HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 1285 Florida State Guard
SPONSOR(S): Appropriations Committee, State Affairs Committee, Giallombardo
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) State Affairs Committee 14 Y, 5 N, As CS Mwakyanjala Williamson
2) Appropriations Committee 21 Y, 7 N, As CS Davis Pridgeon
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Federal law authorizes each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the
Virgin Islands to create and maintain organized units other than their respective National Guard units. These
separate units, called “defense forces,” are for use exclusively within the jurisdiction as considered necessary
by the Governor or chief executive of such jurisdiction but may not be called, ordered, or drafted into federal
service.
Led by the Governor as commander-in-chief, the Florida National Guard consists of organized, armed,
equipped, and federally recognized commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel who are
citizens of the United States or who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States.
The Florida State Defense Force was created in 1941 in order to supplement the state’s National Guard, which
had been federalized into service during World War II. The Florida State Defense Force was deactivated and
disbanded in 1947 after the return of the state’s National Guard.
The Florida State Guard (FSG) was created in 2022 as a component of the organized guard of the state
separate and apart from the Florida National Guard, and is a volunteer force that assists federal, state, and
local government agencies and civil relief organizations during impending or actual emergenc ies in Florida.
The FSG will sunset on July 1, 2023.
The bill repeals the FSG’s expiration date, making it a permanent component of the state militia. The bill
revises the structure of the FSG by creating a Division of the State Guard (Division) within the Department of
Military Affairs as a separate budget entity, headed by a director who is appointed by the Governor and
confirmed by the Senate. The bill also transfers administrative duties and powers from the Adjutant General to
the director.
The bill requires the director to organize a specialized unit within the FSG and requires specified members of
the unit to meet certain minimum requirements.
The bill repeals sections of law pertaining to the Florida State Defense Force and makes other conforming
changes.
The proposed House General Appropriations Act for FY 2023-24 provides $107.6 million in appropriations from
the General Revenue Fund for the State Guard.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2023.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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 FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
National Guard
The National Defense Act of 19161 established the National Guard Bureau as a separate unit of the
militia division of the federal government.2 In 1948, the Secretary of Defense of the United States
Department of Defense issued an order designating the National Guard Bureau as a joint bureau of the
Departments of the Army and Air Force.3 Under current federal law, the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the Army and the Air
Force, allocates the unit structure and strength authorizations for the National Guard in each state. 4
The National Guard is unique among militia in that it serves the country in both the local community and
overseas. The dual mission of a Guard member means that each member serves through both the
National Guard of the state and through the United States Army or the United States Air Force.5
Defense Forces
Federal law authorizes each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam,
and the Virgin Islands to create and maintain organized units other than their respective National Guard
units. These separate units, called “defense forces,” are for use exclusively within the jurisdiction as
considered necessary by the Governor or chief executive of such jurisdiction but may not be called,
ordered, or drafted into federal service.6 Membership in such an organized service does not exempt
any individual from service in the armed forces of the United States 7 but a member of the reserve
component of the armed forces 8 may not be a member of a local defense force.9 Currently, 23 states
and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have organized defense forces separate from their National
Guard units.10
Florida National Guard
The Florida National Guard (FLNG) consists of organized, armed, equipped, and federally recognized
commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel who are citizens of the United States or
who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States. The FLNG has separate
Army and Air Force components that are subject to the Departments of the Army and the Air Force,
respectively.11 The Governor is the commander in chief of all militia of the state12 and is responsible for
1 National Defense Act of 1916, H.R. 12766 (Public, No. 85) (June 3, 1916).
2 National Archives, Guide to Federal Records, Records of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), available at
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/168.html (last visited March 10, 2023).
3 Id.
4
10 U.S.C. s. 10503.
5 National Guard, National Guard Fact Sheet, Army National Guard (FY2005), May 3, 2006, available at
https://www.nationalguard.mil/About-the-Guard/Army-National-Guard/Resources/News/ARNG-Media/FileId/137011/ (last visited March
10, 2023).
6 32 U.S.C. s. 109(c).
7 32 U.S.C. s. 109(d).
8 The reserve component of the armed forces includes the Army National Guard and the Air National Gu ard in addition to the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard Reserves. See 10 U.S.C. s. 10101.
9 32 U.S.C. s. 109(e).
