Florida Senate - 2017 CS for SB 1374
By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and
Domestic Security; and Senators Perry and Broxson
583-03351-17 20171374c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to transportation; directing the
3 Department of Transportation to erect signage in
4 specified counties to commemorate certain conflicts
5 involving the United States Armed Forces; amending s.
6 320.08056, F.S.; establishing an annual use fee for
7 the Ethical Ecotourism license plate; amending s.
8 320.08058, F.S.; directing the Department of Highway
9 Safety and Motor Vehicles to develop the Ethical
10 Ecotourism license plate; providing for distribution
11 and use of fees collected from the sale of the plate;
12 amending s. 320.089, F.S.; creating a special license
13 plate for recipients of the Bronze Star medal;
14 providing parameters for the design of the plate;
15 making technical changes; providing effective dates.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. United States Armed Forces commemoration;
20 Department of Transportation to erect appropriate signage.—
21 (1) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect
22 appropriate signage as described in subsection (2), at intervals
23 determined by the department, along that portion of S.R.
24 589/Veterans Expressway between S.R. 60 in Hillsborough County
25 and U.S. 98 in Hernando County.
26 (2) The department shall erect an appropriate sign to
27 commemorate each of the following conflicts involving the United
28 States Armed Forces:
29 (a) World War I.
30 (b) World War II.
31 (c) The Korean War.
32 (d) The Vietnam War.
33 (e) Operation Desert Shield.
34 (f) Operation Desert Storm.
35 (g) Operation Enduring Freedom.
36 (h) Operation Iraqi Freedom.
37 Section 2. Effective October 1, 2017, paragraph (ffff) is
38 added to subsection (4) of section 320.08056, Florida Statutes,
39 to read:
40 320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
41 (4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be
42 collected for the appropriate specialty license plates:
43 (ffff) Ethical Ecotourism license plate, $25.
44 Section 3. Effective October 1, 2017, subsection (84) is
45 added to section 320.08058, Florida Statutes, to read:
46 320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
47 (84) ETHICAL ECOTOURISM LICENSE PLATES.—
48 (a) The department shall develop an Ethical Ecotourism
49 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
50 word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and words
51 that are approved by the department must appear at the bottom of
52 the plate.
53 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be
54 distributed equally between the Florida Society for Ethical
55 Ecotourism and Paddle Florida, Inc., each of which may use up to
56 10 percent of the proceeds for administrative costs and
57 marketing of the plate. The balance of the annual use fees shall
58 be used by the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism to provide
59 environmental education and awareness that encourages behaviors
60 that contribute to the sustainability of Florida’s natural
61 ecosystems and resources and Paddle Florida, Inc., to raise
62 awareness about water conservation, wildlife preservation,
63 restoration of springs, and protection of waterways in this
64 state.
65 Section 4. Section 320.089, Florida Statutes, is amended to
66 read:
67 320.089 Veterans of the United States Armed Forces; members
68 of National Guard; survivors of Pearl Harbor; Purple Heart medal
69 recipients; active or retired United States Armed Forces
70 reservists; Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, or
71 Combat Action Badge recipients; Combat Action Ribbon recipients;
72 Air Force Combat Action Medal recipients; Distinguished Flying
73 Cross recipients; former prisoners of war; Korean War Veterans;
74 Vietnam War Veterans; Operation Desert Shield Veterans;
75 Operation Desert Storm Veterans; Operation Enduring Freedom
76 Veterans; Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans; Women Veterans;
77 World War II Veterans; and Navy Submariners; Special license
78 plates for military servicemembers, veterans, and Pearl Harbor
79 Survivors; fee.—
80 (1)(a) Upon application to the department and payment of
81 the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, a
82 resident of the state who owns or leases Each owner or lessee of
83 an automobile or truck for private use or recreational vehicle
84 as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for
85 hire or commercial use, shall be issued a license plate pursuant
86 to the following if the applicant provides the department with
87 proof that he or she meets the qualifications listed in this
88 section for the applicable license plate:
89 1. A person released or discharged from any branch who is a
90 resident of the state and a veteran of the United States Armed
91 Forces shall be issued a license plate stamped with the words
92 “Veteran” or “Woman Veteran” followed by the serial number of
93 the license plate., a Woman Veteran,
94 2. A World War II Veteran shall be issued a license plate
95 stamped with the words “WWII Veteran” followed by the serial
96 number of the license plate.,
97 3. A Navy Submariner shall be issued a license plate
98 stamped with the words “Navy Submariner” followed by the serial
99 number of the license plate.,
100 4. An active or retired member of the Florida National
101 Guard shall be issued a license plate stamped with the words
102 “National Guard” followed by the serial number of the license
103 plate.
