HB 967

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to a task force on workplace safety;
3	providing legislative intent; creating the Florida Public
4	Task Force on Workplace Safety within the University of
5	South Florida Safety Florida Consultation Program;
6	providing purpose of the task force; providing for
7	membership and staffing; providing for members to serve
8	without compensation for their services; requiring that
9	the task force address certain issues; authorizing the
10	task force to procure information or assistance from any
11	officer or agency of the state; requiring that such
12	officers or agencies provide information and assistance to
13	the task force; requiring that the task force submit a
14	report and recommendations to the Governor, the Chief
15	Financial Officer, the President of the Senate, and the
16	Speaker of the House of Representatives by a specified
17	date; requiring that the report include certain
18	information; providing for dissolution of the task force;
19	providing an effective date.
20
21	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23	Section 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to require
24	all departments and agencies of the state and all county and
25	municipal governments in the state to comply with subparts C
26	through T and subpart Z of the Occupational Safety and Health
27	Administration Standards, 29 C.F.R. s. 1910, as revised July 1,
28	1993, with the exception of those standards pertaining to
29	firefighters and fire departments that are inconsistent with any
30	rules adopted by the Office of Insurance Regulation.
31	Section 2.  (1)  The Florida Public Task Force on Workplace
32	Safety is established within the University of South Florida
33	Safety Florida Consultation Program for the purpose of
34	developing findings and issuing recommendations regarding
35	innovative ways in which the state may effectively ensure that
36	all state departments and agencies and all county and municipal
37	governments comply with subparts C through T and subpart Z of
38	the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards, 29
39	C.F.R. s. 1910, as revised July 1, 1993, with the exception of
40	those standards pertaining to firefighters and fire departments
41	that are inconsistent with any rules adopted by the Office of
42	Insurance Regulation.
43	(2)(a)  All members of the task force must be appointed on
44	or before July 15, 2008, and the task force shall hold its first
45	meeting on or before August 15, 2008.
46	(b)  The task force shall be composed of 15 members as
47	follows:
48	1.  Five members appointed by the Governor, one of whom
49	must be representative of a statewide business organization; one
50	of whom must be a representative of organized labor; one of whom
51	must be a professional whose work focuses on safety, health, and
52	environmental issues; one of whom must be a representative of
53	the executive branch of state government; and one of whom must
54	be an academic having demonstrated knowledge of issues pertinent
55	to occupational safety and health. The Governor shall name one
56	of the appointees under this subparagraph to serve as chair of
57	the task force.
58	2.  Five members appointed by the President of the Senate,
59	one of whom must be a representative of a statewide business
60	organization; one of whom must be a representative of organized
61	labor; one of whom must be a professional whose work focuses on
62	safety, health, and environmental issues; one of whom must be a
63	member of the Florida Association of Counties; and one of whom
64	must be active in private-sector business.
65	3.  Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
66	Representatives, one of whom must be a representative of a
67	statewide business organization; one of whom must be a
68	representative of organized labor; one of whom must be a
69	professional whose work focuses on safety, health, and
70	environmental issues; one of whom must be a member of the
71	Florida League of Cities; and one of whom must be active in
72	private-sector business.
73	(3)  The task force shall address issues including, but not
74	limited to:
75	(a)  Differences in the workplace safety needs of private-
76	sector employers and public-sector employers.
77	(b)  The relationship between federal and state activities
78	related to workplace safety.
79	(c)  The impact of public-sector workplace safety and
80	health on the economic-development efforts of the state.
81	(4)  The task force shall exist within the University of
82	South Florida Safety Florida Consultation Program and shall be
83	staffed with existing employees of that office.
84	(5)  Members of the task force shall serve without
85	compensation while in the performance of their duties.
86	(6)  The task force may procure information and assistance
87	from any officer or agency of the state or any subdivision
88	thereof. All such officials and agencies shall provide the task
89	force with all relevant information and assistance on any matter
90	within their knowledge or control.
91	(7)  The task force shall submit a report and
92	recommendations to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer,
93	the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
94	Representatives by January 1, 2009. The report must include any
95	specific recommendations for legislative action during the 2009
96	Regular Session of the Legislature.
97	(8)  The task force shall be dissolved upon the submission
98	of its report.
99	Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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