Military Impersonation Bill Earns Unanimous Passage Through Senate Committee

From the Senate Democrats:

Landmark legislation sponsored by Senator Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) fighting impersonation of military veterans was unanimously passed by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1824 – which earned a 10-0 vote in the committee – would make it a felony to misrepresent oneself as a veteran or member of the U.S. Armed Forces in order to collect donations from the public. In many of Florida’s major cities, paid solicitors are dressed in military combat uniforms and stationed on street corners and at retail stores, asking motorists and shoppers for contributions.

“This is a critical first step towards passage, and I thank my colleagues for joining me in standing up for our veterans all across Florida,” said Senator Gelber. “The unanimous vote just goes to show that impersonating our veterans for personal enrichment won’t be tolerated.”

The bill next heads to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for a hearing.