Title: Civil Penalties under the Gas Safety Law of 1967

Summary: Increases civil penalty amount for violating the Gas Safety Law of 1967; requires PSC to annually revise maximum penalties by rule based on specified factors.

Full Text:
An act relating to civil penalties under the Gas Safety Law of 1967; amending s. 368.061, F.S.; increasing the civil penalty amount for violating The Gas Safety Law of 1967; requiring the Florida Public Service Commission, after a date certain and annually thereafter, to establish and revise maximum penalties by rule based on specified factors; providing rulemaking authority; providing an effective date.Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 368.061, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that section, to read: 368.061 Penalty.-(1) A Any person who violates any provision of this part, or any regulation issued hereunder, is shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed the following: (a) Until June 30, 2025, $266,015 $25,000 for each violation for each day that the such violation persists, except that the ma ximum civil penalty may shall not exceed $2,660,135 $500,000 for any related series of violations. (b) After July 1, 2025, maximum penalties established by the Florida Public Service Commission by rule. In establishing CS/HB 2024 such penalties, the commission must consider the penalties established in paragraph (a) and make revisions based upon consideration of the consumer price index, penalties established in federal law for pipeline safety violations, and the intent of the Legislature that the commission maintai nits certification with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or any of its successor agencies, to enforce pipeline safety. The commission shall review the penalties established in this paragraph at least annually and revise, as nece ssary, using the considerations specified in this paragraph. (4) The commission may adopt rules to implement this section. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.