Title: 40th Anniversary/U.S. End of Involvement/Vietnam

Summary: Designates March 25, 2013, the 40th anniversary of the end of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam Was, as a legal holiday. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to administratively promote and support the efforts of counties, municipalities, and veterans' organizations that voluntarily hold special community events commemorating such anniversary and subsequent observances of Vietnam Veterans' Day. Creates the Vietnam Veterans license plate, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, March 29, 2013, marks the 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War, and WHEREAS, because March 29, 2013, falls on Good Friday, an existing legal holiday, March 25, 2013, has been designated as the date on which the 40th anniversary of the end of the United States  involvement in the Vietnam War is to be commemorated in the State of Florida, and WHEREAS, it is the intent of this act to provide legislative direction and support for recognition of the importance of this event and to ensure the appropriate commemoration of this anniversary and proper demonstration of appreciation for the honorable service and tremendous sacrifice of veterans who served in the United States Armed Services during the Vietnam Era, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (v) is added to subsection (1) of section 683.01, Florida Statutes, to read: 683.01 Legal holidays.  (1) The legal holidays, which are also public holidays, are the following: (v) The 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War, March 25, 2013. Section 2. Section 683.025, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 683.025  Vietnam Veterans  Day; 40th anniversary of end of United States  involvement in Vietnam War.  (1) In recognition of the historical significance of the 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War, March 25, 2013, shall be observed as the 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War. The day shall be suitably observed for the purpose of providing opportunities throughout the state to demonstrate and express appreciation for the honorable service and sacrifice of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era and shall otherwise be suitably observed by such public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate and as provided by rules of the Department of Veterans  Affairs adopted under s. 292.075.(2) Commencing on March 29, 2014, the Governor shall proclaim March of each year to be  Vietnam Veterans  Day,  which day shall be suitably observed throughout the state as a day honoring the veterans who served in the United States Armed Services during the Vietnam Era, and which day shall otherwise be suitably observed by such public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate and as provided by rules of the Department of Veterans  Affairs adopted under s. 292.075.If in any calendar year March falls on a day which is not a school day,  Vietnam Veterans  Day  shall be observed in the schools on the school day next preceding or on such preceding day as may be designated by local school authorities. (3) The purpose of Vietnam Veterans  Day is to provide a proper demonstration of appreciation for the honorable service and sacrifice of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era. Section 3. Section 292.075, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 292.075  Vietnam Veterans  Day; commemoration of 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War.  (1) The department shall administratively promote and support the efforts of counties, municipalities, and bona fide veterans  organizations that voluntarily hold special community events commemorating: (a) The 40th anniversary of the end of the United States  involvement in the Vietnam War on March 25, 2013, as provided in s. 683.025 (1). (b) Vietnam Veterans  Day, commencing on March 29, 2014, and observed on March annually thereafter, as provided in s. 683.025 (2). Such events shall include, but not be limited to, parades or ceremonies held on those dates. (2) The department shall adopt rules for the: (a) Solicitation of private donations to fund grants to counties, municipalities, and bona fide veterans  organizations that voluntarily hold commemorative activities contemplated by this section and s. 683.025 for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations with respect to such activities and major expenditures of private funds raised in support thereof. (b) Creation of a special volunteer advisory board, consisting of Vietnam veterans who are residents of the state, for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations with respect to the activities contemplated by this section and s. 683.025 and major expenditures of private funds raised in support thereof. Section 4. Paragraph (aaaa) is added to subsection (4) of section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, to read: 320.08056 Specialty license plates.  (4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be collected for the appropriate specialty license plates: (aaaa) Vietnam Veterans license plate, $25. Section 5. Subsection (79) is added to section 320.08058, Florida Statutes, to read: 320.08058 Specialty license plates.  (79) VIETNAM VETERANS LICENSE PLATE.  (a) The department shall develop a Vietnam Veterans license plate as provided in this section. Vietnam Veterans license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word  Florida  must appear at the top of the plate, and the words  Vietnam Veterans  must appear at the bottom of the plate. (b) The license plate annual use fees must be deposited in the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund of the Department of Veterans  Affairs. All such moneys are to be administered by the direct-support organization of the Department of Veterans  Affairs created under s. 292.055,the Florida Veterans  Foundation, and must be used solely for the purposes of: 1. Funding grants to counties, municipalities, and bona fide veterans  organizations for activities related to the initial observance of  Vietnam Veterans  Day,  on March 25, 2013, the 40th anniversary of the end of United States  involvement in the Vietnam War; 2. Expenditures related to the annual observance of Vietnam Veterans  Day in years subsequent to 2013; and 3. The continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate, subject to the requirements of chapter 216. Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.