Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; and Senator Collins 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to military affairs; amending s. 3 15.0465, F.S.; redesignating the official state 4 flagship as the S.S. American Victory; amending s. 5 295.124, F.S.; updating a reference to federal law 6 relating to the designation of the Department of 7 Veterans Affairs as the state approving agency for 8 veterans education and training; amending s. 295.21, 9 F.S.; revising the membership of the board of 10 directors of Florida is for Veterans, Inc.; conforming 11 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 12 295.22, F.S.; renaming the Veterans Employment and 13 Training Services Program administered by Florida Is 14 For Veterans, Inc., as the Veterans Florida 15 Opportunity Program; providing that grant 16 reimbursements are limited to a specified amount per 17 eligible trainee per fiscal year; deleting a provision 18 that allowed for reimbursement of only permanent full 19 time employees; providing that training costs for a 20 trainee must be equal to or greater than a specified 21 amount; revising requirements for a grant agreement 22 between the corporation and a business requesting 23 funds; authorizing the use of grant funds as 24 educational stipends for specified individuals while 25 training at locations of the University of Florida 26 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; requiring 27 Florida is for Veterans, Inc., and the university to 28 enter into a grant agreement; requiring the 29 corporation to determine the amount and structure of 30 any educational stipend; specifying that such stipends 31 be used only for specified training; providing an 32 appropriation; creating s. 295.25, F.S.; prohibiting 33 the Department of State from charging veterans who 34 reside in this state fees for the filing of specified 35 documents; limiting a veterans use of the exemption; 36 amending s. 320.084, F.S.; requiring that a free 37 disabled veteran motor vehicle license plate be issued 38 by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 39 for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by 40 certain disabled veterans; deleting the requirement 41 that such plates be issued with the identifying letter 42 designation of DV; authorizing the issuance of a 43 military license plate or specialty license plate with 44 a certain embossing; providing that certain 45 protections and rights do apply to certain military or 46 specialty license plates; amending s. 322.21, F.S.; 47 providing an exemption from driver license fees to 48 members of the Florida National Guard and their 49 spouses; amending s. 394.47891, F.S.; providing that 50 the chief judge of a judicial circuit has the 51 exclusive authority to determine whether veterans may 52 participate in the veterans treatment court of that 53 circuit; providing an effective date. 54 55 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 56 57 Section 1.Section 15.0465, Florida Statutes, is amended to 58 read: 59 15.0465Official state flagship.The S.S. American Victory, 60 a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 schooner Western 61 Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship 62 class, built in Key West and first launched in 1939, is 63 designated the official state flagship. 64 Section 2.Section 295.124, Florida Statutes, is amended to 65 read: 66 295.124State approving agency for veterans education and 67 training.The Department of Veterans Affairs shall act as the 68 state approving agency for purposes of veterans education and 69 training, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. s. 3671 38 U.S.C. s. 1771 70 and the applicable annual contract between the state and the 71 Federal Government. 72 Section 3.Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraph (a) 73 of subsection (4), and paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of 74 section 295.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 75 295.21Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. 76 (3)DUTIES.The corporation shall: 77 (d)Implement the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment 78 and Training Services Program established by s. 295.22. 79 (4)GOVERNANCE. 80 (a)The corporation shall be governed by a 12-member an 11 81 member board of directors. The Governor, the President of the 82 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 83 each appoint three voting members to the board. The appointments 84 made by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 85 of Representatives may not be from the body over which he or she 86 presides. In making appointments, the Governor, the President of 87 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 88 shall must consider representation by active or retired military 89 personnel and their spouses, representing a range of ages and 90 persons with expertise in business, education, marketing, and 91 information management. Additionally, the President of the 92 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 93 each appoint one member from the body over which he or she 94 presides to serve on the board as ex officio, nonvoting members, 95 and the Governor shall appoint one member who is a secretary, or 96 his or her designee, with experience in economic or workforce 97 development from an executive agency, as an ex officio, 98 nonvoting member. 