Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans’ Affairs logo
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Annual budget | $110.8 million (2013-2014) |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | Florida Cabinet |
| Website | www.floridavets.org |
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) is a government agency of the state of Florida under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to.
Florida first began assisting military veterans when they returned from World War II in 1944, but it wasn’t until 1988 that a constitutional amendment was approved by Florida’s voters to create a specific agency for that purpose. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was created in 1989.
The Florida Vets First program was implemented in 2008, providing information and contacts for housing, healthcare, employment & benefits to service men and women returning from deployment. Groundbreaking for the Jacksonville National Cemetery occurred on September 12, 2008. The facility opened for interments on January 7, 2009. The new $650 million Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona broke ground on October 24, 2008.
Legislation was passed in 2009 that authorizes the Florida Commissioner of Education to award a Florida High School Diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans who interrupted their high school education to serve their country.
On June 1, 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and other dignitaries toured the Wounded Warrior Project headquarters in Jacksonville and signed Florida House Bill 509, which waived building and permitting fees for residential renovations involving safety and accessibility for disabled veterans. It also removed the limit on fees for license tags which are directed to Florida’s Veterans’ Home Trust Funds. The legislation also incorporates the U.S. Code which provides tuition and fee deferments for eligible veterans attending Florida institutions of higher learning into Florida Law.
The department is headed by an Executive Director with a Deputy Executive Director over four Divisions (Administration, Veteran’s Benefits, Information Technology and Veterans’ Homes) and three Directors (General Counsel, Legislative Affairs and Communications). An Inspector General reports directly to the Executive Director.
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