Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety
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SB 1464 — Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety
Last action — Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 1095
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety; Revising and providing noncriminal violations relating to the transportation of certain hazardous materials; requiring certain persons to transmit an incident report to the State Fire Marshal; providing that certain incident reports must be investigated by the State Fire Marshal or his or her agents; requiring Sunshine State One-Call of Florida, Inc., to review certain reports and complaints, etc.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
459 added · 421 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of SB 1464 introduces a clearer definition of "permanent marker" and streamlines how violations related to hazardous materials are handled. Notably, it gives the State Fire Marshal and local officials more authority to issue citations and impose penalties for certain infractions. These changes matter because they aim to improve safety regulations related to underground facilities and ensure quicker response times to incidents, thereby enhancing overall public safety.
Florida Senate - 2020 CS for CS for SB 1464 By the CommitteesCommittee on BankingInfrastructure and Insurance;Security;
and InfrastructureSenator Flores 596-02649-20 20201464c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to underground facility damage prevention and Security;safety;
and Senator Flores 597-03515-20 20201464c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to underground facility damage prevention and safety;
defining the term “permanent marker” andfor consolidatingpurposes otherof definitionsthe fromUnderground throughoutFacility theDamage chapter;Prevention and Safety Act;
revising noncriminal violations and providing noncriminal violations relating to the transportation of certain hazardous materials;
authorizing the State Fire Marshal or hislocal orfire herchief agents to issue certain citations;
providing civilcriminal penaltiespenalties; relating to removing or damaging a permanent marker;
movingproviding andthat consolidatingcertain definitionsincident toreports must be submitted to, and investigated by, the definitionState sectionFire forMarshal, the chapter;local fire chief, a local or state law enforcement officer, a government code inspector, or a code enforcement officer;
providingauthorizing thatthe certainState incidentFire reportsMarshal, mustthe belocal submittedfire to,chief, anda investigatedlocal by,or thestate Statelaw Fireenforcement Marshalofficer, ora hisgovernment code inspector, or hera agents;code enforcement officer to issue citations and civil penalties;
authorizing the State Fire Marshal or his or her agents to issue citations and civil penalties;
requiring written warnings for certain noncriminal infractions;
providing for an enhanced penalty upon conviction for a failure to respond;
requiringcreating Sunshinean Stateunderground One-Callfacility damage prevention review panel under the Division of Florida,State Inc.,Fire toMarshal reviewwithin certainthe reportsDepartment andof complaints;Financial Services;
requiringproviding theduties corporationand tomembership identifyof areasthe forreview additionalpanel; education and recommend solutions;
requiringspecifying anthe annualterm reportlimits toof the Governorreview andpanel; the Legislature;
requiring the Division of State Fire Marshal to provide support to the review panel;
providing that members of the panel serve without reimbursement or compensation;
3436 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
3638 Section 1. Present1. Subsections subsections (8) and (9) through (14) of section 556.102, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (10) and (12) through (17),(15), respectively, and a new subsectionssubsection (8),(9) (9),is and (11) are added to that section, to read:
(8) “High-priority(9) “Permanent subsurfacemarker” installation” means ana undergroundclearly gasvisible transmissionindication orof gasthe distributionapproximate pipeline,location orof an underground pipelinefacility usedwhich tois transportmade gasoline,of jetmaterial fuel,that or any other refined petroleum product or hazardous or highly volatile liquid, such as anhydrous ammonia or carbon dioxide, if the pipeline is deemeddurable toin benature critical by the operator of the pipeline and which is identifiedreasonably asexpected a high-priority subsurface installation to anremain excavatorin whoposition hasfor providedthe alife notice of intentthe tounderground excavatefacility. under to s.
556.105(1), or would have been identified as a high-priority subsurface installation except for the excavator’s failure to give proper notice of intent to excavate.
(9) “Incident” means an event that involves damage to a high-priority subsurface installation that has been identified as such by the operator according to the notification procedures set forth in s.
556.116(1) and that:
1. Results in death or serious bodily injury requiring inpatient hospitalization.
2. Results in property damage, including service restoration costs, in an amount in excess of $50,000 or interruption of service to 2,500 or more customers.
