The joint resolution proposes an amendment to s. 6, Art. VII of the State Constitution to expand the eligibility of the combat-related disabled veterans’ homestead property tax discount to include those veterans who were not Florida residents when they entered the military. If the joint resolution is adopted, a disabled veteran age 65 or older applying for the discount will no longer be required to provide proof that he or she was a Florida resident at the time of entering the United States military, but would still need to prove that the disability was combat-related and that he or she was honorably discharged. A disabled veteran who qualifies for this homestead property tax discount receives a discount equal to the veteran’s percentage of disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Section 32 is added to Art. XII of the State Constitution to provide that if adopted by the voters, the expanded eligibility for the combat-related disabled veterans’ homestead property tax exemption shall take effect January 1, 2013.