Florida Senate - 2013                                     SB 382
       
       
       
       By Senator Soto
       
       
       
       
       14-00238-13                                            2013382__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to daylight saving time; providing a
    3         short title; exempting the State of Florida and its
    4         political subdivisions from daylight saving time;
    5         requiring that the state and all of its political
    6         subdivisions observe standard time; authorizing each
    7         district school board to adjust school start times due
    8         to the exemption from daylight saving time;
    9         authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
   10         Services to study adjustments in standard agricultural
   11         practices due to the exemption from daylight saving
   12         time; providing an effective date.
   13  
   14         WHEREAS, the Uniform Time Act of 1966, 15 U.S.C. s. 260(a),
   15  mandates a uniform and coordinated system of observing time
   16  throughout the United States, including the observance of
   17  daylight saving time from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March
   18  until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November of each year, and
   19         WHEREAS, states may exempt themselves from daylight saving
   20  time by legislative act and by opting to observe only standard
   21  time throughout the state, and
   22         WHEREAS, Florida’s sunshine is an essential economic asset
   23  and part of this state’s quality of life, and
   24         WHEREAS, additional sunshine would have a positive economic
   25  impact on numerous businesses throughout the state, and
   26         WHEREAS, district school boards are capable within their
   27  discretion to adjust school start times to ensure student
   28  safety, and
   29         WHEREAS, this state’s agricultural industry no longer
   30  requires daylight saving time for increased productivity, NOW,
   31  THEREFORE,
   32  
   33  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   34  
   35         Section 1. (1) This section may be cited as the “Sunshine
   36  Protection Act.”
   37         (2) Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. s. 260(a), this state exempts
   38  itself and all of its political subdivisions from observation of
   39  daylight saving time, between 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in
   40  March and 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November of each
   41  calendar year, and the entire state and all of its political
   42  subdivisions shall observe the standard time that is otherwise
   43  applicable during that time period.
   44         (3) Each district school board may adjust school start
   45  times based on student safety and available daylight as a result
   46  of this section.
   47         (4) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may
   48  study adjustments in standard agricultural practices as a result
   49  of this section.
   50         Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2014.