This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0357.CRG
DATE: 12/6/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 357 Special Observances
SPONSOR(S): Holcomb and others
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 346
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law &
Government Operations Subcommittee
Poreda Miller
2) State Affairs Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Florida Law provides designations for legal holidays and special observances. Recognition of a legal holiday or
special observance could apply statewide or may be limited to a particular county or other region of the state.
Some holidays or special observances may also require a commemoration or observance of the day or month.
Florida is home to 21 military installations and 65,159 active duty military personnel. Florida is also home to the
nation’s third-largest veteran population with almost 1.5 million veterans.
The bill designates the month of November as “Veterans Appreciation Month.” and encourages counties,
municipalities, public schools, and the residents of the state to observe the occasion to show appreciation of
the veterans of the state. The bill also authorizes the Governor to issue an annual proclamation of observance.
The bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact on the state or local governments.
STORAGE NAME: h0357.CRG PAGE: 2
DATE: 12/6/2023
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Legal Holidays and Observances
Florida law designates a number of legal holidays and special observances.
1
Recognition of a
legal holiday or special observance may apply statewide or may be limited to a particular region.
Depending on the holiday or special observance, certain actions may be required to be
performed for the commemoration or observance of the date, day, or month. For example, April
2 is designated as “Florida State Day” which is to be known as “Pascua Florida Day.”
2
The
Governor may also issue an annual proclamation designating April 2 as “Florida State Day” as
well as designating the week of March 27 to April 2 as “Pascua Florida Week.”
3
However, the
Governor must proclaim September 11 as “9/11 Hero’s Day.”
4
Florida law currently recognizes 21 Legal Holidays,
5
including November 11 of each year as
“Veterans Day.”
6
There are also 38 special observances,
7
including “Patriots’ Day”
8
on April 19,
“Purple Heart Day”
9
on August 7, “Medal of Honor Day”
10
on March 25, and “Veterans Week”
11
which begins either on the Sunday preceding Sunday November 11 or on November 11 if that
date falls on a Sunday.
The state recognizes nine of the 21 Legal Holidays as paid holidays that are observed by all
state branches and agencies.
12
Veterans in Florida
Each year, about 250,000 servicemembers end military service as veterans and either reenter the
civilian workforce or enroll in higher education.
13
Florida is home to 20 major military installations
14
and
65,159 active duty military personnel with 37,833 more in the National Guard or in reserve.
15
Florida is
also home to the nation’s third-largest veteran population with 1,430,000 veterans.
16
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1
Ch. 683, F.S.
2
S. 683.06(1), F.S.
3
S. 683.06(2), F.S.
4
S. 683.335(1), F.S.
5
S. 683.01, F.S.
6
S. 683.01(q), F.S.
7
S. 683.04 - 683.335, F.S
8
S. 683.14, F.S.
9
S. 683.146, F.S.
10
S. 683.147, F.S.
11
S. 683.1475, F.S.
12
S. 110.117(1), F.S. Paid state holidays include: New Year’s Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
13
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Your VA Transition Assistance Program (TAP), available at
https://www.benefits.va.gov/transition/tap.asp (last visited November 29, 2023).
14
Florida Department of Commerce, Military Bases – Military Base Encroachment, available at https://floridajobs.org/community-
planning-and-development/programs/community-planning-table-of-contents/military-base-encroachment (last visited November 29,
2023).
15
Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), DoD Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications - Military
and Civilian Personnel by Service/Agency by State/Country (September 2023), available at https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-
data-reports/workforce-reports (last visited November 29, 2023)
16
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Fast Facts, available at https://www.floridavets.org/our-veterans/profilefast-facts/ (last
visited November 29, 2023). STORAGE NAME: h0357.CRG PAGE: 3
DATE: 12/6/2023
The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) provides advocacy and representation for Florida’s
veterans and intercedes on their behalf with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
17
The FDVA is the state agency statutorily authorized and responsible for aiding all former, present, and
future members of the armed forces. The FDVA may apply for and administer any federal programs
and develop and coordinate such state programs as may be beneficial to the interests of the veterans
of this state.
18
The FDVA helps veterans gain access to federal benefits, including federally funded
medical care, to improve their quality of life.
19
An individual who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was not dishonorably
discharged, may qualify for VA health care benefits. VA health benefits include necessary inpatient
hospital care and outpatient services to promote, preserve, or restore a veteran’s health. VA medical
facilities provide a wide range of services from basic medical care to more specialized services.
20
Although all veterans can access benefits for their service, to receive benefits through the FDVA as a
wartime veteran, one must have served in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has
been authorized or during a specified period of wartime service.
21
The qualifying periods of wartime
service include the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War,
Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
22
Effect of the Bill
The bill designates the month of November each year as “Veterans Appreciation Month.”
The Governor may also issue a proclamation to designate “Veterans Appreciation Month” and
encourage counties, municipalities, public schools and the residents of the state to observe the
occasion by creating special programs or events to show appreciation to the veterans in the state.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1. Creates s. 683.336, F.S., relating to Veterans Appreciation Month.
Section 2. Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
17
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Leadership, available at http://floridavets.org/leadership/ (last visited November 29, 2023).
18
S. 292.05, F.S.
19
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Leadership, available at http://floridavets.org/leadership/ (last visited November 29, 2023).
20
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors and Caregivers, available at
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/2023_Federal_Benefits_for_Veterans_Dependents_and_Survivors.pdf (last
visited November 29, 2023).
21
S. 1.01(14), F.S.
22
Id. STORAGE NAME: h0357.CRG PAGE: 4
DATE: 12/6/2023
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. The bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill neither authorizes nor requires executive branch rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES