HB 275 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0275-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to intentional damage to critical 2
infrastructure; creating s. 812.141, F.S.; providing 3
definitions; providing criminal penalties for causing 4
intentional harm or damage to critical infrastructure; 5
providing for civil liability for violations; 6
providing construction; providing an effective date. 7
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
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Section 1. Section 812.141, Florid a Statutes, is created 11
to read: 12
812.141 Intentional damage to critical infrastructure. — 13
(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 14
(a) "Critical infrastructure" means any of the following: 15
1. An electrical power generation, transmission, or 16
distribution facility, or a substation, a switching station, or 17
an electrical control center. 18
2. A chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility. 19
3. A mining facility. 20
4. A natural gas or compressed gas compressor station, 21
storage facility, or natur al gas or compressed gas pipeline. 22
5. A liquid natural gas or propane gas terminal or storage 23
facility with a capacity of 4,000 gallons or more. 24
6. Any portion of an aboveground oil or gas pipeline. 25
HB 275 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0275-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
7. A wireless communications facility, including the 26
tower, antennae, support structures, and all associated ground 27
based equipment. 28
8. A water intake structure, water treatment facility, 29
wastewater treatment plant, pump station, or lift station. 30
9. A deepwater port or railroad switching yard. 31
(b) "Improperly tampers" means, without permission or 32
authority to do so, to change the physical location or the 33
physical condition of the property or any portion thereof, or 34
otherwise knowingly and intentionally move, deface, damage, or 35
destroy the property or any portion thereof. 36
(2) A person who improperly tampers with critical 37
infrastructure for which the owner or operator thereof has 38
employed measures that are designed to exclude unauthorized 39
persons, which may include measures such as fences, barriers , or 40
guard posts, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable 41
as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 42
(3) A person who is found in a civil action to have 43
knowingly and intentionally harmed critical infrastructure based 44
on a conviction for a violation of subsection (2) is liable to 45
the utility, communication services provider, operator, or owner 46
for damages in an amount equal to three times the actual damage 47
sustained by the utility, communication services provider, 48
operator, or owner due to any personal injury, wrongful death, 49
or property damage caused by the act or an amount equal to three 50
HB 275 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0275-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
times any claim made against the utility, communications service 51
provider, operator, or owner for any personal injury, wrongful 52
death, or property damage caused by the malfunction of the 53
critical infrastructure resulting from the violation of 54
subsection (2), whichever is greater. 55
Section 2. A prosecution for an offense committed before 56
July 1, 2024, is not abated or affected by this act, and a 57
statute that would be applicable but for this act remains 58
applicable to the prosecution. 59
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 60