104 5. A member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association or
105 other person on active military duty in Pearl Harbor on December
106 7, 1941, shall be issued a license plate stamped with the words
107 “Pearl Harbor Survivor” followed by the serial number of the
108 license plate., a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor,
109 6. A recipient of the Purple Heart medal shall be issued a
110 license plate stamped with the words “Combat-wounded Veteran”
111 followed by the serial number of the license plate. The Purple
112 Heart plate may have the words “Purple Heart” stamped on the
113 plate and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal appearing on
114 the plate.,
115 7. An active or retired member of any branch of the United
116 States Armed Forces Reserve shall be issued a license plate
117 stamped with the words “U.S. Reserve” followed by the serial
118 number of the license plate.
119 8. A member of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc.,
120 or a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical
121 Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, or Air Force
122 Combat Action Medal shall be issued a license plate stamped with
123 the words “Combat Infantry Badge,” “Combat Medical Badge,”
124 “Combat Action Badge,” “Combat Action Ribbon,” or “Air Force
125 Combat Action Medal,” as appropriate, and a likeness of the
126 related campaign badge, ribbon, or medal followed by the serial
127 number of the license plate.
128 9. A recipient of the, or Distinguished Flying Cross shall
129 be issued a license plate stamped with the words “Distinguished
130 Flying Cross” and a likeness of the Distinguished Flying Cross
131 followed by the serial number of the license plate.
132 10. A recipient of the Bronze Star shall be issued a
133 license plate stamped with the term “Bronze Star” and a likeness
134 of the Bronze Star Medal followed by the serial number of the
135 license plate. A recipient of the Bronze Star with the “V”
136 device shall be issued a license plate stamped with the words
137 “Bronze Star” and a likeness of the Bronze Star Medal with the
138 “V” device emblem followed by the serial number of the license
139 plate, upon application to the department, accompanied by proof
140 of release or discharge from any branch of the United States
141 Armed Forces, proof of active membership or retired status in
142 the Florida National Guard, proof of membership in the Pearl
143 Harbor Survivors Association or proof of active military duty in
144 Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, proof of being a Purple Heart
145 medal recipient, proof of active or retired membership in any
146 branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or proof of
147 membership in the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc., proof
148 of being a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat
149 Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air
150 Force Combat Action Medal, or Distinguished Flying Cross, and
151 upon payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in
152 s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s.
153 320.06 which, in lieu of the serial numbers prescribed by s.
154 320.06, is stamped with the words “Veteran,” “Woman Veteran,”
155 “WWII Veteran,” “Navy Submariner,” “National Guard,” “Pearl
156 Harbor Survivor,” “Combat-wounded veteran,” “U.S. Reserve,”
157 “Combat Infantry Badge,” “Combat Medical Badge,” “Combat Action
158 Badge,” “Combat Action Ribbon,” “Air Force Combat Action Medal,”
159 or “Distinguished Flying Cross,” as appropriate, and a likeness
160 of the related campaign medal or badge, followed by the serial
161 number of the license plate. Additionally, the Purple Heart
162 plate may have the words “Purple Heart” stamped on the plate and
163 the likeness of the Purple Heart medal appearing on the plate.
