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 Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
BILL: SB 408
INTRODUCER: Senator Burgess
SUBJECT: Florida Veterans’ History Program
DATE: January 8, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Limones-Borja McVaney GO Favorable
2. ATD
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 408 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 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
1
Section 20.10(1), F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 408 Page 2
the Governor and other governmental officials, develops, maintains, publishes, and distributes
the state protocol manual.
2
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
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 creates s. 265.8021, F.S., to establish the Florida Veterans’ History Program (Program)
within the Division of Arts and Culture (Division) as a Florida Folklife Program. The Program
will 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 section authorizes the
Division to request assistance with the Program from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Section 1 requires the Division’s folklorists to seek out and identify veterans who are willing to
share their experiences to collect and preserve the stories and experiences of Florida’s veterans
and the State of Florida’s military contributions. The section authorizes the Division to adopt
rules to implement the Program and to contract with a third-party vendor to fulfil these
responsibilities.
The bill provides that a veteran,
5
as defined in s. 1.01(14), F.S., will be eligible to participate.
Section 2 provides that the bill will take effect on July 1, 2024.
2
Section 15.01(1), F.S.
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
The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or
released under honorable conditions only or who later received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions,
notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with
other than honorable discharges. Section 1.01(14), F.S. BILL: SB 408 Page 3
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Not applicable. The bill does not require counties and municipalities to spend funds,
reduce the counties’ or municipalities’ ability to raise revenue, or reduce the percentage
of state tax shared with counties or municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
To implement the bill, the Division may incur additional workload meeting the
requirement to seek out and identify veterans to share their experiences; however, such
workload should be absorbed within the current resources of each agency.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None. BILL: SB 408 Page 4
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 265.8021 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.