Florida governor signs
pro-military legislation
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush signed several pro-military bills into law June 4 in a ceremony at Florida National Guard headquarters in St. Augustine.
Bush signed Senate Bill 1098 that allows servicemembers to terminate a variety of agreements, contracts and leases if called to active duty or transferred from their current duty station. Some of the provisions of the new law allow servicemembers to legally cancel car leases, cell phone contracts, residential rental leases and real estate purchase contracts when they are deployed.
It also allows military personnel to renew their motor vehicle and mobile home registrations without penalty for registrations that expire while on active duty.
In the education arena, deploying and transferring servicemembers can now also request an extension to the period of eligibility for their Bright Futures scholarships.
Bush also signed Senate Bill 684 that provides workers' compensation coverage to Florida National Guard soldiers when called to active duty, and clarifies his power to activate the guard in an emergency.
He also signed Senate Bills 640 and 1954 creating specialty license plates to honor the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and U.S. Paratroopers. Proceeds from the sales of these plates will be distributed to the State Homes for Veterans Trust Fund. The Marine Corps already has a specialty tag.
Bush has been positioning the state as military friendly in light of the upcoming work of the 2005 Base Closing and Realignment Commission. He appointed a 17-member panel of business leaders, politicians and former high-ranking military personnel to help stave off any base closings in The Sunshine State.
The committee is charged with showcasing the importance of Florida bases to national defense so that none of the 21 military bases and three military unified commands is closed.
Florida's military and defense-related industries create a $30 billion industry, the third-largest economic sector behind tourism and agriculture, Bush has said.
He also said a big issue in the upcoming decision about bases is how a state treats its military personnel.
Four subcommittees formed June 3, 2003, will look at bases in the state, develop a communications plan, lobby officials in Washington and work with consultants to understand the criteria that will be used to determine which bases will be closed and which will be realigned.