99 (8)ANNUAL REPORT.The corporation shall submit an annual 100 progress report and work plan by December 1 to the Governor, the 101 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 102 Representatives. The report must include: 103 (c)Status of the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment 104 and Training Services Program administered under s. 295.22. 105 Section 4.Section 295.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to 106 read: 107 295.22Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training 108 Services Program. 109 (1)LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.The Legislature finds 110 that the state has a compelling interest in ensuring that each 111 veteran or his or her spouse who is a resident of this state 112 finds employment that meets his or her professional goals and 113 receives the training or education necessary to meet those 114 goals. The Legislature also finds that connecting dedicated, 115 well-trained veterans with businesses that need a dedicated, 116 well-trained workforce is of paramount importance. The 117 Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not 118 currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida 119 employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional 120 workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the 121 demands of the marketplace. It is the intent of the Legislature 122 that the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training 123 Services Program coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and 124 their spouses and the business community to enhance the economy 125 of this state. 126 (2)DEFINITIONS.For the purposes of this section, the 127 term: 128 (a)Secondary industry business is a business that the 129 state has an additional interest in supporting and for which 130 veterans and their spouses may have directly transferable 131 skills. Such businesses are in the fields of health care, 132 agriculture, commercial construction, education, law 133 enforcement, and public service. 134 (b)Servicemember means any person serving as a member of 135 the United States Armed Forces on active duty or state active 136 duty and all members of the Florida National Guard and United 137 States Reserve Forces. 138 (c)Target industry business is a business as defined in 139 s. 288.005. 140 (d)Target market means servicemembers of the United 141 States Armed Forces who have 24 months or less until discharge, 142 veterans with 36 months or less since discharge, and members of 143 the Florida National Guard or reserves. The term includes 144 spouses of such individuals, and surviving spouses of such 145 individuals who have not remarried. 146 (3)CREATION.The Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment 147 and Training Services Program is created within the Department 148 of Veterans Affairs to assist in connecting servicemembers, 149 veterans, or their spouses who are in the target market with 150 businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well-trained workers and 151 with opportunities for entrepreneurship education, training, and 152 resources. The purpose of the program is to meet the workforce 153 demands of businesses in this state by facilitating access to 154 training and education in high-demand fields for such 155 individuals and to inspire the growth and development of 156 veteran-owned small businesses. 157 (4)ADMINISTRATION.Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall 158 administer the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and 159 Training Services Program and perform all of the following 160 functions: 161 (a)Conduct marketing and recruiting efforts directed at 162 individuals within the target market who reside in or have an 163 interest in relocating to this state and who are seeking 164 employment. Marketing must include information related to how 165 military experience can be valuable to a target industry or 166 secondary industry business. Such efforts may include attending 167 job fairs and events; hosting events for servicemembers, 168 veterans, and their spouses or the business community; and using 169 digital and social media and direct mail campaigns. The 170 corporation shall also include such marketing as part of its 171 main marketing campaign. 172 (b)Assist individuals in the target market who reside in 173 or relocate to this state and who are seeking employment with 174 target industry or secondary industry businesses. The 175 corporation shall offer skills assessments to such individuals 176 and assist them in establishing employment goals and applying 177 for and achieving gainful employment. 178 1.Assessment may include skill match information, skill 179 gap analysis, rsum creation, translation of military skills 180 into civilian workforce skills, and translation of military 181 achievements and experience into generally understood civilian 182 workforce skills. 183 2.Assistance may include providing the servicemember, 184 veteran, or his or her spouse with information on current 185 workforce demand by industry or geographic region, creating 186 employment goals, and aiding or teaching general knowledge 187 related to completing applications. 