Florida Senate - 2026                                      SB 96
       
       
        
       By Senator Sharief
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00327-26                                             202696__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to dental care for veterans; creating
    3         s. 295.158, F.S.; defining terms; creating the
    4         Veterans Dental Care Program within the Department of
    5         Veterans’ Affairs; requiring the program to provide
    6         specified dental services; authorizing the department
    7         to provide such services through certain means;
    8         providing that funding for the program is subject to
    9         legislative appropriation; authorizing the department
   10         to seek federal matching funds, private donations, or
   11         grants to fund the program; requiring the department
   12         to submit a report annually, beginning on a specified
   13         date, to the Governor and Legislature; requiring that
   14         the report include specified information; requiring
   15         the department to adopt rules; providing an effective
   16         date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Section 295.158, Florida Statutes, is created to
   21  read:
   22         295.158 Veterans Dental Care Program.—
   23         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   24         (a) “Department” means the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
   25         (b) “Eligible veteran” means a resident of this state who
   26  has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed
   27  Forces.
   28         (c) “Program” means the Veterans Dental Care Program.
   29         (2) There is created within the department the Veterans
   30  Dental Care Program to expand access to comprehensive services
   31  for eligible veterans.
   32         (3) The program must provide, at a minimum, the following
   33  dental services:
   34         (a) Preventative care, including, but not limited to,
   35  routine dental examinations and prophylaxis cleanings.
   36         (b) Basic restorative care including, but not limited to,
   37  dental fillings.
   38         (c) Advanced restorative care, including, but not limited
   39  to, dental crowns and tooth extractions.
   40         (d) Endodontic care, including, but not limited to, root
   41  canal therapy.
   42         (e) Prosthodontic care, including, but not limited to,
   43  dental bridges, partial dentures, complete dentures, and dental
   44  implants.
   45         (4) The department may provide services through any of the
   46  following:
   47         (a) Contracts with licensed community health centers,
   48  nonprofit dental clinics, and private providers.
   49         (b) Partnerships with accredited dental schools in this
   50  state to increase access and reduce costs.
   51         (c) Mobile dental units serving rural and underserved areas
   52  of this state.
   53         (5)(a) Funding for the program is subject to appropriation
   54  by the Legislature.
   55         (b) The department may seek federal matching funds, private
   56  donations, or grants to supplement program funding.
   57         (6) Beginning January 1, 2027, and every January 1
   58  thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the
   59  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   60  House of Representatives. The report must include all of the
   61  following:
   62         (a) The number of veterans served under the program.
   63         (b) The types of services provided.
   64         (c) The program’s expenditures and sources of funding.
   65         (d) Recommendations, if any, to improve the program.
   66         (7) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
   67  section.
   68         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.