10 Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Ne w Mexico,
New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
11 S. 250.07, F.S.
12 Art. IV, s. 1(a), Fla. Const.
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 appointing a federally recognized officer of the FLNG to be the Adjutant General, who serves as the
Commanding General of the state’s organized militia.13
As of September 2022, the FLNG was composed of 10,314 personnel in the Army National Guard and
2,165 personnel in the Air National Guard, for total authorized personnel of 12,479.14
Florida State Defense Force
All able-bodied inhabitants of Florida who are or who have declared their intention to become citizens
of the United States comprise the militia,15 but not all are part of the organized militia, which is
comprised of the FLNG and the Florida State Guard.16 The Governor is commander-in-chief of all
military forces of the state not in active federal service.17 Subject to Senate confirmation, the Governor
appoints the Adjutant General and other general officers of the FLNG. 18 The Adjutant General (AG) is
the head of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).19
If any part of the FLNG is called into active federal service, the Governor is authorized to organize and
maintain such uniformed military forces as the Governor deems necessary to assist civil authorities with
maintaining law and order known as the Florida State Defense Force (FSDF). 20 When active, the FSDF
is composed of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel who serve as volunteer citizens.21 The
FSDF may be called out to aid civil authorities in the same manner as calling out the FLNG22 but may
not be called, ordered, or drafted into federal service.23
The FSDF was created in 1941 in order to supplement the state’s National Guard, which was in federal
service during World War II. FSDF was deactivated and disbanded in 1947 after the return of the
state’s National Guard.24
Florida State Guard
The Florida State Guard (FSG) was created in 202225 as a component of the organized guard of the
state, separate and apart from the FLNG. With the Governor having final control and command, the
FSG operates exclusively within the state of Florida and cannot be called, ordered, or drafted into the
armed forces of the United States.26 The FSG is a volunteer force that assists federal, state, and local
13 S. 250.10, F.S. 32 U.S.C. S. 314(a) requires an adjutant general in each s tate and requires the adjutant general to perform the duties
prescribed by the laws of the state of appointment.
14 Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service/Agency by State/Country
(Updated Quarterly), Septemb er 2022, available at https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports (last visited
Mar. 7, 2023). Troop numbers are unavailable for December 2022 due to the Army’s conversion of its Integrated Personnel and P ay
System. Due to this conversion, the Army did not provide military personnel for end -of-December 2022. See Military and Civilian
Personnel by Service/Agency by State/Country (Updated Quarterly) Decemb er 2022, available at
https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports (last visited Mar. 7, 2023).
15 Art. X, s. 2(a), Fla. Const.
16
S. 250.02(2), F.S. Organized militia is defined as being composed of the National Guard and any other organized military forc es that
are authorized by law. The Florida State Guard is authorized by Ch. 2022-157, s. 80, Laws of Fla.
17 Art. IV, s. 1(a), Fla. Const.
18 Art. X. s. 2(c), Fla. Const.
19 S. 250.05(3), F.S.
20
S. 251.01(1), F.S.
21 Id.
22 S. 251.05, F.S. See s. 250.06(4), F.S.: “The Governor may, in order to preserve the public peace, execute the laws of the state,
enhance domestic security, respond to terrorist threats or attacks, respond to an emergency as defined in s. 252.34 or imminent danger
thereof, or respond to any need for emergency aid to civil authorities as specified in s. 250.28, order into state active duty all or any part
of the militia which he or she deems proper.”
23 S. 251.08, F.S. This prohibition applies only to the FSDF as a whole and do es not exempt any individual member of the FSDF from
required federal military service.
24 Palm Beach County History Online, Civil Defense: Florida Defense Force, available at http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/florida-
defense-force (last visited Mar. 7, 2023).
25 The FSG was created via the Implementing Act of the General Appropriations Act for the 2022 -23 fiscal year, Ch. 2022-157, s. 80,
Laws of Fla., and is codified in statutes as s. 251.001, F.S.
