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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to workplace safety; creating the Florida

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Public Task Force on Workplace Safety within the Safety

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Florida Consultation Program at the University of South

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Florida; providing purpose of the task force; providing

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for membership; requiring that the task force address

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certain issues concerning workplace safety in the public

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and private sectors; providing for staffing; providing for

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members to serve without compensation but to be reimbursed

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for per diem and travel expenses; authorizing the task

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force to procure information or assistance from any

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officer or agency of the state; requiring that such

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officers or agencies provide information and assistance to

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the task force; requiring that the task force submit a

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report and recommendations to the Governor, the Chief

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Financial Officer, and the Legislature by a specified

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date; requiring that the report include certain

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information; providing for dissolution of the task force;

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providing an appropriation; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. (1) The Florida Public Task Force on Workplace

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Safety is established within the Safety Florida Consultation

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Program at the University of South Florida for the purpose of

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developing findings and issuing recommendations regarding

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innovative ways by which the state may effectively ensure that

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each state department and agency and each county government and

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municipality located in the state complies with subparts C

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through T and subpart Z of the Occupational Safety and Health

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Administration Standards, 29 C.F. R. s. 1910, as revised July 1,

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1993, with the exception of those standards pertaining to

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firefighters and fire departments which are inconsistent with any

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rules adopted by the office.

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     (2)(a) All members of the task force shall be appointed on

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or before July 15, 2008, and the task force shall hold its first

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meeting on or before August 15, 2008.

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     (b) The task force shall be composed of 15 members as

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follows:

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     1. Five members appointed by the Governor, one of whom must

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be a representative of a statewide business organization; one of

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whom must be a representative of organized labor; one of whom

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must be a professional whose work focuses on safety, health, and

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environmental issues; one of whom must be a representative of the

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executive branch of state government; and one of whom must be an

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academic having demonstrated knowledge of pertinent issues

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related to occupational safety and health. The Governor shall

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name one of the appointees under this subparagraph as chair of

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the task force.

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     2. Five members appointed by the President of the Senate,

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one of whom must be a representative of a statewide business

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organization; one of whom must be a representative of organized

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labor; one of whom must be a professional whose work focuses on

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safety, health, and environmental issues; one of whom must be

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from the Florida Association of Counties; and one of whom must be

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active in private-sector business.

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     3. Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives, one of whom must be a representative of a

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statewide business organization; one of whom must be a

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representative of organized labor; one of whom must be a

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professional whose work focuses on safety, health, and

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environmental issues; one of who must be from the Florida League

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of Cities; and one of whom must be active in private-sector

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business.

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     (3) The task force shall address issues, including, but not

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limited to:

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     (a) Differences in the workplace safety needs of private-

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sector employers and public-sector employers;

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     (b) The relationship between federal and state activities

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related to workplace safety; and

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     (c) The effect of public-sector workplace safety and health

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on the economic-development efforts of the state.

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     (4) The task force shall exist within the University of

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South Florida Safety Florida Consultation Program, and existing

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employees of that office shall provide staff support.

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     (5) Members of the task force shall serve without

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compensation while in the performance of their duties, but are

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entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses in

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accordance with s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.

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     (6) The task force may procure information and assistance

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from any officer or agency of the state or any subdivision

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thereof. All such officials and agencies shall give the task

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force all relevant information and assistance on any matter

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within their knowledge or control.

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     (7) The task force shall submit a report and

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recommendations to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, the

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President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives by January 1, 2009. The report must include any

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specific recommendations for legislative action during the 2009

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Regular Session of the Legislature.

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     (8) The task force is dissolved upon the submission of its

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report.

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     Section 2. The sum of $100,000 in nonrecurring funds is

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appropriated from the Worker's Compensation Administration Trust

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Fund in the Department of Financial Services for transfer to the

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University of South Florida for the 2008-2009 fiscal year for the

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purpose of implementing the Florida Public Task Force on

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Workplace Safety.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.