Florida Senate - 2013                                     SB 734
       
       
       
       By Senator Soto
       
       
       
       
       14-00268A-13                                           2013734__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to daylight saving time; providing a
    3         short title; requiring that the State of Florida and
    4         its political subdivisions observe daylight saving
    5         time year-round; authorizing each district school
    6         board to adjust school start times due to the year
    7         round observance of daylight saving time; authorizing
    8         the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
    9         study adjustments in standard agricultural practices
   10         due to the year-round observance of daylight saving
   11         time; providing an effective date.
   12  
   13         WHEREAS, Florida’s sunshine is an essential economic asset
   14  and part of this state’s quality of life, and
   15         WHEREAS, additional sunshine would have a positive economic
   16  impact on numerous businesses throughout the state, and
   17         WHEREAS, district school boards are capable within their
   18  discretion to adjust school start times to ensure student
   19  safety, NOW, THEREFORE,
   20  
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. (1) This section may be cited as the “Sunshine
   24  Protection Act.”
   25         (2) Notwithstanding how time is advanced pursuant to 15
   26  U.S.C. s. 260(a), daylight saving time shall be the year-round
   27  standard time of the entire state and all of its political
   28  subdivisions.
   29         (3) Each district school board may adjust school start
   30  times based on student safety and available daylight as a result
   31  of this section.
   32         (4) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may
   33  study adjustments in standard agricultural practices as a result
   34  of this section.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2014.