26 S. 251.001(1), F.S.
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 government agencies and civil relief organizations during impending or actual emergencies in the state
of Florida.27
The AG serves as the commanding general of the FSG, subject at all times to the Governor. The AG is
responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, equipping, managing, and disciplining the FSG. The AG
selects units for activation, candidates for commissioning, and approves applicants for enlisted
personnel.28 The AG is responsible for setting the minimum standards for the age, physical and health
condition, and physical fitness of applicants. These standards cannot be lower than the standards
required for recruitment, enrollment, and retention in the FLNG.29 The AG develops and implements a
code of regulations for the administration and discipline of members of the FSG. 30
Each applicant for the FSG must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Florida and cannot
have a felony conviction.31 Additionally, applicants may not be an active duty servicemember or a
member of the armed forces reserves or the FLNG.32 If the applicant is a former member of the armed
forces, the applicant must have been separated under terms no less than a general discharge under
honorable conditions.33
The AG develops and implements a training program for the FSG and provides all equipment
necessary for the training and service of members of the FSG. 34 Training programs within the FSG
must be at least equivalent to the training requirements for the FLNG. 35 The AG is permitted to provide
staff, including members of the FLNG, to prepare and conduct training. However, members of the
FLNG are not considered members of the FSG while they are preparing and conducting authorized
FSG training.36 The AG is authorized to make available to the FSG facilities controlled and operated by
DMA.37
The FSG may be activated:
 During any period when any part of the FLNG is in active federal service and the Governor has
declared a state of emergency; or38
 To preserve the public peace, execute the laws of the state, enhance domestic security,
respond to terrorist threats or attacks, respond to an emergency39 or imminent danger thereof,
or respond to any need for emergency aid to civil authorities.40
The FSG must be deactivated upon the expiration of the order of activation or by a separate order by
the Governor.41
Members of the FSG are reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses incurred to attend required
training or in the course of active service.42 FSG members may be compensated for time spent training
or in the course of active service. Compensation rates are determined by the AG. 43 While engaged in
27 Florida State Guard, Home, available at https://floridastateguard.my.site.com/s/ (last visited Mar. 6, 2023).
28
S. 251.001(3), F.S.
29 S. 251.001(4)(d), F.S.
30 S. 251.001(4)(e), F.S.
31 S. 251.001(4)(c)1.-2., F.S.
32 S. 251.001(4)(c)3., F.S.
33
S. 251.001(4)(c)4., F.S.
34 S. 251.001(5), F.S.
35 S. 251.001(5)(a), F.S.
36 S. 251.001(5)(b), F.S.
37 S. 251.001(5)(d), F.S.
38 S. 251.001(6)(a), F.S.
39 Section 252.34(4), F.S., defines the term “emergency” to mean any occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technologic al, or
manmade, in war or in peace, which results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population or substantial damage to or loss
of property.
40 S. 251.001(6)(b), F.S.
41 S. 251.001(6)(c), F.S.
42 S. 251.001(7)(a), F.S.
43 S. 251.001(7)(b)
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 required training or during active service, FSG members have the same protections FLNG members
enjoy regarding:44
 Leaves of absence.45
 Employment discrimination.46
 Professional licensure protection.47
 Protection from employment discrimination during active duty service by private or public
employers and postsecondary institutions.48
 Licensure and qualification protections.49
 Stays of civil actions or proceedings involving individuals called into active duty service. 50
 Actions of rent or possession by landlord involving individuals called into active duty service.51
 Installment contracts for purchase of property involving individuals called into active duty
service.52
 Mortgages, trust deeds, or other securities upon property owned prior to the commencement of
the period an individual is called into active duty service.53
While activated or in training, FSG members are not liable for any lawful act done in the performance of
his or her FSG duties while acting in good faith within the scope of such duties. In addition, while
activated or in training, FSG members are considered volunteers for the state and are entitled to
workers’ compensation protections pursuant to chapter 440, F.S. 54
The FSG was created subject to an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act of 2022.55 The
General Appropriations Act appropriated $10 million from the General Revenue Fund for the FSG. 56
Current law provides that s. 251.001, F.S., which is the Florida State Guard Act, will sunset on July 1,
2023.57
Law Enforcement Officers
Current law requires a person employed or appointed as full-time, part-time, or auxiliary law
enforcement to:58
 Be at least 19 years of age.
 Be a citizen of the United States, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary.
 Be a high school graduate or its equivalent.
 Not have been convicted of a felony or of certain misdemeanors.
 Have documentation of his or her fingerprints on file with the employing agency.
 Have passed a physical examination.
 Have a good moral character as determined by a background investigation.
 Execute and submit to the employing agency an affidavit-of-applicant form attesting to his or her
compliance