Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1666
By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and
Domestic Security; and Senator Collins
583-02616-24 20241666c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to veterans; amending s. 295.21, F.S.;
3 revising the purpose of Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.;
4 revising the duties of the corporation to require that
5 it conduct specified activities directed toward its
6 target market; defining the term “target market”;
7 deleting obsolete language; providing that the
8 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
9 of Representatives may each appoint only one member
10 from his or her chamber to the corporation’s board of
11 directors; making technical changes; amending s.
12 295.22, F.S.; defining terms; revising the purpose of
13 the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program;
14 revising the functions that Florida Is For Veterans,
15 Inc., must perform in administering a specified
16 program; authorizing the program to prioritize grant
17 funds; revising the uses of specified grant funds;
18 authorizing a business to receive certain other grant
19 funds in addition to specified grant funds;
20 authorizing the use of grant funds to provide for a
21 specified educational stipend; requiring the
22 corporation and the University of Florida to enter
23 into a grant agreement before certain funds are
24 expended; requiring the corporation to determine the
25 amount of the stipend; providing that specified
26 training must occur for a specified duration;
27 authorizing the corporation to provide certain
28 assistance to state agencies and entities, to provide
29 a website that has relevant hyperlinks, and to
30 collaborate with specified state agencies and other
31 entities for specified purposes; conforming provisions
32 to changes made by the act; making technical changes;
33 creating s. 295.25, F.S.; prohibiting the Department
34 of State from charging veterans who reside in this
35 state fees for the filing of specified documents;
36 amending s. 379.353, F.S.; providing free hunting,
37 freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses to
38 certain disabled veterans; providing that specified
39 licenses issued to such veterans expire periodically
40 and must be reissued upon request after such time
41 period; amending s. 381.78, F.S.; revising the
42 membership, appointment, and meetings of the advisory
43 council on brain and spinal cord injuries; amending s.
44 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instruction on the history
45 and importance of Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day;
46 requiring that certain instruction consist of two 45
47 minute lessons that must occur within a certain
48 timeframe; amending s. 288.0001, F.S.; conforming a
49 cross-reference; reenacting ss. 379.3581(2)(b) and
50 379.401(2)(b) and (3)(b), F.S., relating to special
51 authorization hunting licenses and the suspension and
52 forfeiture of licenses and permits, respectively, to
53 incorporate the amendment made to s. 379.353, F.S., in
54 references thereto; providing an effective date.
55
56 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
57
58 Section 1. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (3),
59 and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 295.21, Florida
60 Statutes, are amended to read:
61 295.21 Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.—
62 (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the corporation is to serve as
63 the state’s initial point of military transition assistance
64 dedicated to promoting promote Florida as a veteran-friendly
65 state helping that seeks to provide veterans and their spouses
66 with employment opportunities and promoting that promotes the
67 hiring of veterans and their spouses by the business community.
68 The corporation shall encourage retired and recently separated
69 military personnel to remain in this the state or to make this
70 the state their permanent residence. The corporation shall
71 promote the value of military skill sets to businesses in this
72 the state, assist in tailoring the training of veterans and
73 their spouses to match the needs of the employment marketplace,
74 and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of veterans and their
75 spouses.
76 (3) DUTIES.—The corporation shall:
77 (a) Conduct marketing, awareness, and outreach activities
78 directed toward its target market. As used in this section, the
79 term “target market” means those members, and their spouses, of
80 the United States Armed Forces with 24 months or less until
81 discharge, veterans with 36 months or less since discharge, and
82 members of the Florida National Guard or reserves research to
83 identify the target market and the educational and employment
84 needs of those in the target market. The corporation shall
85 contract with at least one entity pursuant to the competitive
86 bidding requirements in s. 287.057 and the provisions of s.
87 295.187 to perform the research. Such entity must have
88 experience conducting market research on the veteran
89 demographic. The corporation shall seek input from the Florida
90 Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation on the scope, process,
91 and focus of such research.
92 (4) GOVERNANCE.—
93 (a) The corporation shall be governed by a nine-member
94 board of directors. The Governor, the President of the Senate,
95 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each
96 appoint three members to the board. In making appointments, the
97 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
98 House of Representatives must consider representation by active
99 or retired military personnel and their spouses, representing a
100 range of ages and persons with expertise in business, education,
101 marketing, and information management. The President of the
102 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may each
103 appoint only one member from the body over which he or she
104 presides.
