Florida Senate - 2023                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 366
       
       
       
       
       
       
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                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
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       The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and
       Domestic Security (Burgess) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 27 - 50
    4  and insert:
    5  provide indigent veterans in underserved and critical need areas
    6  the opportunity to access routine dental care after they
    7  conclude their service protecting this country’s freedom.
    8         (2) As used in this section, the term:
    9         (a) “Department” means the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
   10         (b) “Veteran” has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14). The
   11  term includes all members of the Florida National Guard and
   12  United States Reserve Forces who were discharged or released
   13  under honorable conditions only, or who later received an
   14  upgraded discharge under honorable conditions.
   15         (3) The Veterans Dental Care Grant Program is established
   16  within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The purpose of the
   17  program is to provide oral health care to indigent veterans who
   18  reside in underserved and critical need areas of this state.
   19         (4)(a) The department shall contract with a statewide
   20  direct-support organization to administer the Veterans Dental
   21  Care Grant Program. The statewide direct-support organization
   22  must have proven experience developing and implementing veteran
   23  relevant programs, including dental service programs. The
   24  organization is responsible for distributing grants to eligible
   25  nonprofits that have experience in providing dental care to
   26  veterans.
   27         (b) The department shall use the standard for determining
   28  indigency provided by the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
   29  produced by the United States Department of Health and Human
   30  Services.
   31         (5) The department shall define by rule the terms “indigent
   32  veteran” and “underserved and critical need area” and shall
   33  adopt rules to administer the program.
   34  
   35  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   36  And the title is amended as follows:
   37         Delete lines 2 - 8
   38  and insert:
   39         An act relating to dental services for indigent
   40         veterans; creating s. 295.157, F.S.; providing
   41         legislative findings and intent; defining terms;
   42         establishing the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program
   43         within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; specifying
   44         the purpose of the program; requiring the department
   45         to contract with a direct-support organization to
   46         administer the program; requiring the department to
   47         use a specified standard for determining indigency;