Scott To Sign GI Friendly Bill

March 12, 2014

A wide ranging measure that provides university tuition waivers for veterans, pays for military and National Guard base improvements and allocates $1 million a year to sell the state to veterans is headed to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk, where it is certain to get quick approval.

After awarding more than 50 service medals to veterans during a National Guard Day event in the Capitol courtyard on Tuesday, Scott, a Navy veteran, pledged to sign into law the “Florida GI Bill,” modeled after the World War II-era program.

“I’m excited that the House and Senate, they care to make sure that our military can continue their education at a price they can afford,” Scott said. “It’s a great bill and I look forward to signing it.”

The Senate unanimously approved the measure (HB 7015), a top priority of the combined 2014 “work plan” of Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford, on Tuesday. The House unanimously passed the bill on the first day of the legislative session a week ago, symbolic of its significance to the GOP leaders.

Gaetz, R-Niceville, said the “extraordinarily substantive bill” will make Florida, already home to several military bases and veterans, the “most military-friendly state in the nation.”

The package, expected to cost more than $30 million in its first year, is envisioned as a Florida version of the World War II-era GI Bill crafted to help veterans assimilate into civilian life. The costs include an anticipated $12.5 million for ongoing upgrades of the state’s National Guard facilities and $7.5 million to purchase a total of 45 acres of buffer lands around MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville and Naval Support Activity Panama City.

Meanwhile, state universities and colleges are expected to take an $11.7 million hit in waivers for out-of-state tuition charges for all honorably discharged veterans, named the Congressman C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Act after the late Pinellas County lawmaker who served more than four decades in Congress and who died last year.

Since in-state tuition, covered by the federal GI Bill, is thousands of dollars cheaper than out-of-state rates, lawmakers hope the new waivers encourage vets from outside of the state to apply to Florida schools.

“We have heard from military communities across our state who let us know Florida can do more to celebrate the service and sacrifice of our military and veterans,” said Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, one of the bill sponsors. “The Florida GI Bill is a product of this input and shows our gratitude to those who have bravely served our country and our communities.”

The proposal also requires Visit Florida to spend $1 million a year on marketing aimed at veterans, and allocate another $300,000 to a new nonprofit corporation, Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. The nonprofit, to be housed within the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, would be used to encourage vets to move to Florida and promote the hiring of vets.

The “Florida GI Bill” also expands state and local government hiring preference to veterans, members of the reserves and the Florida National Guard; exempts active duty service members’ spouses and dependents from having to obtain a Florida driver’s license if they work or are enrolled in a public school; and removes a one-year residency requirement for veterans for admission to state nursing homes.

by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott meets with members of the National Guard Tuesday in Tallahassee. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

2 Responses to “Scott To Sign GI Friendly Bill”

  1. non-vet on March 15th, 2014 8:06 am

    This just drives up tuition for non-vets. I like the principal, but I don’t like the implementation. These schools will not “take a hit”, they will pass the costs on to other students. Aid should be provided to the vets, and they use it where they want without penalty of state residency.

  2. sam on March 12th, 2014 9:29 am

    good move by the state of florida. don’t mind paying taxes for something like this.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News