Title: Veterans' Affairs

Summary: Expands the definition of "veteran" for purposes of construction of the Florida Statutes. Provides educational opportunity at state expense for dependent children of military personnel who die or suffer certain disability in specified military operations.

Full Text:
An act relating to veterans  affairs; amending s. 1.01, F.S.; expanding the definition of the term  veteran  for purposes of construction of the Florida Statutes; amending s. 295.0185, F.S.; providing educational opportunity at state expense for dependent children of military personnel who die or suffer certain disability in specified military operations; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (14) of section 1.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1.01 Definitions. In construing these statutes and each and every word, phrase, or part hereof, where the context will permit: (14) The term  veteran  means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions only or who later received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions, notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with other than honorable discharges. To receive benefits as a wartime veteran, a veteran must have served in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or a veteran must have served during one of the following periods of wartime service: (a) Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898, to July 4, 1902, and including the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion. (b) Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, to April 5, 1917, in the case of a veteran who during such period served in Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent thereto. (c) World War I: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; extended to April 1, 1920, for those veterans who served in Russia; also extended through July 1, 1921, for those veterans who served after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, provided such veterans had at least day of service between April 5, 1917, and November 12, 1918. (d) World War II: December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. (e) Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955. (f) Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975. (g) Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, to January 2, 1992. (h) Operation Enduring Freedom: October 7, 2001, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law. (i) Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 19, 2003, to August 1, 2010 and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law.(j) Operation New Dawn: September 1, 2010, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law. Section 2. Section 295.0185, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 295.0185 Children of deceased or disabled military personnel who die or become disabled in Operation Enduring Freedom,or Operation Iraqi Freedom,or Operation New Dawn;educational opportunity.  (1) (a)  It is declared to be the policy of the state to provide educational opportunity at state expense for the dependent children of those military personnel who die or suffer a service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or who are determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of percent and are in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, while participating in any of the following military operations, if such military personnel have been residents of the state during the period of military action: 1.  Operation Enduring Freedom, which began on October 7, 2001;, or while participating in 2.  Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003, and ended August 31, 2010; or 3. Operation New Dawn, which began on September 1, 2010 if such military personnel have been residents of the state during the period of military action.(b) Any of the following constitutes prima facie evidence that the dependent children of military personnel under paragraph (a) are eligible for educational benefits: 1.  A certified copy of a death certificate;, 2.  A valid identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of s. 295.17;, 3.  A letter certifying the service-connected 100-percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;, or 4.  A letter certifying the service-connected total and permanent disability rating of percent for retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services is prima facie evidence that the dependent children of such military personnel are eligible for educational benefits.(2) Sections 295.03, 295.04, 295.05, and 1009.40 apply. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.