188 3.Assessment and assistance may be in person or by 189 electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most 190 efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses. 191 (c)Assist Florida target industry and secondary industry 192 businesses in recruiting and hiring individuals in the target 193 market. The corporation shall provide services to Florida 194 businesses to meet their hiring needs by connecting businesses 195 with suitable applicants for employment. Suitable applicants 196 include veterans or veterans spouses who have appropriate job 197 skills or may need additional training to meet the specific 198 needs of a business. The corporation shall also provide 199 information about the state and federal benefits of hiring 200 veterans. 201 (d)Create a grant program to provide funding to assist 202 individuals in the target market in meeting the workforce-skill 203 needs of target industry and secondary industry businesses 204 seeking to hire, promote, or generally improve specialized 205 skills of veterans, establish criteria for approval of requests 206 for funding, and maximize the use of funding for this program. 207 Grant funds may be used only in the absence of available 208 veteran-specific federally funded programs. Grants may fund 209 specialized training specific to a particular business. 210 1.The program may prioritize grant funds to be used to 211 provide a certificate, a license, or nondegree training from the 212 Master Credentials List pursuant to s. 445.004(4)(h); any 213 federally created certifications or licenses; and any skills 214 based industry certifications or licenses deemed relevant or 215 necessary by the corporation. Funds may be allocated only upon a 216 review that includes, but is not limited to, documentation of 217 accreditation and licensure. 218 2.Grant reimbursements Costs and expenditures are limited 219 to $5,000 $8,000 per eligible trainee per fiscal year. Qualified 220 businesses must cover the entire cost for all of the training 221 provided before receiving reimbursement from the corporation 222 equal to 50 percent of the cost to train a veteran who is a 223 permanent, full-time employee. Training costs for a trainee in a 224 fiscal year must be equal to or greater than $5,000. Eligible 225 costs and expenditures include, but are not limited to: 226 a.Tuition and fees. 227 b.Books and classroom materials. 228 c.Rental fees for facilities. 229 3.Before funds are allocated for a request pursuant to 230 this section, the corporation shall prepare a grant agreement 231 between the business requesting funds and the corporation. Such 232 agreement must include, but need not be limited to: 233 a.Identification of the personnel necessary to conduct the 234 instructional program, instructional program description, and 235 any vendors used to conduct the instructional program. 236 b.Identification of the estimated duration of the 237 instructional program. 238 c.Identification of all direct, training-related costs. 239 d.Identification of special program requirements that are 240 not otherwise addressed in the agreement. 241 e.Permission to access aggregate information specific to 242 the wages and performance of participants upon the completion of 243 instruction for evaluation purposes. The agreement must specify 244 that any evaluation published subsequent to the instruction may 245 not identify the employer or any individual participant. 246 4.A business may receive a grant under any state program 247 and a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee. 248 5.Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., grant funds may be used 249 as educational stipends for individuals in the target market 250 while training at any location of the University of Florida 251 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences within this state. 252 The corporation and the University of Florida shall enter into 253 an agreement before any grant funds are expended, and the 254 corporation shall determine the amount and structure of any 255 educational stipend. Such stipend may be used only for such 256 training for a period of no less than 4 months and no more than 257 6 months, in the absence of veteran-specific federally funded 258 programs. 259 (e)Contract with one or more entities to administer an 260 entrepreneur initiative program for individuals in the target 261 market in this state which connects business leaders in the 262 state with such individuals seeking to become entrepreneurs. 263 1.The corporation shall award each contract in accordance 264 with the competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057 to one 265 or more public or private entities that: 266 a.Demonstrate the ability to implement the program and the 267 commitment of resources, including financial resources, to such 268 programs. 269 b.Have a demonstrated experience working with veteran 270 entrepreneurs. 271 c.As determined by the corporation, have been recognized 272 for their performance in assisting entrepreneurs to launch 273 successful businesses in this state. 