105 Section 2. Section 295.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to
106 read:
107 295.22 Veterans Employment and Training Services Program.—
108 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds
109 that the state has a compelling interest in ensuring that each
110 veteran or his or her spouse who is a resident of this the state
111 finds employment that meets his or her professional goals and
112 receives the training or education necessary to meet those
113 goals. The Legislature also finds that connecting dedicated,
114 well-trained veterans with businesses that need a dedicated,
115 well-trained workforce is of paramount importance. The
116 Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not
117 currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida
118 employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional
119 workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the
120 demands of the marketplace. It is the intent of the Legislature
121 that the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program
122 coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and their spouses and
123 the business community to enhance the economy of this state.
124 (2) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the
125 term:
126 (a) “Secondary industry business” is a business that the
127 state has an additional interest in supporting and for which
128 veterans and their spouses may have directly transferrable
129 skills. These businesses are in the fields of health care,
130 agriculture, commercial construction, education, law
131 enforcement, and public service.
132 (b) “Servicemember” has the same meaning as in 250.01.
133 (c) “Spouse” means a person who is married to a veteran, or
134 an unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran.
135 (d) “Target industry business” is a business as defined in
136 s. 288.005.
137 (e) “Target market” has the same meaning as in s.
138 295.21(3)(a).
139 (f) “Veteran” means, irrespective of discharge status, a
140 person who otherwise meets the definition of veteran in s.
141 1.01(14) or who is a servicemember.
142 (3) CREATION.—The Veterans Employment and Training Services
143 Program is created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
144 assist in connecting linking veterans or their spouses in search
145 of employment with businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well
146 trained workers and with opportunities for entrepreneurship
147 education, training, and resources. The purpose of the program
148 is to meet the workforce demands of businesses in this the state
149 by facilitating access to training and education in high-demand
150 fields for veterans or their spouses and to inspire the growth
151 and development of veteran-owned small businesses.
152 (4)(3) ADMINISTRATION.—Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall
153 administer the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program
154 and perform all of the following functions:
155 (a) Conduct marketing and recruiting efforts directed at
156 veterans or their spouses within the target market who reside in
157 or who have an interest in relocating to this state and who are
158 seeking employment. Marketing must include information related
159 to how a veteran’s military experience can be valuable to a
160 target industry or secondary industry business. Such efforts may
161 include attending veteran job fairs and events, hosting events
162 for veterans and their spouses or the business community, and
163 using digital and social media and direct mail campaigns. The
164 corporation shall also include such marketing as part of its
165 main marketing campaign.
166 (b) Assist veterans or their spouses who reside in or
167 relocate to this state and who are seeking employment with
168 target industry or secondary industry businesses. The
169 corporation shall offer skills assessments to veterans or their
170 spouses and assist them in establishing employment goals and
171 applying for and achieving gainful employment.
172 1. Assessment may include skill match information, skill
173 gap analysis, résumé creation, translation of military skills
174 into civilian workforce skills, and translation of military
175 achievements and experience into generally understood civilian
176 workforce skills.
177 2. Assistance may include providing the veteran or his or
178 her spouse with information on current workforce demand by
179 industry or geographic region, creating employment goals, and
180 aiding or teaching general knowledge related to completing
181 applications. The corporation may provide information related to
182 industry certifications approved by the Department of Education
183 under s. 1008.44 as well as information related to earning
184 academic college credit at public postsecondary educational
185 institutions for college-level training and education acquired
186 in the military under s. 1004.096.
187 3. The corporation shall encourage veterans or their
188 spouses to register with the state’s job bank system and may
189 refer veterans to local one-stop career centers for further
190 services. The corporation shall provide each veteran with
191 information about state workforce programs and shall consolidate
192 information about all available resources on one website that,
193 if possible, includes a hyperlink to each resource’s website and
194 contact information, if available.
195 4. Assessment and assistance may be in person or by
196 electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most
197 efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses.
198 (c) Assist Florida target industry and secondary industry
199 businesses in recruiting and hiring veterans and veterans’
200 spouses. The corporation shall provide services to Florida
201 businesses to meet their hiring needs by connecting businesses
202 with suitable veteran applicants for employment. Suitable
203 applicants include veterans or veterans’ spouses who have
204 appropriate job skills or may need additional training to meet
205 the specific needs of a business. The corporation shall also
206 provide information about the state and federal benefits of
207 hiring veterans.
208 (d) Create a grant program to provide funding to assist
209 veterans in meeting the workforce-skill needs of target industry
210 and secondary industry businesses seeking to hire, promote, or
211 generally improve specialized skills of veterans, establish
212 criteria for approval of requests for funding, and maximize the
213 use of funding for this program. Grant funds may be used only in
214 the absence of available veteran-specific federally funded
215 programs. Grants may fund specialized training specific to a
216 particular business.
217 1. The program may prioritize If grant funds to be are used
218 to provide a technical certificate, a license licensure, or
219 nondegree training from the Master Credentials List pursuant to
220 s. 445.004(4)(h); any federally created certifications or
221 licenses; and any skills-based industry certifications or
222 licenses deemed relevant or necessary by the corporation. a
223 degree, Funds may be allocated only upon a review that includes,
224 but is not limited to, documentation of accreditation and
225 licensure. Instruction funded through the program terminates
226 when participants demonstrate competence at the level specified
227 in the request but may not exceed 12 months. Preference shall be
228 given to target industry businesses, as defined in s. 288.005,
229 and to businesses in the defense supply, cloud virtualization,
230 health care, or commercial aviation manufacturing industries.
231 2. Costs and expenditures are shall be limited to $8,000
232 per veteran trainee. Qualified businesses must cover the entire
233 cost for all of the training provided before receiving
234 reimbursement from the corporation equal to 50 percent of the
235 cost to train a veteran who is a permanent, full-time employee.
236 Eligible costs and expenditures include, but are not limited to:
237 a. Tuition and fees.
238 b. Books and classroom materials.
239 c. Rental fees for facilities.
240 3. Before funds are allocated for a request pursuant to
241 this section, the corporation shall prepare a grant agreement
242 between the business requesting funds and the corporation. Such
243 agreement must include, but need not be limited to:
244 a. Identification of the personnel necessary to conduct the
245 instructional program, instructional program description, and
246 any vendors used to conduct the instructional program.
247 b. Identification of the estimated duration of the
248 instructional program.
249 c. Identification of all direct, training-related costs.
250 d. Identification of special program requirements that are
251 not otherwise addressed in the agreement.
252 e. Permission to access aggregate information specific to
253 the wages and performance of participants upon the completion of
254 instruction for evaluation purposes. The agreement must specify
255 that any evaluation published subsequent to the instruction may
256 not identify the employer or any individual participant.
257 4. A business may receive a grant under any state program
258 the Quick-Response Training Program created under s. 288.047 and
259 a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee.
260 5. A portion of grant funds, as determined by the
261 corporation, may be used for veterans who are not active members
262 of the United States Armed Forces for educational stipends while
263 training at any location of the University of Florida’s
264 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences within this state.
265 The corporation and the University of Florida shall enter into a
266 grant agreement before funds are expended. The corporation must
267 determine the amount of the stipend. The training for any
268 individual may not be less than 4 months and not more than 6
269 months.
270 (e) Contract with one or more entities to administer an
271 entrepreneur initiative program for veterans in this state which
272 connects business leaders in the state with veterans seeking to
273 become entrepreneurs.
274 1. The corporation shall award each contract in accordance
275 with the competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057 to one
276 or more public or private entities that:
277 a. Demonstrate the ability to implement the program and the
278 commitment of resources, including financial resources, to such
279 programs.
280 b. Have a demonstrated experience working with veteran
281 entrepreneurs.
282 c. As determined by the corporation, have been recognized
283 for their performance in assisting entrepreneurs to launch
284 successful businesses in this the state.
285 2. Each contract must include performance metrics,
286 including a focus on employment and business creation. The
287 entity may also work with a university or college offering
288 related programs to refer veterans or to provide services. The
289 entrepreneur initiative program may include activities and
290 assistance such as peer-to-peer learning sessions, mentoring,
291 technical assistance, business roundtables, networking
292 opportunities, support of student organizations, speaker series,
293 or other tools within a virtual environment.
294 (f) Administer a As the state’s principal assistance
295 organization under the United States Department of Defense’s
296 SkillBridge initiative program for target industry and secondary
297 industry qualified businesses in this state and for eligible
298 veterans transitioning servicemembers who reside in, or who wish
299 to reside in, this state. In administering the initiative, the
300 corporation shall:
301 1. Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification
302 for the SkillBridge initiative program or any other similar
303 workforce training and transition programs established by the
304 United States Department of Defense;
305 2. Educate businesses, business associations, and eligible
306 veterans transitioning servicemembers on the SkillBridge
307 initiative program and its benefits, and educate military
308 command and personnel within the state on the opportunities
309 available to eligible veterans transitioning servicemembers
310 through the SkillBridge program;
311 3. Assist businesses in obtaining approval for skilled
312 workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge initiative
313 program, including, but not limited to, apprenticeships,
314 internships, or fellowships; and
315 4. Match eligible veterans transitioning servicemembers who
316 are deemed eligible for SkillBridge participation by their
317 military command with training opportunities offered by the
318 corporation or participating businesses, with the intent of
319 having them transitioning servicemembers achieve gainful
320 employment in this state upon completion of their SkillBridge
321 training.
322 (g) Assist veterans and their spouses in accessing
323 training, education, and employment in health care professions.
324 (h) Coordinate with the Office of Veteran Licensure
325 Services within the Department of Health to assist veterans and
326 their spouses in obtaining licensure pursuant to s. 456.024.
327 (5) COLLABORATION.—The corporation may assist state
328 agencies and entities with recruiting veteran talent into their
329 workforce. The corporation is encouraged to, and may collaborate
330 with state agencies and other entities in efforts to, maximize
331 access to and provide information on one website that, if
332 possible, includes hyperlinks to the websites of and contact
333 information, if available, for state agencies and other entities
334 that maintain benefits, services, training, education, and other
335 resources that are available to veterans and their spouses.
336 (a) Outreach, information exchange, marketing, and
337 referrals between agencies, entities, and the corporation
338 regarding programs and initiatives that may be conducted
339 include, but are not limited to, the Veterans Employment and
340 Training Services Program and those within any of the following:
341 1. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs:
342 a. Access to benefits and assistance programs.
343 b. Hope Navigators Program.
344 2. The Department of Commerce:
345 a. The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program and Local Veteran
346 Employment Representatives.
347 b. CareerSource Florida, Inc., and local workforce boards
348 employment and recruitment services.
349 c. The Quick-Response Training Program.
350 d. Select Florida.
351 3. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation,
352 reciprocity and the availability of certain license and fee
353 waivers.
354 4. The Department of Education:
355 a. CAPE industry certifications under s. 1008.44.
356 b. Information related to earning postsecondary credit at
357 public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level
358 training and education acquired in the military under s.
359 1004.096.
360 5. The Department of Health:
361 a. The Office of Veteran Licensure Services.
362 b. The Florida Veterans Application for Licensure Online
363 Response expedited licensing.
364 (b) The corporation may coordinate and collaborate with the
365 Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help, the State
366 University System, the Florida College System, the Florida
367 Defense Support Task Force, the Florida Small Business
368 Development Center Network, and the Florida Talent Development
369 Council, as necessary.
370 Section 3. Section 295.25, Florida Statutes, is created to
371 read:
372 295.25 Veterans exempt from certain filing fees.—The
373 Department of State may not charge veterans who reside in this
374 state the applicable fees for filing articles of organization,
375 articles of incorporation, a certificate of limited partnership,
376 or a partnership registration statement, or for the designation
377 of a registered agent, if applicable, as provided in s.
378 605.0213, s. 607.0122, s. 617.0122, s. 620.1109, or s.
379 620.81055.
380 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 379.353, Florida
381 Statutes, is amended to read:
382 379.353 Recreational licenses and permits; exemptions from
383 fees and requirements.—
384 (1) The commission shall issue without fee hunting,
385 freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses and permits
386 shall be issued without fee to any resident who is certified or
387 determined to be:
388 (a) To be Totally and permanently disabled for purposes of
389 workers’ compensation under chapter 440 as verified by an order
390 of a judge of compensation claims or written confirmation by the
391 carrier providing workers’ compensation benefits, or to be
392 totally and permanently disabled by the Railroad Retirement
393 Board, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or
394 its predecessor, or by any branch of the United States Armed
395 Forces, or who holds a valid identification card issued under
396 the provisions of s. 295.17, upon proof of such certification or
397 determination same. Any license issued under this paragraph
398 after January 1, 1997, expires after 5 years and must be
399 reissued, upon request, every 5 years thereafter.
