Title: Veterans' Charitable Organizations or Sponsors

Summary: Provides that is it unlawful for person in connection with planning, conduct, or execution of solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to falsely state that he or she is member of or represents veterans' charitable organization or sponsor in certain circumstances or is member of or represents law enforcement or emergency service organization; subjects violators to penalties.

Full Text:
An act relating to veterans' charitable organizations or sponsors; amending s. 496.415, F.S.; providing that is it unlawful for a person in connection with the planning, conduct, or execution of a solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to falsely state that he or she is a member of or represents a veterans' charitable organization or sponsor in certain circumstances or is a member of or represents a law enforcement or emergency service organization; subjecting violators to penalties; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsections (7) through (17) of section 496.415, Florida Sta tutes, are renumbered as subsections (8) through (18), respectively, a new subsection (7) is added to that section, and subsection (6) of that section is amended, to read: 496.415 Prohibited acts.-It is unlawful for any person in connection with the plan ning, conduct, or execution of any solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to: (6) Falsely state that he or she is a member of or represents a veterans' charitable organization or sponsor that exists primarily for the benefit of veterans or their families if: (a) The organization is not registered with the department CS/HB 1077 2013 as required under s. 496.405; (b) Having registered under s. 496.405, the organization did not describe in its registration statement a manner of applying percent or more of its contributions to benefit veterans or their families, including a general description of the benefit provided to veterans and their families; or (c) Having registered under s. 496.405 and having described in its registration statement a manner of applying 36 percent or more of its contributions to benefit veterans or their families, including a general description of the benefit to veterans and their families, the organization failed to apply the contributions received in a manner consistent with the description in the registration statement. For purposes of this subsection, to solicit contributions from another person or organization while wearing the uniform, regardless of whether rank insignia is displayed, of a member of the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, or the National Guard, if such person is not, or has never been entitled to wear such uniform either through enlistment or commission in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, with the intent to deceive persons that he or she is a member of or represents a veterans' charitable organization or sponsor, constitutes a false statement. (7) Falsely state that he or she is a member of or represents a law enforcement or emergency service organization,or falsely state or represent that he or she is a member of or CS/HB 1077 2013 represents the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, the Nationa lGuard, or a law enforcement or emergency service organization.Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.