(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and honor those military veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the State of Florida.
(2) There is established the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame.(a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame is administered by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs without appropriation of state funds.
(b) The Department of Management Services shall set aside an area on the Plaza Level of the Capitol Building along the northeast front wall and shall consult with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs regarding the design and theme of the area.
(c) Each person who is inducted into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame shall have his or her name placed on a plaque displayed in the designated area of the Capitol Building.
(3)(a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council is created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as an advisory council, as defined in s. 20.03(7), consisting of seven members who shall all be honorably discharged veterans, and at least four of whom must be members of a congressionally chartered veterans service organization. The Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall each appoint one member. For the purposes of ensuring staggered terms, the council members appointed by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall be appointed to 4-year terms beginning on January 1 of the year of appointment, and the council members appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall be appointed to 2-year terms beginning on January 1 of the year of appointment. After the initial appointments, all appointees shall be appointed to 4-year terms. A member whose term expires shall continue to serve on the council until such time as a replacement is appointed. (b) The members shall annually elect a chair from among their number. The council shall meet at the call of its chair, at the request of the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or at such times as may be prescribed by the council. A majority of the members of the council currently appointed constitutes a quorum, and a meeting may not be held unless a quorum is present. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the council present is necessary for any official action by the council.
(c) Members of the council may not receive compensation or honorarium for their services. Members may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in s. 112.061; however, no state funds may be used for this purpose. (d) The original appointing authority may remove his or her appointee from the council for misconduct or malfeasance in office, neglect of duty, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties or if the member is adjudicated guilty of a felony.
(4)(a) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council shall annually accept nominations of persons to be considered for induction into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame and shall transmit a list of up to 20 nominees to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for submission to the Governor and the Cabinet, who will select the nominees to be inducted.
(b) In selecting its nominees for submission to the Governor and the Cabinet, the council shall give preference to veterans who were born in Florida or adopted Florida as their home state or base of operation and who have made a significant contribution to the state in civic, business, public service, or other pursuits.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term “veteran” or “military veteran” means a person who meets the definition of the term in s. 1.01(14) or a former member of the Florida National Guard. (5) The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council may establish criteria and set specific time periods for acceptance of nominations and for the process of selection of nominees for membership and establish a formal induction ceremony to coincide with the annual commemoration of Veterans’ Day.
