| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to state forests; amending s. 589.19, |
| 3 | F.S.; requiring the designation of "Wounded Warrior |
| 4 | Special Hunt Areas" within state forests; limiting guest |
| 5 | admittance to such areas for eligible veterans, |
| 6 | servicemembers, and certain persons; requiring that |
| 7 | funding for specialized accommodations be provided through |
| 8 | specified sources; authorizing the Division of Forestry of |
| 9 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to |
| 10 | adopt rules; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. Subsection (4) is added to section 589.19, |
| 15 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 16 | 589.19 Creation of certain state forests; naming of |
| 17 | certain state forests.- |
| 18 | (4)(a) The Division of Forestry shall designate one or |
| 19 | more areas of state forests as a "Wounded Warrior Special Hunt |
| 20 | Area" to honor wounded veterans and servicemembers. The purpose |
| 21 | of such designated areas is to provide special outdoor |
| 22 | recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and |
| 23 | servicemembers. |
| 24 | (b) The division shall limit guest admittance to such |
| 25 | designated areas to any person who: |
| 26 | 1. Is an active duty member of any branch of the United |
| 27 | States Armed Forces and has a combat-related injury as |
| 28 | determined by his or her branch of the United States Armed |
| 29 | Forces; or |
| 30 | 2. Is a veteran who served during a period of wartime |
| 31 | service as defined in s. 1.01(14) or peacetime service as |
| 32 | defined in s. 296.02 and: |
| 33 | a. Has a service-connected disability as determined by the |
| 34 | United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or |
| 35 | b. Was discharged or released from military service |
| 36 | because of a disability acquired or aggravated while serving on |
| 37 | active duty. |
| 38 | (c) The division may grant admittance to such designated |
| 39 | areas to a person who is not an eligible veteran or |
| 40 | servicemember for purposes of accompanying an eligible veteran |
| 41 | or servicemember who requires the person's assistance to use |
| 42 | such designated areas. |
| 43 | (d) Funding required for specialized accommodations shall |
| 44 | be provided through the Friends of Florida State Forests Program |
| 45 | created under s. 589.012. |
| 46 | (e) The division may adopt rules to administer this |
| 47 | subsection. |
| 48 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |