Transit operator protection bill advances through Florida State Legislative committees

The Assaults on Specified Persons Bill will move forward to the Florida House of Representatives Justice Appropriations Subcommittee following a unanimous vote from the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and the Florida House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee.

Bill sponsors State Sen. Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) and State Rep. Michael Beltran (R-Tampa-57) and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) led the charge to propose safety changes to protect transit workers with the introduction of legislation which would require all Florida transit agencies and the state itself to make specific changes to enhance public safety and further protect uniformed public servants.

Both the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and the Florida House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee say they heard powerful, firsthand accounts from bus operators across the state that their primary responsibility and focus is to keep customers safe and environmental working conditions have become more and more challenging.

"We heard many powerful stories from transit operators across the state. The attacks some of these operators have experienced have not turned them away from their job. If anything, it has made them more intent on returning to work each day so they can continue providing critical transit services to patrons in their communities,” said Sen. