S. Paratrooper license
87 plate.
88 (12) Notwithstanding s. 320.08058(3)(a), the department, in
89 cooperation with the independent colleges or universities as
90 defined in s. 1009.89 or s. 1009.891, shall create a standard
91 template specialty license plate with a unique logo or graphic
92 identifying each independent college or university. Each
93 independent college or university may elect to use this standard
94 template specialty license plate in lieu of its own specialty
95 license plate. Annual use fees from the sale of these license
96 plates shall be distributed to the independent college or
97 university for which the logo or graphic is displayed on the
98 license plate and shall be used as provided in s. 320.08058(3).
99 Independent colleges or universities opting to use the standard
100 template specialty license plate shall have their plate sales
101 combined for purposes of meeting the minimum license plate sales
102 threshold in paragraph (8)(a) and for determining the license
103 plate limit in s. 320.08053(3)(b). Specialty license plates
104 created pursuant to this subsection must be ordered directly
105 from the department. If the independent college or university
106 elects to use the standard template specialty license plate, the
107 department shall discontinue the existing specialty license
108 plate.
109 Section 3. Subsections (10), (46), and (101) of section
110 320.08058, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (112)
111 through (118) are added to that section, to read:
112 320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
113 (10) FLORIDA INDIAN RIVER LAGOON LICENSE PLATES.—
114 (a) Because the Indian River Lagoon system has been
115 targeted by the state as a priority water body for restoration
116 and preservation since the 1987 Surface Water Improvement and
117 Management Act;, and because the St. Johns River and South
118 Florida Water Management Districts joined with local, regional,
119 and state partners to create the Indian River Lagoon (IRL)
120 Council by interlocal agreement in 2015 to serve as the host
121 agency for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program;
122 because the program worked with local, state, and federal
123 partners to develop and adopt the Indian River Lagoon
124 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan in 2019; because
125 the St. Johns River Water Management District has been
126 distributing funds collected from the plate from Volusia,
127 Brevard, and Indian River Counties to support competitive local
128 cost-share projects in each of these counties administered by
129 the IRL Council, including have jointly developed a management
130 plan that includes water quality improvement, habitat
131 restoration, and public awareness and education;, and because
132 the United States Environmental Protection Agency has declared
133 the Indian River Lagoon to be an estuary of national
134 significance;, and because coastal lagoon activities relating to
135 saltwater fishing account for a multibillion dollar economic
136 base;, and because the Legislature supports the restoration
137 efforts of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and
138 its partners water management districts, the Legislature intends
139 for the establishes a Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate
140 to provide for the purpose of providing a continuous funding
141 source to support this worthwhile effort and to heighten public
142 awareness of this economically significant resource. Florida
143 Indian River Lagoon license plates must contain the fish
144 “snook,” which has been used as the Indian River Lagoon Surface
145 Water Improvement and Management logo, suspended over seagrass,
146 and must bear the colors and design approved by the department.
147 (b) The license plate annual use fees are to be distributed
148 annually as follows:
149 1. The first $5 million collected annually must be
150 transferred to the IRL Council, which must separately St. Johns
151 River Water Management District. The district shall account for
152 the transferred these funds, and such separate from all other
153 funds received. These funds must be distributed as follows:
154 a. Based on Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate sales
155 data from each county tax collector for Volusia, Brevard, Indian
156 River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties, each county’s
157 total number of Florida Indian River Lagoon license plates sold
158 between October 1 and September 30 must represent a percentage
159 of the six-county total, calculated as follows: the total number
160 sold for county A divided by the total number sold for counties
161 A, B, C, D, E, and F is multiplied by 100. The percentage
162 determined for St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties must
163 be totaled, and that total percentage of the statewide Florida
164 Indian River Lagoon license plate revenues must be transferred
165 to the South Florida Water Management District special Indian
166 River Lagoon License Plate Revenue Account and distributed
167 proportionately among St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach
168 Counties. The remaining funds in the IRL Council St. Johns River
169 Water Management District Revenue Account must be divided
170 proportionately between Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River
171 Counties.
172 b. The IRL Council shall administer Each water management
173 district is responsible for administering projects in Volusia,
174 Brevard, and Indian River its respective Counties from funds
175 derived from funded with the appropriate percentage of license
176 plate revenues. The South Florida Water Management District
177 shall administer projects in St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach
178 Counties.
179 2. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee
180 may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the
181 license plate.