(11) “Permanent marker” means a clearly visible indication of the approximate location of an underground facility which is made of material that is durable in nature and which is reasonably expected to remain in position for the life of the underground facility.
b. Sectionb.2. Section 556.105(5)(c),556.105(6), relating to excavationthe practicesavoidance inof toleranceexcavation. zones.
c.2. Sectionc.3. Section 556.105(6),556.105(11), relating to the avoidanceneed to stop excavation or demolition because marks are no longer visible, or, in the case of excavation.underwater facilities, are inadequately documented.
d.3. Sectiond.4. Section 556.105(11),556.105(12), relating to the need to stopcease excavation or demolition activities because marksof arecontact noor longerdamage visible,to or,an inunderground thefacility. case of underwater facilities, are inadequately documented.
e.4. Sectione.5. Section 556.105(12),556.105(5)(a) and (b), relating to theidentification needof tounderground ceasefacilities, excavationif ora demolitionmember activitiesoperator becausedoes ofnot contactmark oran damageunderground tofacility, but not if a member operator marks an underground facility.facility incorrectly.
f.5. Sectionf.6. Section 556.105(5)(a)556.109(2), and (b), relating to identificationfalsely ofnotifying undergroundthe facilities,system ifof a member operator does not mark an undergroundemergency facility,situation butor notcondition. if a member operator marks an underground facility incorrectly.
g.6. Sectiong.7. Section 556.109(2),556.114(1), (2), (3), and (4), relating to falselya notifyingfailure theto systemfollow oflow-impact anmarking emergencypractices, situationas ordefined condition.therein.
h.7. Section2. Violations 556.114(1),of (2),the (3),following andprovisions (4),when relatingrelated to aan failureunderground topipe followor low-impactother markingunderground practices,facility astransporting definedhazardous therein.materials that are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation are noncriminal infractions, subject to enhanced civil penalties under paragraph (c):
2. Violations of the following provisions involving an underground facility transporting hazardous materials that are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation are noncriminal infractions, subject to enhanced civil penalties under paragraph (c):
e. Section 556.105(12), relating to the need to cease excavation or demolition activities because of contact with or damage to an underground facility.
(b) Any excavator or member operator who commits a noncriminal infraction under paragraph (a) may be issued a citation by the State Fire MarshalMarshal; or agents as provided in ss.
633.114 and 633.116;
If a citation is issued by a state law enforcement officer, a local law enforcement officer, a local government code inspector, or a code enforcement officer, 80 percent of the civilState penaltyFire collectedMarshal; by the clerk of the court must shall be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation and 20 percent of the penalty must shall be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs, in addition to any other court costs.
the fire chief of the special district, municipality, or county;
a state law enforcement officer;, a local law enforcement officer;, a local government code inspector;, or a code enforcement officer, 80 percent of the civil penalty collected by the clerk of the court shall be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation and 20 percent of the penalty shall be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs, in addition to other court costs.
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may be required to pay an enhanced civil penalty of $2,500 plus 5 percent in addition to any other court costs for each infraction.
If a citation is issued, 80 percent of the civil penalty collected by the clerk of the court must be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation and 20 percent must be retained by the clerkState inFire additionMarshal; to any court costs.
3. Any person who willfully fails to properly respond to a citation issued under paragraph (b) shall, in addition to the citation,fire bechief charged with the offense of failing to respond to the citationspecial and,district, uponmunicipality, conviction,or commitscounty; a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
a state law enforcement officer;
a local law enforcement officer;
a local government code inspector;
or a code enforcement officer, 100 percent of the civil penalty collected by the clerk of the court shall be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation.
The additional 5 percent, plus any additional court costs, is to be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs.
Any person who willfully fails to properly respond to a citation issued under paragraph (b) shall, in addition to the citation, be charged with the offense of failing to respond to the citation and, upon conviction, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
(d) Any person cited for an infraction under paragraph (a) ormay s.post a bond, which must shall be equal in amount to the applicable civil penalty plus any additional court costs.
556.116(2)(c)(e) A mayperson postcharged with a bond,noncriminal whichinfraction mustunder shallparagraph be(a) equalmay inpay amount to the applicable civil penalty plus anythe additional court costs.costs, by mail or in person, within 30 days after the date of receiving the citation.
(e) A person charged with a noncriminal infraction under paragraph (a) or s.
556.116(2)(c) may pay the applicable civil penalty plus the additional court costs, by mail or in person, within 30 days after the date of receiving the citation.
If the commission of an infraction has been proven, the court may impose a civil penalty not to exceed the applicable civil penalty $5,000 plus court costs for each infraction.
(2) REPORT OF INFRACTIONS.—By March 31 of each year, each clerk of court shall submit a report to the State Fire Marshal and Sunshine State One-Call of Florida, Inc., listing each citation issued for a violation notice written under paragraph (1)(a) andwhich s.has been filed in that county during the preceding calendar year.
556.116(2)(c)The whichreport hasmust beenstate filedthe inname thatand countyaddress duringof the precedingmember calendaror year.excavator who committed each infraction and indicate whether or not the civil penalty for the infraction was paid.
The report must state the name and address of the member or excavator who committed each infraction, the enforcement authority, the specific statutory infraction, and the type of underground facility related to the infraction and must indicate whether or not the civil penalty for the infraction was paid.