274 2.Each contract must include performance metrics, 275 including a focus on employment and business creation. The 276 entity may also work with a university or college offering 277 related programs to refer individuals in the target market or to 278 provide services. The entrepreneur initiative program may 279 include activities and assistance such as peer-to-peer learning 280 sessions, mentoring, technical assistance, business roundtables, 281 networking opportunities, support of student organizations, 282 speaker series, or other tools within a virtual environment. 283 (f)Administer a SkillBridge initiative for target industry 284 and secondary industry businesses in this state and for eligible 285 individuals in the target market who reside in, or who wish to 286 reside in, this state. In administering the initiative, the 287 corporation shall: 288 1.Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification 289 for the SkillBridge initiative or any other similar workforce 290 training and transition programs established by the United 291 States Department of Defense; 292 2.Educate businesses, business associations, and eligible 293 individuals in the target market on the SkillBridge initiative 294 and its benefits, and educate military command and personnel 295 within the state on the opportunities available to eligible 296 individuals in the target market; 297 3.Assist businesses in obtaining approval for skilled 298 workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge initiative, 299 including, but not limited to, apprenticeships, internships, or 300 fellowships; and 301 4.Match eligible individuals in the target market with 302 training opportunities offered by the corporation or 303 participating businesses, with the intent of having them achieve 304 gainful employment in this state upon completion of their 305 SkillBridge training. 306 (5)COLLABORATION. 307 (a)The corporation may assist state agencies and entities 308 with recruiting veteran talent into their workforces. 309 (b)The corporation is encouraged to, and may collaborate 310 with state agencies and other entities in efforts to, maximize 311 access to and provide information on one website that, if 312 possible, includes hyperlinks to the websites of and contact 313 information, if available, for state agencies and other entities 314 that maintain benefits, services, training, education, and other 315 resources that are available to veterans and their spouses. 316 (c)The corporation may collaborate with other state 317 agencies and entities for outreach, information exchange, 318 marketing, and referrals regarding programs and initiatives that 319 include, but are not limited to, the program created by this 320 section and those within any of the following: 321 1.The Department of Veterans Affairs: 322 a.Access to benefits and assistance programs. 323 b.Hope Navigators Program. 324 2.The Department of Commerce: 325 a.The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program and local veteran 326 employment representatives. 327 b.CareerSource Florida, Inc., and local workforce boards 328 employment and recruitment services. 329 c.The Quick-Response Training Program. 330 d.Efforts of the Florida Defense Support Task Force 331 created under s. 288.987, the Florida Small Business Development 332 Center Network, and the direct support organization established 333 in s. 288.012(6). 334 3.The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 335 reciprocity and the availability of certain license and fee 336 waivers. 337 4.The Department of Education: 338 a.CAPE industry certifications under s. 1008.44. 339 b.Information related to earning postsecondary credit at 340 public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level 341 training and education acquired in the military under s. 342 1004.096. 343 5.The Department of Health: 344 a.The Office of Veteran Licensure Services. 345 b.The Florida Veterans Application for Licensure Online 346 Response expedited licensing. 347 6.The Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help. 348 Section 5.For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $2.5 349 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is 350 appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 351 purposes of funding the Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., 352 implementation and administration of the programs described in 353 ss. 295.21(3)(d), 295.21(3)(f), and 295.22, Florida Statutes. 354 Section 6.Section 295.25, Florida Statutes, is created to 355 read: 356 295.25Veterans exempt from certain filing fees.The 357 Department of State may not charge veterans who reside in this 358 state the applicable fees for filing articles of organization, 359 articles of incorporation, a certificate of limited partnership, 360 or a partnership registration statement, or for the designation 361 of a registered agent, if applicable, as provided in s. 362 605.0213, s. 607.0122, s. 617.0122, s. 620.1109, or s. 363 620.81055. A veteran may apply for this exemption only once. 364 Section 7.Subsections (1) and (3), paragraph (a) of 365 subsection (4), and subsection (6) of section 320.084, Florida 366 Statutes, are amended to read: 367 320.084Free motor vehicle license plate to certain 368 disabled veterans. 