CS/HB 469 - Recognition of Military Personnel and Veterans

• Creates the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Council within the Department of Veterans' Affairs consisting of seven honorably discharged veterans, with at least four members from congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.

• Council members are appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with initial staggered terms of 2 or 4 years and subsequent 4-year terms.

• Transfers nomination and selection responsibilities for the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame from the Department to the Council, which shall annually accept nominations and recommend up to 20 nominees to the Governor and Cabinet for final selection.

• Designates August 7 of each year as "Purple Heart Day" and authorizes the Governor to issue annual proclamations encouraging public officials, schools, organizations, and residents to honor those wounded or killed in military service.

• Effective date is July 1, 2012.