(b) Any person who knowingly and willfully removes or damages a permanent marker that has been placed to identify the approximate location of an underground facility commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
(b) “High-priority(a)(b) “High-priority subsurface installation” means an underground gas transmission or gas distribution pipeline, an underground pipeline used to transport gasoline, jet fuel, or any other refined petroleum product or hazardous or highly volatile liquid, such as anhydrous ammonia or carbon dioxide, if the pipeline is deemed to be critical by the operator of the pipeline and is identified as a high-priority subsurface installation to an excavator who has provided a notice of intent to excavate under pursuant to s.
(c) “Incident”(b)(c) “Incident” means an event that involves damage to a high-priority subsurface installation that has been identified as such by the operator according to the notification procedures set forth in subsection (2) and that:
(2)(a)(3)(a) An(3)(a) An alleged commission of an infraction listed in s.
556.107(1) which results in an incident must be reported to the system and the State Fire Marshal by a member operator or an excavator within 24 hours after learning of the alleged occurrence of an incident.
(b) Upon receipt of an allegation that an incident has occurred, the member operator or excavator system shall transmit an incident report to the State Fire Marshal,Marshal; who shall division and contract with the division so that the division may conduct an investigation a hearing to determine whether an incident has occurred, and, if so, whether a violation of s.
the fire chief of the special district, municipality, or county;
a local or state law enforcement officer;
a government code inspector;
or a code enforcement officer in order to division and contract with the division so that the division may conduct an investigation a hearing to determine whether an incident has occurred, and, if so, whether a violation of s.
The Statecontract Firefor Marshalservices mayto authorizebe itsperformed agentsby asthe provideddivision must include provisions for the system to reimburse the division for any costs incurred by the division for court reporters, transcript preparation, travel, facility rental, and other customary hearing costs, in ss.the manner set forth in s.
633.114, 633.116, and 633.118 to conduct investigations of incidents The contract for services to be performed by the division must include provisions for the system to reimburse the division for any costs incurred by the division for court reporters, transcript preparation, travel, facility rental, and other customary hearing costs, in the manner set forth in s.
(c) The State Fire MarshalMarshal; or agents as provided in ss.
633.114,the 633.116,fire andchief 633.118of division has jurisdiction in a proceeding under this section to determine the factsspecial anddistrict, lawmunicipality, concerningor ancounty; alleged incident.
a local or state law enforcement officer;
a government code inspector;
or a code enforcement officer division has jurisdiction in a proceeding under this section to determine the facts and law concerning an alleged incident.
(e) If ana additional civil penalty is imposed by the State Fire MarshalMarshal; or his or her agents, 5 percent of the civil penalty must be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs, and the remainder of the civil penalty must be equally distributed between a program created to procure equipment, supplies, and educational training designed to mitigate firefighter exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals and between the system to be used exclusively for damage-prevention education A fine against an excavator or a member operator imposed under this subsection shall be paid to the system, which shall use the collected fines to satisfy the costs incurred by the system for any proceedings under this section.
the fire chief of the special district, municipality, or county;
a local or state law enforcement officer;
a government code inspector;
or a code enforcement officer under this subsection, 95 percent of the civil penalty collected by the clerk of the court shall be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation and civil penalty and 5 percent of the civil penalty shall be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs A fine against an excavator or a member operator imposed under this subsection shall be paid to the system, which shall use the collected fines to satisfy the costs incurred by the system for any proceedings under this section.
(f) Any(f) This excavatorsection ordoes membernot operatorchange whothe commitsbasis afor noncriminalcivil infractionliability. under s.
556.116(2)(c) must be provided a written warning at the time a citation is issued stating that any person who willfully fails to properly respond to a citation must, in addition to the citation, be charged with the offense of failing to respond to the citation and, upon conviction, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
775.082 or s.
775.083.
(g) This section does not change the basis for civil liability.
402376 The final order of the administrative law judge constitutes final agency action subject to judicial review pursuant to s.
Section 4. Section4. Upon 556.117,SB 1092, 2020 Regular Session, becoming a law or similar legislation in the same legislative session or an extension thereof being adopted and becoming a law, paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section 556.116, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, is createdamended to read:
556.117 Underground556.116 High-priority facilitysubsurface damageinstallations; prevention review.
Sunshinespecial Stateprocedures.— One-Call(3) of(e) If Florida,a Inc.,civil shallpenalty reviewis theimposed reports submitted by the clerks of court to the State Fire MarshalMarshal; and any complaints of alleged violations under this chapter to identify issues or potential issues with damage prevention and enforcement.
Thethe corporationfire shallchief identifyof areas in the statespecial wheredistrict, additionalmunicipality, educationor relatedcounty; to damage prevention and enforcement is needed and shall recommend solutions to remedy issues related to damage prevention and enforcement.
Thea corporationlocal shall,or bystate Octoberlaw 1enforcement ofofficer; each year, submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an analysis of its reviews and any recommendations for improving underground facility damage prevention and enforcement.
