The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to enhance support and services for veterans. Notably, it reduces the maximum number of nominees for the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study to assess veterans' awareness of existing programs and services, and to evaluate their health literacy, with the aim of improving public awareness and access to these resources. Additionally, the bill mandates the development of a statewide plan for establishing adult day health care facilities for veterans and their families, requiring detailed recommendations and assessments to be included in a report to the Legislature by November 1, 2025.

Furthermore, the bill expands the scope of the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program to include specialized mental health training for claims examiners and veteran service officers, emphasizing the identification of mental health conditions and suicide risk. It also authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to engage local veteran service officers for assistance and requires Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. to advise on the needs of military personnel and their spouses. The bill includes appropriations of $50,000 for a survey on veterans' awareness of services and $300,000 for implementing the suicide prevention training program, both for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Statutes affected:
S 116 Filed: 265.003, 295.124, 295.22, 296.43, 320.08058
S 116 c1: 295.124, 295.22, 296.43, 320.08058
S 116 c2: 295.124, 295.22, 296.43, 320.08058
S 116 er: 295.124, 295.22, 296.43, 320.08058