Executive Office of the Governor

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

WHEREAS, the United States of America was founded on the principles of liberty, freedom, and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001 the United States was subject to acts of war perpetrated against civilians by terrorists; and

WHEREAS, in response to these acts of terror, the President of the United States has mobilized forces under Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Stabilization 4, Operation KFOR, and other mobilizations necessary to the war on terrorism; and

WHEREAS, the men and women of our armed forces are continuing to be called upon to defend America and our valued freedom, to fight global terrorism, and to confront additional threats of catastrophic violence posed by the war on terrorism and the reconstruction and restoration of peace and stability to the world; and

WHEREAS, many of these American soldiers called to duty to defend our liberties are full-time State of Florida employees whose civilian pay exceeds their military compensation; and

WHEREAS, the families of these soldiers, defending liberties enjoyed by all, may face undue financial hardship in addition to the pain of separation; and

WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has provided in sections 115.09 and 115.14, Florida Statutes, that all officials and employees of the state, counties and municipalities or political subdivisions of the state may receive full civilian pay in addition to their military pay for the first 30 days of their active duty, and may thereafter receive the pay necessary to raise their military pay to the level of their civilian pay and continue their existing benefits.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEB BUSH, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby direct all agencies under my jurisdiction to implement the provisions of Florida's military service compensation law for all employees called to active duty as a result of the war on terrorism and to take such actions that are necessary and appropriate to implement these provisions. I strongly encourage all other state agencies, counties, municipalities and political subdivisions of the state to likewise implement the provisions of the reservist compensation law for their employees. I encourage private employers, to the extent they are able, to take similar actions to make whole those people called to active duty as a result of the war on terrorism.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor of the State of Florida has hereunto subscribed his name and have caused the official seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee this 12th day of September, 2003.