369 (1)One free disabled veteran DV motor vehicle license 370 number plate must shall be issued by the department for use on 371 any motor vehicle owned or leased by any disabled veteran who 372 has been a resident of this state continuously for the preceding 373 5 years or has established a domicile in this state as provided 374 by s. 222.17(1), (2), or (3), and who has been honorably 375 discharged from the United States Armed Forces, upon 376 application, accompanied by proof that: 377 (a)A vehicle was initially acquired through financial 378 assistance by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 379 or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an 380 automobile; 381 (b)The applicant has been determined by the United States 382 Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a 383 service-connected 100-percent disability rating for 384 compensation; or 385 (c)The applicant has been determined to have a service 386 connected disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of 387 disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States 388 Armed Services. 389 (3)The department shall, as it deems necessary, require 390 each person to whom a motor vehicle license plate has been 391 issued pursuant to subsection (1) to apply to the department for 392 reissuance of his or her registration license plate. Upon 393 receipt of the application and proof of the applicants 394 continued eligibility, the department shall issue a new 395 permanent disabled veteran DV numerical motor vehicle license 396 plate which must shall be of the colors red, white, and blue 397 similar to the colors of the United States flag. The operation 398 of a motor vehicle displaying a disabled veteran DV license 399 plate from a previous issue period or a noncurrent validation 400 sticker after the date specified by the department shall subject 401 the owner if he or she is present, otherwise the operator, to 402 the penalty provided in s. 318.18(2). Such permanent license 403 plate must shall be removed upon sale of the vehicle, but may be 404 transferred to another vehicle owned by such veteran in the 405 manner prescribed by law. The license number of each plate 406 issued under this section shall be identified by the letter 407 designation DV. Upon request of any such veteran, the 408 department is authorized to issue a designation plate containing 409 only the letters DV, to be displayed on the front of the 410 vehicle. 411 (4)(a)With the issuance of each new permanent disabled 412 veteran DV numerical motor vehicle license plate, the 413 department shall initially issue, without cost to the applicant, 414 a validation sticker reflecting the owners birth month and a 415 serially numbered validation sticker reflecting the year of 416 expiration. The initial sticker reflecting the year of 417 expiration may not exceed 27 months. 418 (6)(a)A disabled veteran who meets the requirements of 419 subsection (1) may be issued, in lieu of the disabled veteran 420 DV license plate, a military license plate for which he or she 421 is eligible or a specialty license plate embossed with the 422 initials DV in the top left-hand corner. A disabled veteran 423 electing a military license plate or specialty license plate 424 under this subsection must pay all applicable fees related to 425 such license plate, except for fees otherwise waived under 426 subsections (1) and (4). 427 (b)A military license plate or specialty license plate 428 elected under this subsection: 429 1.Does not provide the protections or rights afforded by 430 ss. 316.1955, 316.1964, 320.0848, 526.141, and 553.5041. 431 2.Is not eligible for the international symbol of 432 accessibility as described in s. 320.0842. 433 Section 8.Subsection (7) of section 322.21, Florida 434 Statutes, is amended to read: 435 322.21License fees; procedure for handling and collecting 436 fees. 437 (7)(a)Any veteran honorably discharged from the Armed 438 Forces who has been issued a valid identification card by the 439 Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17, 440 has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans 441 Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100-percent total and 442 permanent service-connected disability rating for compensation, 443 or has been determined to have a service-connected total and 444 permanent disability rating of 100 percent, is in receipt of 445 disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States 446 Armed Services, and who is qualified to obtain a driver license 447 under this chapter is exempt from all fees required by this 448 section. 449 (b)A member of the Florida National Guard who has been 450 issued a valid identification card by the Department of Military 451 Affairs and his or her spouse are exempt from all fees required 452 by this section. 453 Section 9.Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 454 394.47891, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 455 394.47891Veterans treatment court programs. 456 (3)AUTHORIZATION. 457 (d)The chief judge and state attorney of the judicial 458 circuit that creates and administers a veterans treatment court 459 program has have the exclusive authority to determine whether 460 veterans who have been dishonorably discharged may participate 461 in the veterans treatment court program of within the circuit. 462 Section 10.This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.