Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed a pair of veterans-focused bills. He held the signing ceremony Tuesday at Jacksonville’s National Guard armory.
The measures are meant to make it easier for vets and active duty service members to get an education and a job.
The first new law waives some fees and requirements for state professional licenses, including dentistry and mortgage lending. Military spouses will also be eligible.
The second allows state universities and colleges to waive fees for labs and recreation, among other things, for current service members who are on tuition assistance.
Scott said there are reasons so many veterans decide to stay in the state.
“These bills are just a few of the many ways that Florida is working to remain the most military- and veteran-friendly state in the nation. I’m also proud to announce my support for a constitutional revision commission proposed amendment to the state constitution, which will hopefully be on the ballot in November,” he said. “It will provide free tuition to the families of fallen state law enforcement officers and military members.”
The revision commission is still mulling which proposals it’ll send to voters during the next election. If the proposal is approved by the commission and voters, it would provide 100 percent college tuition for children whose police or military parents were killed in the line of duty.
Another measure that would have created a parallel system of health care, kind of like a state-run VA, did not make it to the governor’s desk. It was withdrawn before the end of the legislative session.
Reporter Ryan Benk can be reached at rbenk@wjct.org, 904-358-6319 or on Twitter @RyanMichaelBenk
