CS/CS/HB 967

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to workplace safety; creating the Florida
3Public Task Force on Workplace Safety within the Safety
4Florida Consultation Program at the University of South
5Florida; providing the purpose of the task force;
6providing for membership; requiring that the task force
7address certain issues concerning workplace safety in the
8public and private sectors; providing for staffing;
9providing for members to serve without compensation but to
10be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses;
11authorizing the task force to procure information or
12assistance from any officer or agency of the state;
13requiring that such officers or agencies provide
14information and assistance to the task force; requiring
15that the task force submit a report and recommendations to
16the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, and the
17Legislature by a specified date; requiring that the report
18include certain information; providing for dissolution of
19the task force; providing an appropriation; providing an
20effective date.
21
22Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24     Section 1.  (1)  The Florida Public Task Force on Workplace
25Safety is established within the Safety Florida Consultation
26Program at the University of South Florida for the purpose of
27developing findings and issuing recommendations regarding
28innovative ways by which the state may effectively ensure that
29each state department and agency and each county government and
30municipality located in the state complies with subparts C
31through T and subpart Z of the Occupational Safety and Health
32Administration Standards, 29 C.F.R. s. 1910, as revised July 1,
331993, with the exception of standards pertaining to firefighters
34and fire departments.
35     (2)(a)  All members of the task force shall be appointed on
36or before July 15, 2008, and the task force shall hold its first
37meeting on or before August 15, 2008.
38     (b)  The task force shall be composed of 15 members as
39follows:
40     1.  Five members appointed by the Governor, one of whom
41must be a representative of a statewide business organization;
42one of whom must be a representative of organized labor; one of
43whom must be a professional whose work focuses on safety,
44health, and environmental issues; one of whom must be a
45representative of the executive branch of state government; and
46one of whom must be an academic having demonstrated knowledge of
47pertinent issues related to occupational safety and health. The
48Governor shall name one of the appointees under this
49subparagraph as chair of the task force.
50     2.  Five members appointed by the President of the Senate,
51one of whom must be a representative of a statewide business
52organization; one of whom must be a representative of organized
53labor; one of whom must be a professional whose work focuses on
54safety, health, and environmental issues; one of whom must be
55from the Florida Association of Counties; and one of whom must
56be active in private-sector business.
57     3.  Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
58Representatives, one of whom must be a representative of a
59statewide business organization; one of whom must be a
60representative of organized labor; one of whom must be a
61professional whose work focuses on safety, health, and
62environmental issues; one of whom must be from the Florida
63League of Cities; and one of whom must be active in private-
64sector business.
65     (3)  The task force shall address issues including, but not
66limited to:
67     (a)  Differences in the workplace safety needs of private-
68sector employers and public-sector employers;
69     (b)  The relationship between federal and state activities
70related to workplace safety; and
71     (c)  The effect of public-sector workplace safety and
72health on the economic-development efforts of the state.
73     (4)  The task force shall exist within the University of
74South Florida Safety Florida Consultation Program, and existing
75employees of that office shall provide staff support.
76     (5)  Members of the task force shall serve without
77compensation while in the performance of their duties but are
78entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses in
79accordance with s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
80     (6)  The task force may procure information and assistance
81from any officer or agency of the state or any subdivision
82thereof. All such officers and agencies shall provide the task
83force with all relevant information and assistance on any matter
84within their knowledge or control.
85     (7)  The task force shall submit a report and
86recommendations to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer,
87the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
88Representatives by January 1, 2009. The report must include any
89specific recommendations for legislative action during the 2009
90Regular Session of the Legislature.
91     (8)  The task force is dissolved upon the submission of its
92report.
93     Section 2.  For the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, the sum of
94$75,000 in nonrecurring general revenue is appropriated to the
95University of South Florida to pay the per diem and travel
96expenses of members of the Florida Public Task Force on
97Workplace Safety and to pay for the staff support specified in
98this act.
99     Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.