HB 341 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb341-00
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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 identification cards for public 2
works employees; requiring the Office of Program 3
Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to 4
produce a report on how the state could provide an 5
identification card for public works employees 6
identifying them as first responders; providing 7
requirements for the report; providing an effective 8
date. 9
10
WHEREAS, public works employees support the operation, 11
inspection, and maintenance of essential public works facilities 12
and operations, including bridges, water and sewer main breaks, 13
fleet maintenance, construction of critical and strategic 14
infrastructure, traffic signals, emergency location services for 15
buried utilities, digital systems infrastructure supporting 16
public works operations, and other emergent issues, and 17
WHEREAS, workers such as plumbers, electricians, 18
exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, 19
landscapers, pool care service provider s, and other service 20
providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining 21
the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, 22
businesses, and buildings such as hospitals, senior living 23
facilities, and temporary construction required to support the 24
COVID-19 response, and 25
HB 341 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb341-00
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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
WHEREAS, public works employees engage in essential tasks 26
after emergencies, such as road and line clearing, to ensure the 27
availability of and access to needed facilities, transportation, 28
energy, and communications, a nd 29
WHEREAS, public works employees ensure the effective 30
removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial 31
solid waste and hazardous waste, including landfill operations, 32
and 33
WHEREAS, public works employees ensure the operation, 34
inspection, and maintenance of essential dams, locks, and 35
levees, and 36
WHEREAS, workers who support the inspection and maintenance 37
of aids to navigation provide services that ensure continued 38
maritime commerce, and 39
WHEREAS, in 2003, President George W. Bush issued 40
Presidential Policy Directive 8 officially, recognizing public 41
works employees as first responders, and 42
WHEREAS, in 2017, the American Public Works Association's 43
board of directors approved the adoption of a national "Public 44
Works First Responder" symbol for u se throughout North America 45
to identify public works personnel and acknowledge their 46
federally mandated role as first responders, and 47
WHEREAS, public works employees were designated as 48
essential workers during the COVID -19 pandemic, NOW, THEREFORE, 49
50
HB 341 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb341-00
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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
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 51
52
Section 1. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and 53
Government Accountability shall, no later than January 1, 2026, 54
produce a report on how the state could best implement a state -55
issued identification card for public works employees that would 56
identify them as first responders. The report shall be provided 57
to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 58
the House of Representatives. The report shall consider the 59
feasibility of the card, including the national Public Works 60
First Responder symbol developed by the American Public Works 61
Association. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 63