The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666
INTRODUCER: Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Military and Veterans
Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee; and Senator Collins
SUBJECT: Veterans
DATE: February 22, 2024 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Brown Proctor MS Fav/CS
2. Howard McKnight AHS Fav/CS
3. FP
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 1666 contains multiple provisions on veterans. The bill:
Expands job outreach, marketing and support services of Florida is for Veterans, Inc.,
(Veterans Florida);
Increases the number of board members that govern the Florida is for Veterans Corporation
from nine members to eleven. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives each appoint one additional member to the board from the body for which
they preside to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members.
Clarifies that the focus of the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program is to link
veterans and their spouses with businesses in a target or secondary industry business;
Allows an educational stipend for veterans while training at any location of the University of
Florida’s (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) within the state;
Expands the role of Veterans Florida in assisting with industry certification;
Provides that a participating business in a Veterans Florida grant program may also receive a
grant under any state program, and not just the Quick Response Training Program;
Exempts veterans from certain business filing fees with the Department of State;
Creates a fee exemption on hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged veterans
with a service-connected disability percentage rating of 50 percent or more;
Revises the structure, appointment of members, and frequency of meetings of the Advisory
Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries; and
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666 Page 2
Adds to the list of required instruction for middle and high school students in public schools
two 45-minute lessons on the history and importance of Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day.
The bill creates the Florida Veterans’ History Program (Program) within the Department of
State’s Division of Arts and Culture (Division). The Program will act to collect and preserve the
stories and experiences of Florida’s veterans and the State of Florida’s military contributions
throughout the nation’s history. The Division may request assistance with the Program from the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
To complete the goal of the Program, the bill requires the Division’s folklorists to identify those
veterans who are willing to share their experiences. The veterans may submit written or
electronic accounts of their experiences for inclusion in the Program. The bill allows the
Division to adopt rules to implement the Program and to contract with a third-party vendor to
fulfil these responsibilities.
The bill appropriates $91,207 in recurring General Revenue funds to the Division and one full-
time equivalent position with an associated salary rate of 68,771 to implement and administer the
Program.
The bill appropriates $528,514 in nonrecurring General Revenue funds to the University of
Florida for the purpose of conducting a longitudinal study on the efficacy of ketamine in treating
depression in the veteran population of this state.
The bill may have an indeterminate, significant negative fiscal impact. See Section V., Fiscal
Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
Department of State
The Department of State (DOS), created in s. 20.10, F.S., is composed of six divisions:
Elections, Historical Resources, Corporations, Library and Information Services, Arts and
Culture, and Administration. The head of the DOS is the Secretary of State (Secretary). The
Secretary is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor, and is confirmed by the
Senate. The Secretary performs functions conferred by the State Constitution upon the custodian
of state records.1 The Secretary also serves as the state protocol officer and, in consultation with
the Governor and other governmental officials, develops, maintains, publishes, and distributes
the state protocol manual.2
1
Section 20.10(1), F.S.
2
Section 15.01(1), F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666 Page 3
Division of Arts and Culture
The DOS’s Division of Arts and Culture (Division) is the State’s arts agency. The Division
promotes access to culture opportunities through different programs and grants.3 The Division
provides funding for the following:
Arts in education;
Local arts agencies;
State service organizations;
Museums;
Theater;
Dance;
Folk art;
Literature;
Media arts;
Multidisciplinary;
Music; and
Visual arts programs and projects.4
Department of State and Incorporation
The DOS is responsible for receiving and maintaining incorporation and business filings required
in law, such as service of process for legal proceedings,5 articles of incorporation,6 and
registration of fictitious names.7 A person who wants to file incorporation and business filings
with the DOS must pay the appropriate fee. Amongst the filings received and maintained by the
DOS, and the appropriate filing fee associated with them, are those identified in:
Chapter 605, Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act: limited liability companies
file with the DOS a registration with their name, registered agent, and registered office
location;8
Chapter 607, Florida Business Corporation Act: corporations file their articles of
incorporation, changes to their registered office or registered agent, and must file an annual
report, among other documents;9
Chapter 617, Corporations Not For Profit: requires not for profit corporations to file with the
DOS their articles of incorporation, changes to their registered office or registered agent, and
must file an annual report, among other documents;10 and
Chapter 620, Partnership Laws: limited partnerships must file a certificate of limited
partnership with the DOS containing the name of the limited partnership, the address, and the
business address of each general partner11 as well as an annual report, among other
3
Florida Department of State, Florida Division of Arts and Culture, Mission, https://dos.fl.gov/cultural/about-us/mission/
(Nov. 30, 2023).
4
Id.
5
See, e.g., ss. 48,061, 48.062, and 48.181, F.S.
6
Section 607.0203, F.S.
7
Section 865.09, F.S.
8
Sections 605.0112(5), 605.113(4), and 605.113(5), F.S. See s. 605.0206, F.S.
9
Sections 607.0203, 607.0502, and 607.1622, F.S. See 607.0120(9), F.S.
10
Sections 617.0203, 617.0502, and 617.1622, F.S.
11
Sections 620.1109 and 620.1201(1)(a)–(e), F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666 Page 4
documents.12 General partnerships must file a partnership registration statement and an
annual report, among other documents.13
Fees vary and a sampling is provided below.
Department of State Filing Fees
Filing articles of organization or articles of revocation of dissolution. s. 605.0213(2), F.S. $ 100.00
Filing a certificate designating a registered agent. s. 605.0213(7), F.S. $ 25.00
Articles of incorporation. s. 607.0122(1), F.S. $ 35.00
Designation of and acceptance by registered agent. s. 607.0122(5), F.S. $ 35.00
Articles of incorporation. s. 617.0122(1), F.S. $ 35.00
Designation of and acceptance by registered agent. s. 617.0122(5), F.S. $ 35.00
Filing an original certificate of limited partnership. s. 620.1109(2), F.S. $ 965.00
Filing a certificate designating a registered agent. s. 620.1109(8)(a), F.S. $ 35.00
Filing a partnership registration statement. s. 620.81055(1)(a), F.S. $ 50.00
Florida is for Veterans, Inc.
