JR-17S-3079: Support for Florida State House Bill 25 Whereas: the Student Government Of

JR-17S-3079: Support for Florida State House Bill 25

Whereas: The Student Government of the University of North Florida was established to represent student concerns in all University wide matters, and;

Whereas: The Senate is the legislative body of the University of North Florida’s Student Government given the responsibility of carrying out such legislative acts that are necessary and proper for the Student Body of the University of North Florida; and;

Whereas: The University of North Florida has a large population of military veterans. 1 in every 14 UNF students is a military veteran.

Whereas: The state of Florida is the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, with over 1.5 million veterans.

Whereas: In the past decade, the University of North Florida has strongly supported military veterans. In 2009 the Military and Veterans Resource Center was established at the UNF to serve as the center point entry for veterans and their families as they navigate the civilian and academic worlds.

Whereas: House Bill (H.B.) 25, introduced by Representative Kionne L. McGhee, proposes an annual sales tax holiday for veterans of the United States Armed Forces; specifying items that are eligible for the sales tax holiday; defining the term "veteran" for purposes of the sales tax holiday; specifying tax treatment of layaways, exchanges, and Internet sales; specifying reporting requirements of retailers; authorizing the Department of Revenue to adopt emergency rules; providing an effective date.

Whereas: The tax holiday would greatly benefit a large majority of students at the University of North Florida.

Whereas: H.B. 25 would, in effect, allow veterans of the United States Armed Forces to be temporarily relieved of financial burden so they may purchase items that are not found on military bases (items purchased at commissaries on military bases are already tax free) tax free.

Therefore: Let it be resolved that the Student Government of the University of North Florida supports House Bill 25 by Representative Kionne L. McGhee, and strongly encourages the Florida House of Representatives to vote in favor this bill. Should it pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate, we urge Governor Rick Scott to support the bill, especially on behalf of the veterans of the Florida Public State University System.

Furthermore: Upon passage, this document shall be forwarded to the President of the University of North Florida, John Delaney, the Vice-President for Student and International Affairs, Mauricio Gonzalez, the Director of Military and Veterans Resource Center, Ray Wikstrom, the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, and Florida State Representative, Kionne L. McGhee.