Sectiona 5. Thisgovernment actcode shallinspector; take effect July 1, 2020.
or a code enforcement officer under this subsection, $2,500 95 percent of the civil penalty collected by the clerk of the court shall be distributed to the governmental entity whose employee issued the citation and civil penalty, and 5 percent of the civil penalty shall be retained by the clerk to cover administrative costs, and the remainder of the civil penalty shall be distributed to the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program created under s.
633.137.
Section 5. Section 556.117, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
556.117 Underground facility damage prevention review panel.— (1) The underground facility damage prevention review panel is established under the Division of State Fire Marshal within the Department of Financial Services to review complaints of an alleged violation under this chapter to identify issues or potential issues with damage prevention and enforcement.
The review panel shall identify areas in the state where additional education related to damage prevention and enforcement is needed and shall recommend solutions to remedy issues related to damage prevention and enforcement.
The review panel shall also review current practices for locating underground pipes or other underground facilities that transport hazardous materials which are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation in this state and determine if any statutory changes are needed to make such pipelines or facilities more resilient and safer for communities.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the review panel shall operate in a manner consistent with s.
20.052.
(2) The review panel shall consist of nine members appointed by the State Fire Marshal and shall include the following:
(a) One member representing the electrical utility industry.
(b) One member representing the telecommunications or cable industry.
(c) One member licensed as an underground utility and excavation contractor under chapter 489 and engaged in work within road or highway rights-of-way.
(d) One member representing the natural gas industry.
(e) One member representing the utility locator industry.
(f) One member representing county or municipal water and sewer service providers.
(g) One member representing excavators performing work unrelated to construction in road or highway rights-of-way, including landscaping, fencing, or plumbing contractors.
(h) One member licensed as an underground utility and excavation contractor under chapter 489 and engaged in work for public utilities.
(i) One member representing the public at large.
(3) The State Fire Marshal shall establish a process to receive applications for the purpose of appointing members to the review panel.
(4) Each member shall serve for a 2-year term.
A member may not serve more than two consecutive 2-year terms, except that members listed in paragraphs (2)(a)-(e) shall initially serve a 1-year term and those members listed in paragraphs (2)(f)-(i) shall serve a 2-year term.
All subsequent appointments shall be for 2-year terms.
A vacancy for an unexpired term of a member shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
The review panel shall elect from among its members a chair and vice chair and meet quarterly in conjunction with the meeting of the board of directors or at the call of the chair.
(5) The Division of State Fire Marshal shall provide staff support and meeting space to the review panel.
Members of the panel shall serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for per diem or travel expenses.
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
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Action History
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Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 1095
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Substituted CS/CS/HB 1095
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Read 2nd time
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Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/09/20
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CS/CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS/CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 17 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/26/20, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building
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CS/CS by Banking and Insurance read 1st time
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Now in Rules
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Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS/CS by Banking and Insurance; YEAS 7 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Banking and Insurance, 02/11/20, 2:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
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Now in Banking and Insurance
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CS by Infrastructure and Security read 1st time
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Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS by Infrastructure and Security; YEAS 7 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Infrastructure and Security, 01/27/20, 4:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
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Introduced
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Referred to Infrastructure and Security; Banking and Insurance; Rules
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Filed
Sponsors
- Flores · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Flores
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (163)
163 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 163 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (17)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Book | — | Yea |
| Brandes | — | Yea |
| Braynon | — | Yea |
| Farmer | — | Yea |
| Flores | — | Yea |
| Hutson | — | Yea |
| Lee | — | Yea |
| Montford | — | Yea |
| Simmons | — | Yea |
| Simpson | — | Yea |
| Stargel | — | Yea |
| Thurston | — | Yea |
| Gibson | — | Yea |
| Benacquisto | — | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 0% | 0% | 13% |
How each member voted (8)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Brandes | — | Yea |
| Lee | — | Yea |
| Perry | — | Yea |
| Taddeo | — | Yea |
| Thurston | — | Yea |
| Broxson | — | Yea |
| Rouson, Darryl Ervin | Democrat | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 0% | 0% | 13% |
How each member voted (8)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bean | — | Yea |
| Cruz | — | Yea |
| Stewart | — | Yea |
| Taddeo | — | Yea |
| Perry | — | Yea |
| Lee | — | Yea |
| Hutson | — | Not Voting |
| Hooper, Ed | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 1464 do?
- Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety; Revising and providing noncriminal violations relating to the transportation of certain hazardous materials; requiring certain persons to transmit an incident report to the State Fire Marshal; providing that certain incident reports must be investigated by the State Fire Marshal or his or her agents; requiring Sunshine State One-Call of Florida, Inc., to review certain reports and complaints, etc.
- Who sponsors SB 1464?
- SB 1464 is sponsored by Flores.
- What is the current status of SB 1464?
- This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 1464?
- Track SB 1464 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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