182 3. Any additional fees must be deposited into the General
183 Revenue Fund. Fees are not to be deposited into the general
184 revenue funds of the IRL Council water management districts.
185 (c) The application of Florida Indian River Lagoon license
186 plate annual use fees is to be administered by the IRL Council
187 St. Johns River and the South Florida Water Management District
188 Districts for Indian River Lagoon projects and in accordance
189 with their contracting and purchasing policies and procedures,
190 with the following restrictions:
191 1. An annual amount of the total license plate use fees
192 must be earmarked for each of the six lagoon basin counties, as
193 determined in sub-subparagraph (b)1.a., to be expended in those
194 counties on habitat restoration, including water quality
195 improvement, monitoring, and environmental education projects.
196 At least 80 percent of the use fees must be used for restoration
197 projects, and not more than 20 percent may be used for
198 environmental education and monitoring projects in each county.
199 These project funds may serve as matching funds for other local,
200 state, or federal funds or grants. Unencumbered funds from one
201 year may be carried over to the following year but must be
202 dedicated to a project within 2 years in the form of a contract,
203 an interlocal agreement, or an approved plan by the governing
204 board of the respective district.
205 2. Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate annual use
206 fees may not be used for administrative salaries or overhead
207 within the IRL Council or the South Florida Water Management
208 District; water management districts, nor for any general
209 coordination fees or overhead that outside of the districts
210 which is not specifically related to a project;, nor for any
211 projects that which are considered to be research, studies,
212 inventories, or evaluations; or, nor for administrative salaries
213 or overhead related to environmental education or ongoing
214 regular maintenance. Annual use fees may be used for acquisition
215 of rights-of-way specific to the implementation of restoration
216 or improvement projects, if acquisition expenditures do not
217 exceed 20 percent of a county’s appropriation.
218 3. In Volusia County, project implementation may occur in
219 all estuarine waters extending north to and including the Indian
220 River Lagoon National Estuary Program’s Indian River Lagoon
221 Halifax River planning boundary amendments that include the
222 Tomoka Basin.
223 4. In Palm Beach County, first priority must be given to
224 projects within the Indian River Lagoon. Second priority must be
225 given to projects within adjacent estuarine waters, including
226 the Loxahatchee River and other tributaries to the Indian River
227 Lagoon.
228 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that revenues
229 generated by the Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate
230 annual use fees must not be used as replacement funds for other
231 available funding sources Surface Water Improvement and
232 Management Act funds, but must be used solely for the
233 enhancement of the Indian River Lagoon and tributaries in the
234 Indian River Lagoon watershed as defined by the Indian River
235 Lagoon National Estuary Program project boundary defined in the
236 Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management
237 Plan or as provided in this subsection area.
238 (46) WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA LICENSE PLATES.—
239 (a) The department shall develop a Wildlife Foundation of
240 Florida license plate as provided in this section. The word
241 “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words
242 “Wildlife Foundation of Florida” must appear at the bottom of
243 the plate.
244 (b) The annual revenues from the sales of the license plate
245 shall be distributed to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of
246 Florida, Inc., a citizen support organization created pursuant
247 to s. 379.223. Such annual revenues must be used in the
248 following manner:
249 1. Seventy-five percent must be encumbered used to fund
250 programs and projects within the state that preserve open space
251 and wildlife habitat, promote conservation, promote hunting and
252 shooting sports, improve wildlife habitat, and establish open
253 space for the perpetual use of the public. Unencumbered funds
254 from one year may be carried over to the following year but must
255 be spent within 2 years after receipt or dedicated to a project
256 within 2 years after receipt in the form of a contract, a grant
257 award, or an approved plan by the governing board of the Fish &
258 Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc.
259 2. Twenty-five percent may be used for promotion,
260 marketing, and administrative costs directly associated with
261 operation of the foundation.
262 (c) When the provisions of subparagraph (b)1. are met,
263 those annual revenues shall be used for the purposes of
264 subparagraph (b)2.
265 (101) DIVINE NINE LICENSE PLATES.—
266 (a) The department shall develop a Divine Nine license
267 plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053 using a
268 standard template and a unique logo, graphic, or color for each
269 of the organizations listed in sub-subparagraphs (b)3.a.-i.
270 (b)2.a.-i. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
271 the department, and must include the official logo, graphic, or
272 color as appropriate for each organization. The word “Florida”
273 must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Divine Nine”
274 must appear at the bottom of the plate.
275 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
276 distributed as follows:
277 1. Five percent of the proceeds shall be distributed to the
278 United Negro College Fund, Inc., for college scholarships for
279 Florida residents attending Florida’s historically black
280 colleges and universities.
281 2. Ten percent of the proceeds shall be distributed to the
282 Association to Preserve African American Society, History and
283 Tradition, Inc., solely for the marketing of the plate.
284 3.2. The remaining 85 95 percent of the proceeds shall be
285 distributed to one of the following organizations as selected by
286 the purchaser of the plate who, upon fulfilling the requirements
287 of paragraph (c), shall receive a license plate with the logo,
288 graphic, or color associated with the appropriate recipient
289 organization:
290 a. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.—
291 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the Florida
292 Federation of Alpha Chapters, Inc., to promote community
293 awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural
294 service activities within this state.
295 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Florida
296 Federation of Alpha Chapters, Inc., solely for the marketing of
297 the plate.
298 b. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.—
299 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the Alpha
300 Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc., to promote
301 community awareness and action through educational, economic,
302 and cultural service activities within this state.
303 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Alpha Kappa
304 Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc., solely for the
305 marketing of the plate.
306 c. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.—
307 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the
308 Southern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., to
309 promote community awareness and action through educational,
310 economic, and cultural service activities within this state.
311 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Southern
312 Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., solely for the
313 marketing of the plate.
314 d. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.—
315 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the State
316 of Florida Omega Friendship Foundation, Inc., to promote
317 community awareness and action through educational, economic,
318 and cultural service activities within this state.
319 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the State of
320 Florida Omega Friendship Foundation, Inc., solely for the
321 marketing of the plate.
322 e. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.—
323 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the Delta
324 Research and Educational Foundation, Inc., to promote community
325 awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural
326 service activities within this state.
327 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Delta Research
328 and Educational Foundation, Inc., solely for the marketing of
329 the plate.
330 f. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.—
331 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the TMB
332 Charitable Foundation, Inc., to promote community awareness and
333 action through educational, economic, and cultural service
334 activities within this state.
335 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the TMB Charitable
336 Foundation, Inc., solely for the marketing of the plate.
337 g. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.—
338 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the Florida
339 Pearls, Inc., to promote community awareness and action through
340 educational, economic, and cultural service activities within
341 this state.
342 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Florida
343 Pearls, Inc., solely for the marketing of the plate.
344 h. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.—
345 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the Sigma
346 Gamma Rho Sorority National Education Fund, Inc., to promote
347 community awareness and action through educational, economic,
348 and cultural service activities within this state.
349 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Sigma Gamma
350 Rho Sorority National Education Fund, Inc., solely for the
351 marketing of the plate.
352 i. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.—
353 (I) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to the
354 National Iota Foundation, Inc., to promote community awareness
355 and action through educational, economic, and cultural service
356 activities within this state.
