Veterans and military families can receive new educational and employment options under six bills that became law last week. Another bill recognizes the Space Force as a military service.
“We work hard in Florida to lift people up,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis during a June 9 bill signing event in Fort Walton Beach. “Providing military families with the resources they need to receive a high-quality education and find good jobs is the best way that we as a state can show our appreciation for the sacrifices that they make.”
Among the bills that became law was HB 45, a measure to provide educational opportunities to disabled veterans by dispensing additional help to reach a 100 percent award for tuition and fees.
Also, SB 420 reenacts the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children by streamlining school placement, enrollment, record transfers and verification of graduation requirements for the children of active-duty military families.
Under SB 514, job-seeking veterans may substitute their military work experience for post secondary education when they apply for civilian jobs at state agencies, and SB 896 helps veterans get jobs in education by allowing their military service to count toward a requirement for a temporary teacher certificate when they are mentored by a certified teacher.
In addition, SB 562 requires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to fast track license applications from the spouses of active-duty military.
Finally, SB 438 updates Florida’s definition of Uniformed Service to include the U.S. Space Force.
During the bill signings, DeSantis announced that CareerSource Florida and the state’s workforce agencies will dedicate $20 million in target workforce training support for Florida veterans in the fields of aviation, aerospace and defense.
“We think that the Space Force is going to have a big impact on Florida,” DeSantis said.
SB 430 and SB 438 became immediately effective upon DeSantis’ signature. HB 45, SB 514, SB 896 and SB 526 go into effect on July 1.