164 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
165 contrary, beginning with fiscal year 2002-2003 and annually
166 thereafter, the first $100,000 in general revenue generated from
167 the sale of license plates issued under this section shall be
168 deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund, as described
169 in s. 296.38(2), to be used for the purposes established by law
170 for that trust fund. Any additional general revenue generated
171 from the sale of such plates shall be deposited into the State
172 Homes for Veterans Trust Fund and used solely to construct,
173 operate, and maintain domiciliary and nursing homes for
174 veterans, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
175 (c) Any revenue generated from the sale of Woman Veteran
176 license plates must be deposited into the Operations and
177 Maintenance Trust Fund administered by the Department of
178 Veterans’ Affairs pursuant to s. 20.375(3) and must be used
179 solely for the purpose of creating and implementing programs to
180 benefit women veterans.
181 (d) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary,
182 an applicant for a Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate or a
183 Purple Heart license plate who also qualifies for a disabled
184 veteran’s license plate under s. 320.084 shall be issued the
185 appropriate special license plate without payment of the license
186 tax imposed by s. 320.08.
187 (2) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
188 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
189 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d),
190 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
191 of this state and who is a former prisoner of war, or his or her
192 unremarried surviving spouse, upon application to the
193 department, shall be issued a license plate as provided in s.
194 320.06 which may have the words “Ex-POW”, stamped on the plate
195 and the likeness of the Prisoner of War Medal with the words
196 “Ex-POW” followed by the serial number. Each application shall
197 be accompanied by proof that the applicant meets the
198 qualifications specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
199 (a) A citizen of the United States who served as a member
200 of the Armed Forces of the United States or the armed forces of
201 a nation allied with the United States who was held as a
202 prisoner of war at such time as the Armed Forces of the United
203 States were engaged in combat, or his or her unremarried
204 surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate
205 provided for in this subsection without payment of the license
206 tax imposed by s. 320.08.
207 (b) A person who was serving as a civilian with the consent
208 of the United States Government, or a person who was a member of
209 the Armed Forces of the United States while he or she was not a
210 United States citizen and was held as a prisoner of war when the
211 Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or his
212 or her unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special
213 license plate provided for in this subsection upon payment of
214 the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.
215 (3) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
216 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
217 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d),
218 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
219 of this state and who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a
220 recipient of the Purple Heart medal, upon application to the
221 department accompanied by the payment of the required fees,
222 shall be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06 which
223 is stamped with the words “Purple Heart” and the likeness of the
224 Purple Heart medal followed by the serial number. Each
225 application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant is
226 the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple
227 Heart medal.
228 (4) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
229 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
230 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d)
231 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
232 of this state and a current or former member of the United
233 States Armed Forces who was deployed and served in Korea during
234 the Korean War as defined in s. 1.01(14), upon application to
235 the department accompanied by proof of active membership or
236 former active duty status during the Korean War and payment of
237 the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall
238 be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in
239 lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06,
240 is stamped with the words “Korean War Veteran” and a likeness of
241 the Korean Service Medal, followed by the registration license
242 number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the
243 Korean Service Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for
244 the license plate.
245 (5) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
246 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
247 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d)
248 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
249 of this state and a current or former member of the United
250 States military who was deployed and served in Vietnam during
251 United States military deployment in Indochina, upon application
252 to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or
253 former active duty status during these operations and payment of
254 the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall
255 be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in
256 lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06,
257 is stamped with the words “Vietnam War Veteran” and a likeness
258 of the Vietnam Service Medal, followed by the registration
259 license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was
260 awarded the Vietnam Service Medal is sufficient to establish
261 eligibility for the license plate.
262 (6) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for
263 private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a
264 recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d)
265 which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident
266 of this state and a current or former member of the United
267 States military who was deployed and served in Saudi Arabia,
268 Kuwait, or another area of the Persian Gulf during Operation
269 Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm; in Afghanistan during
270 Operation Enduring Freedom; or in Iraq during Operation Iraqi
271 Freedom, upon application to the department accompanied by proof
272 of active membership or former active duty status during one of
273 these operations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle
274 as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as
275 provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license
276 number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words
277 “Operation Desert Shield,” “Operation Desert Storm,” “Operation
278 Enduring Freedom,” or “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” as appropriate,
279 and a likeness of the related campaign medal followed by the
280 registration license number of the plate. Proof that the
281 applicant was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq
282 Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or Global War on
283 Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is sufficient to establish
284 eligibility for the appropriate license plate.
285 Section 5. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
286 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2017.