357 (II) Ten percent shall be distributed to the National Iota
358 Foundation, Inc., solely for the marketing of the plate.
359 (c)1. To be eligible for issuance of a Divine Nine license
360 plate representing an organization listed in sub-subparagraphs
361 (b)3.a.-i., a person must be a resident of this state who is the
362 registered owner of a motor vehicle and who is a member of the
363 applicable organization. The person must also present proof of
364 membership in the organization, which may be established by:
365 a. A card distributed by the organization indicating the
366 person’s membership in the organization; or
367 b. A written letter on the organization’s letterhead which
368 is signed by the organization’s national president or his or her
369 designated official and which states that the person was
370 inducted into the organization.
371 2. Proof of membership in an organization listed in sub
372 subparagraphs (b)3.a.-i. is required only for initial issuance
373 of a Divine Nine license plate. A person need not present such
374 proof for renewal of the license plate.
375 (d) A Divine Nine license plate:
376 1. May be personalized.
377 2. May not be transferred between vehicle owners.
378
379 License plates created pursuant to this subsection shall have
380 their plate sales combined for the purpose of meeting the
381 minimum license plate sales threshold in s. 320.08056(8)(a) and
382 for determining the license plate limit in s. 320.08053(3)(b).
383 License plates created pursuant to this subsection must be
384 ordered directly from the department.
385 (112) FLORIDA STATE PARKS LICENSE PLATES.—
386 (a) The department shall develop a Florida State Parks
387 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
388 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the
389 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
390 plate, and the words “Explore Our State Parks” must appear at
391 the bottom of the plate.
392 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
393 distributed to the Florida State Parks Foundation, Inc., a
394 nonprofit Florida corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
395 Revenue Code, the mission of which is to preserve, protect,
396 sustain, and grow Florida state parks. Up to 10 percent of the
397 fees may be used for marketing of the plate and costs directly
398 associated with administration of the foundation.
399 (113) HONOR FLIGHT LICENSE PLATES.—
400 (a) The department shall develop an Honor Flight license
401 plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The plate
402 must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The
403 word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the
404 words “Honor Flight” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
405 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
406 distributed equally among the Honor Flight Network hubs in this
407 state, each of which is a nonprofit corporation under s.
408 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to be used as follows:
409 1. Up to 10 percent of the fees may be used for promotion
410 and marketing of the license plate.
411 2. The remaining fees shall be used to further the Honor
412 Flight Network’s mission of transporting military veterans to
413 Washington, D.C., in order to visit the memorials dedicated to
414 honoring those who have served and sacrificed for the United
415 States.
416 (114) BISCAYNE BAY LICENSE PLATES.—
417 (a) The department shall develop a Biscayne Bay license
418 plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The plate
419 must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The
420 word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the
421 words “Protect Biscayne Bay” must appear at the bottom of the
422 plate.
423 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
424 distributed to The Miami Foundation, a Florida nonprofit
425 corporation, to be used as follows:
426 1. Up to 10 percent of the fees may be used for promotion
427 and marketing of the license plate and for direct reimbursement
428 for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in
429 the development and approval process of the license plate. All
430 vendors associated with administrative costs shall be selected
431 by competitive bid.
432 2. The remaining fees shall be used to raise awareness and
433 support the mission and efforts of conserving Biscayne Bay. The
434 Miami Foundation Board of Trustees must approve and is
435 accountable for all such expenditures.
436 (115) DISEASE PREVENTION & EARLY DETECTION LICENSE PLATES.—
437 (a) The department shall develop a Disease Prevention &
438 Early Detection license plate as provided in this section and s.
439 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
440 the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
441 plate, and the words “Disease Prevention & Early Detection” must
442 appear at the bottom of the plate.
443 (b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed
444 to The Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative, Florida Affiliate,
445 Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation, which may use up to 10
446 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plate. The
447 remainder of the proceeds shall be used by The Women’s Breast &
448 Heart Initiative, Florida Affiliate, Inc., to provide increased
449 education and awareness relating to early detection, prevention,
450 and screening of breast and heart issues.
451 (116) PROTECT MARINE WILDLIFE LICENSE PLATES.—
452 (a) The department shall develop a Protect Marine Wildlife
453 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
454 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the
455 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
456 plate, and the words “Protect Marine Wildlife” must appear at
457 the bottom of the plate.
458 (b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Protect
459 Wild Dolphins Alliance, Inc., which may use up to 10 percent of
460 the proceeds for administration, promotion, and marketing of the
461 plate. All remaining proceeds shall be used by the Protect Wild
462 Dolphins Alliance, Inc., to fund its conservation, research, and
463 educational programs that focus on the conservation of Florida’s
464 threatened and protected marine wildlife species.
465 (117) 30A.COM/SCENIC WALTON LICENSE PLATES.—
466 (a) The department shall develop a 30A.com/Scenic Walton
467 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
468 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the
469 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
470 plate, and the words “Support Scenic Walton” must appear at the
471 bottom of the plate.
472 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
473 distributed to Scenic Walton, Inc., a nonprofit Florida
474 corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to
475 be used to preserve and enhance the beauty and safety of Walton
476 County. Up to 10 percent of the fees may be used for marketing
477 of the plate and costs directly associated with administration
478 of Scenic Walton, Inc.
479 (118) SUPPORT HEALTHCARE HEROES LICENSE PLATES.—
480 (a) The department shall develop a Support Healthcare
481 Heroes license plate as provided in this section and s.
482 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
483 the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
484 plate, and the words “Support Healthcare Heroes” must appear at
485 the bottom of the plate.
486 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
487 distributed annually into the Emergency Medical Services Trust
488 Fund within the Department of Health to provide financial
489 support for prehospital emergency medical services pursuant to
490 s. 401.113.
491 Section 4. Subsection (5) of section 320.0807, Florida
492 Statutes, is amended to read:
493 320.0807 Special license plates for Governor and federal
494 and state legislators.—
495 (5) Upon application by any current or former President of
496 the Senate and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805,
497 the department may issue a license plate stamped “Senate
498 President” followed by the number assigned by the department or
499 chosen by the applicant if it is not already in use. Upon
500 application by any current or former Speaker of the House of
501 Representatives and payment of the fees prescribed by s.
502 320.0805, the department may issue a license plate stamped
503 “House Speaker” followed by the number assigned by the
504 department or chosen by the applicant if it is not already in
505 use. The applicant must have served as President of the Senate
506 or Speaker of the House of Representatives prior to January 1,
507 2021.
508 Section 5. Subsection (7) is added to section 320.089,
509 Florida Statutes, to read:
510 320.089 Veterans of the United States Armed Forces; members
511 of National Guard; survivors of Pearl Harbor; Purple Heart medal
512 recipients; Bronze Star recipients; active or retired United
513 States Armed Forces reservists; Combat Infantry Badge, Combat
514 Medical Badge, or Combat Action Badge recipients; Combat Action
515 Ribbon recipients; Air Force Combat Action Medal recipients;
516 Distinguished Flying Cross recipients; former prisoners of war;
517 Korean War Veterans; Vietnam War Veterans; Operation Desert
518 Shield Veterans; Operation Desert Storm Veterans; Operation
519 Enduring Freedom Veterans; Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans;
520 Women Veterans; World War II Veterans; and Navy Submariners; and
521 Army of Occupation Veterans; special license plates; fee.—
522 (7) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
523 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
524 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d)
525 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
526 of this state and a current or former member of the United
527 States military who was permanently assigned to occupation
528 forces in specific overseas locations during the Cold War
529 between May 9, 1945, and October 2, 1990, upon application to
530 the department accompanied by proof of active membership or
531 former active duty status during this period at one of these
532 locations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as
533 provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as
534 provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license
535 number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Army
536 of Occupation” and a likeness of the subject medal, followed by
537 the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the
538 applicant was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal is sufficient
539 to establish eligibility for the license plate.
540 Section 6. This act shall take effect October 1, 2021.