400 (b) To be Disabled by the United States Social Security
401 Administration, upon proof of such certification or
402 determination same. Any license issued under this paragraph
403 after October 1, 1999, expires after 2 years and must be
404 reissued, upon proof of certification of disability, every 2
405 years thereafter.
406 (c) A disabled veteran of the United States Armed Forces
407 who was honorably discharged upon separation from service and
408 who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans
409 Affairs or its predecessor or by any branch of the United States
410 Armed Forces as having a service-connected disability percentage
411 rating of 50 percent or greater, upon proof of such
412 certification or determination. Any license issued under this
413 paragraph after July 1, 2024, expires after 5 years and must be
414 reissued, upon request, every 5 years thereafter.
415
416 A disability license issued after July 1, 1997, and before July
417 1, 2000, retains the rights vested thereunder until the license
418 has expired.
419 Section 5. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section 381.78,
420 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
421 381.78 Advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries.—
422 (1) There is created within the department a 16-member
423 advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries. The council
424 shall be composed of a minimum of:
425 (a) Two four individuals who have brain injuries or are
426 family members of individuals who have brain injuries, with one
427 individual appointed by the President of the Senate and the
428 other individual appointed by the Speaker of the House of
429 Representatives., a minimum of four
430 (b) Two individuals who have spinal cord injuries or are
431 family members of individuals who have spinal cord injuries,
432 with one individual appointed by the President of the Senate and
433 the other individual appointed by the Speaker of the House of
434 Representatives., and a minimum of
435 (c) Two individuals who represent the special needs of
436 children who have brain or spinal cord injuries, with one
437 individual appointed by the President of the Senate and the
438 other individual appointed by the Speaker of the House of
439 Representatives.
440 (d) Two individuals who have, or who are family members of
441 individuals who have or had, a traumatic brain injury, chronic
442 traumatic encephalopathy, or subconcussive impacts due to
443 sports, with one individual appointed the President of the
444 Senate and the other individual appointed by the Speaker of the
445 House of Representatives.
446 (e) Two veterans as defined in s. 1.01(14) who have or have
447 had a traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy,
448 or subconcussive impacts due to military service, or family
449 members of such veterans, with one veteran or family member
450 appointed by the President of the Senate and the other veteran
451 or family member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
452 Representatives.
453 (f) Six individuals, appointed by the State Surgeon
454 General, who are The balance of the council members shall be
455 physicians, other allied health professionals, administrators of
456 brain and spinal cord injury programs, or and representatives
457 from support groups who that have expertise in areas related to
458 the rehabilitation of individuals who have brain or spinal cord
459 injuries.
460 (2) Members of the council shall be appointed to serve by
461 the State Surgeon General. All members’ terms shall be staggered
462 terms of for 4 years. An individual may not serve more than two
463 terms. Any council member who is unwilling or unable to properly
464 fulfill the duties of the office shall be succeeded by an
465 individual chosen by the State Surgeon General to serve out the
466 unexpired balance of the replaced council member’s term. If the
467 unexpired balance of the replaced council member’s term is less
468 than 18 months, then, notwithstanding the provisions of this
469 subsection, the succeeding council member may be reappointed by
470 the State Surgeon General twice.
471 (3) The council shall meet at least quarterly and may
472 adjourn a meeting only by unanimous consent two times annually.
473 Section 6. Paragraph (u) of subsection (2) of section
474 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
475 1003.42 Required instruction.—
476 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
477 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
478 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
479 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
480 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
481 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
482 approved methods of instruction, the following:
483 (u)1. In order to encourage patriotism, the sacrifices that
484 veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made in serving our
485 country and protecting democratic values worldwide. Such
486 instruction must occur on or before Medal of Honor Day,
487 Veterans’ Day, and Memorial Day. Members of the instructional
488 staff are encouraged to use the assistance of local veterans and
489 Medal of Honor recipients when practicable.
490 2. The history and importance of Veterans’ Day and Memorial
491 Day. Such instruction must include two 45-minute lessons that
492 occur on or before the respective holidays.
493
494 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
495 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
496 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
497 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
498 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
499 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
500 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
501 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
502 288.0001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
503 288.0001 Economic Development Programs Evaluation.—The
504 Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of
505 Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)
506 shall develop and present to the Governor, the President of the
507 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
508 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees the Economic
509 Development Programs Evaluation.
510 (2) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
511 OPPAGA shall provide a detailed analysis of economic development
512 programs as provided in the following schedule:
513 (c) By January 1, 2016, and every 3 years thereafter, an
514 analysis of the following:
515 1. The tax exemption for semiconductor, defense, or space
516 technology sales established under s. 212.08(5)(j).
517 2. The Military Base Protection Program established under
518 s. 288.980.
519 3. The Quick Response Training Program established under s.
520 288.047.
521 4. The Incumbent Worker Training Program established under
522 s. 445.003.
523 5. The direct-support organization and international trade
524 and business development programs established or funded under s.
525 288.012 or s. 288.826.
526 6. The program established under s. 295.22(3) s. 295.22(2).
527 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
528 made by this act to section 379.353, Florida Statutes, in a
529 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
530 379.3581, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
531 379.3581 Hunter safety course; requirements; penalty.—
532 (2)
533 (b) A person born on or after June 1, 1975, who has not
534 successfully completed a hunter safety course may apply to the
535 commission for a special authorization to hunt under
536 supervision. The special authorization for supervised hunting
537 shall be designated on any license or permit required under this
538 chapter for a person to take game or fur-bearing animals. A
539 person issued a license with a special authorization to hunt
540 under supervision must hunt under the supervision of, and in the
541 presence of, a person 21 years of age or older who is licensed
542 to hunt pursuant to s. 379.354 or who is exempt from licensing
543 requirements or eligible for a free license pursuant to s.
544 379.353.
545 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
546 made by this act to section 379.353, Florida Statutes, in
547 references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and
548 paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 379.401, Florida
549 Statutes, are reenacted to read:
550 379.401 Penalties and violations; civil penalties for
551 noncriminal infractions; criminal penalties; suspension and
552 forfeiture of licenses and permits.—
553 (2) LEVEL TWO VIOLATIONS.—
554 (b)1. A person who commits a Level Two violation but who
555 has not been convicted of a Level Two or higher violation within
556 the past 3 years commits a misdemeanor of the second degree,
557 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
558 2. Unless the stricter penalties in subparagraph 3. or
559 subparagraph 4. apply, a person who commits a Level Two
560 violation within 3 years after a previous conviction for a Level
561 Two or higher violation commits a misdemeanor of the first
562 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with
563 a minimum mandatory fine of $250.
564 3. Unless the stricter penalties in subparagraph 4. apply,
565 a person who commits a Level Two violation within 5 years after
566 two previous convictions for a Level Two or higher violation,
567 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
568 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum mandatory
569 fine of $500 and a suspension of any recreational license or
570 permit issued under s. 379.354 for 1 year. Such suspension shall
571 include the suspension of the privilege to obtain such license
572 or permit and the suspension of the ability to exercise any
573 privilege granted under any exemption in s. 379.353.
574 4. A person who commits a Level Two violation within 10
575 years after three previous convictions for a Level Two or higher
576 violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
577 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum
578 mandatory fine of $750 and a suspension of any recreational
579 license or permit issued under s. 379.354 for 3 years. Such
580 suspension shall include the suspension of the privilege to
581 obtain such license or permit and the suspension of the ability
582 to exercise any privilege granted under s. 379.353. If the
583 recreational license or permit being suspended was an annual
584 license or permit, any privileges under ss. 379.353 and 379.354
585 may not be acquired for a 3-year period following the date of
586 the violation.
587 (3) LEVEL THREE VIOLATIONS.—
588 (b)1. A person who commits a Level Three violation but who
589 has not been convicted of a Level Three or higher violation
590 within the past 10 years commits a misdemeanor of the first
591 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
592 2. A person who commits a Level Three violation within 10
593 years after a previous conviction for a Level Three or higher
594 violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
595 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, with a minimum
596 mandatory fine of $750 and a suspension of any recreational
597 license or permit issued under s. 379.354 for the remainder of
598 the period for which the license or permit was issued up to 3
599 years. Such suspension shall include the suspension of the
600 privilege to obtain such license or permit and the ability to
601 exercise any privilege granted under s. 379.353. If the
602 recreational license or permit being suspended was an annual
603 license or permit, any privileges under ss. 379.353 and 379.354
604 may not be acquired for a 3-year period following the date of
605 the violation.
606 3. A person who commits a violation of s. 379.354(17) shall
607 receive a mandatory fine of $1,000. Any privileges under ss.
608 379.353 and 379.354 may not be acquired for a 5-year period
609 following the date of the violation.
610 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.