Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

       Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1738



       By Senator Garcia





       36-01767A-24                                          20241738__
                      A bill to be entitled                      
       An act relating to trust funds; creating s. 17.69,
       F.S.; creating the Defending Freedom Fighters Trust
       Fund within the Department of Financial Services;
       providing for funding sources and specifying the
       purpose of the trust fund; providing for future review
       and termination or re-creation of the trust fund;
       providing for carryover of certain funds; amending s.
       322.08, F.S.; requiring certain application forms to
       include an option to contribute to the Defending
       Freedom Fighters Trust Fund; providing an
       appropriation; providing an effective date.
        
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

       Section 1. Section 17.69, Florida Statutes, is created to
read:
       17.69 Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund.—
       (1) The Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund is created
within the department.
       (2) The trust fund shall consist of funds obtained from
voluntary contributions under s. 322.08(8)(v). Additional funds
may be provided from legislative appropriations.
       (3) The trust fund shall use its funds for the purpose
specified in s. 17.691.
       (4) In accordance with s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State
Constitution, the Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund shall,
unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 2028. Before
its scheduled termination, the trust fund shall be reviewed as
provided in s. 215.3206(1) and (2).
       (5) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year
shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall
be available for carrying out the purpose of the trust fund.
This subsection is repealed July 1, 2030.
       Section 2. Subsection (8) of section 322.08, Florida
Statutes, is amended to read:
       322.08 Application for license; requirements for license
and identification card forms.—
       (8) The application form for an original, renewal, or
replacement driver license or identification card must include
language permitting the following:
       (a) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
contribution shall be deposited into the Health Care Trust Fund
for organ and tissue donor education and for maintaining the
organ and tissue donor registry.
       (b) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to the Florida Council of the Blind.
       (c) A voluntary contribution of $2 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to the Hearing Research Institute,
Incorporated.
       (d) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
International.
       (e) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to the Children’s Hearing Help Fund.
       (f) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to Family First, a nonprofit organization.
       (g) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Stop
Heart Disease, which shall be distributed to the Florida Heart
Research Institute, a nonprofit organization.
       (h) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Senior
Vision Services, which shall be distributed to the Florida
Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc., a not-for
profit organization.
       (i) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant for
services for persons with developmental disabilities, which
shall be distributed to The Arc of Florida.
       (j) A voluntary contribution of $1 to the Ronald McDonald
House, which shall be distributed each month to Ronald McDonald
House Charities of Tampa Bay, Inc.
       (k) Notwithstanding s. 322.081, a voluntary contribution of
$1 per applicant, which shall be distributed to the League
Against Cancer/La Liga Contra el Cancer, a not-for-profit
organization.
       (l) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Prevent
Child Sexual Abuse, which shall be distributed to Lauren’s Kids,
Inc., a nonprofit organization.
       (m) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
shall be distributed to Prevent Blindness Florida, a not-for
profit organization, to prevent blindness and preserve the sight
of the residents of this state.
       (n) Notwithstanding s. 322.081, a voluntary contribution of
$1 per applicant to the state homes for veterans, to be
distributed on a quarterly basis by the department to the
Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs.
       (o) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to the
Disabled American Veterans, Department of Florida, which shall
be distributed quarterly to Disabled American Veterans,
Department of Florida, a nonprofit organization.
       (p) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant for Autism
Services and Supports, which shall be distributed to Achievement
and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., Autism Services Fund.
       (q) A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Support
Our Troops, which shall be distributed to Support Our Troops,
Inc., a Florida not-for-profit organization.
       (r) Notwithstanding s. 322.081, a voluntary contribution of
$1 per applicant to aid the homeless. Contributions made
pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited into the Grants
and Donations Trust Fund of the Department of Children and
Families and used by the State Office on Homelessness to
supplement grants made under s. 420.622(4) and (5), provide
information to the public about homelessness in the state, and
provide literature for homeless persons seeking assistance.
       (s) A voluntary contribution of $1 or more per applicant to
End Breast Cancer, which shall be distributed to the Florida
Breast Cancer Foundation.
       (t) Notwithstanding s. 322.081(1), a voluntary contribution
of $1 or more per applicant to Childhood Cancer Care, which
shall be distributed to the Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer
Foundation.
       (u) A voluntary contribution of $1 or more per applicant to
Best Buddies International, Inc., which shall be distributed
monthly to Best Buddies International, Inc., a corporation not
for profit under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
       (v) Notwithstanding s. 322.081, a voluntary contribution of
$1 or more per applicant, which shall be deposited into the
Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund.

A statement providing an explanation of the purpose of the trust
funds shall also be included. For the purpose of applying the
service charge provided under s. 215.20, contributions received
under paragraphs (b)-(v) (b)-(u) are not income of a revenue
nature.
       Section 3. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sum of $5
million in nonrecurring funds otherwise allocated to the
Department of State for purposes of administering the Florida
Election Campaign Financing Act is reappropriated to the
Department of Financial Services to be deposited into the
Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund.
       Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Statutes affected: 
S 1738 Filed: 322.08