The purpose of Florida is for Veterans (Veterans Florida) is to promote the state as veteran-
friendly by assisting veterans and their spouses with connections to businesses and
employment.14 Duties of Veterans Florida are to:
Contract with a research entity experienced in performing market research on the veteran
demographic to identify the target market and their educational and employment needs;
Advise the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation on the target market; a
marketing campaign designed to keep the target market in the state; and methods to
disseminate information to the target market on interests and needs of veterans and their
families;
Promote and enhance the value of military skill sets to businesses;
Implement the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program;
Responsibly and prudently manage all funds received and ensure that the use of such funds
conforms to all applicable laws, bylaws, or contractual requirements;
Administer relevant programs; and
Serve as the state’s principal assistance organization under the United States Department of
Defense’s SkillBridge program for employers and transitioning servicemembers.15
Veterans Florida is governed by a nine-member board of directors.16 The Governor, President of
the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives each appoint three members to the
board, in consideration of military experience and business expertise. Members of the board of
directors serve for staggered terms of four years. Board members serve without compensation
but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses incurred while serving.17
12
Section 620.1210, F.S.
13
Sections 620.8105 and 620.9003, F.S.
14
Section 295.21(1), F.S.
15
Section 295.21(3), F.S.
16
Section 295.21(4)(a), F.S.
17
Section 295.21(4)(a), F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666 Page 5
Veterans Employment and Training Services Program
The Florida Department of Veteran Affairs (FDVA) established the Veterans Employment and
Training Services program to link veterans and their spouses with businesses for employment.18
The purpose of the program is to meet the workforce demands of businesses in the state by
facilitating access to training and education in high-demand fields for veterans or their spouses.19
The program is administered by Veterans Florida, whose duties include:
Conducting marketing and recruiting efforts directed at veterans or their spouses who live in
the state or are interested in relocating and are seeking employment;
Offering skills assessments to veterans or their spouses to establish employment goals and
apply for and achieve gainful employment;
Assisting Florida businesses in recruiting and hiring veterans and veterans’ spouses,
including providing information about state and federal benefits of hiring veterans;
Creating a grant program to provide funding to assist veterans in meeting the workforce-skill
needs of businesses;
Contracting with entities to administer an entrepreneur initiative program for veterans in this
state that connects business leaders in the state with veterans seeking to become
entrepreneurs;
Performing its functions as the state’s principal assistance organization under the United
States Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program for qualified businesses in this state and
transitioning servicemembers;
Assisting veterans and their spouses in accessing training, education, and employment in
health care professions; and
Coordinating with the Office of Veteran Licensure Services within the Department of Health
(DOH) to assist veterans and their spouses in obtaining licensure.
Chapter 620, Partnership Laws: limited partnerships must file a certificate of limited
partnership with the DOS containing the name of the limited partnership, the address, and the
business address of each general partner20 as well as an annual report, among other
documents.21 General partnerships must file a partnership registration statement and an
annual report, among other documents.22
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
A person who wants to recreationally hunt or fish in Florida must obtain a recreational license,
permit, or authorization number and pay the appropriate fee.23
Section 379.353(2), F.S., exempts specified individuals from having to possess a recreational
license while hunting or fishing. A few examples include any person hunting or freshwater
fishing on her or his homestead property, or on the homestead property of the person’s spouse or
18
Section 295.22(2), F.S.
19
295.22(2), F.S.
20
Sections 620.1109 and 620.1201(1)(a)–(e), F.S.
21
Section 620.1210, F.S.
22
Sections 620.8105 and 620.9003, F.S.
23
Section 379.354, F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1666 Page 6
minor child; any minor child hunting or freshwater fishing on the homestead property of her or
his parent; and any resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and not
stationed in this state, when home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
In addition, an exemption on a hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing license and
permit fee is available to a resident who is certified or determined to be:
Totally and permanently disabled for purposes of workers’ compensation under chapter 440
as verified by an order of a judge of compensation claims or written confirmation by the
carrier providing workers’ compensation benefits, or to be totally and permanently disabled
by the Railroad Retirement Board, by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its
predecessor, or a branch of the United States Armed Forces, or who holds a valid
identification card issued by the FDVA, upon proof of the same.24 A license issued on a no
fee basis expires after five years and must be reissued, upon request, every five years
thereafter.25
Disabled as verified by the United States Social Security Administration. A license issued on
a no fee basis expires after two years and must be reissued, upon proof of certification of
disability, every two years thereafter.26
Current fees on these licenses for Florida residents are provided below.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission License and Permit Fees
Annual Freshwater Fishing License s. 379.354(4)(a), F.S. $ 15.50
Annual Saltwater Fishing License s. 379.354(4)(b), F.S. $ 15.50
Annual Hunting License to Take Game s. 379.354(4)(c), F.S. $ 15.50
Advisory Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
The Advisory Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, created within the DOH, is a 16-
member advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries. The council is required to meet twice
a year27 and is composed of a minimum of:
Four individuals with brain injuries or who are family members of individuals with brain
injuries;
Four individuals with spinal cord injuries or who are family members of individuals with
spinal cord injuries; and
Two individuals who represent the special needs of children with brain or spinal cord
injuries.28
The remaining balance of council members must be physicians, other allied health professionals,
administrators of brain and spinal cord injury programs, and representatives from support groups
that have expertis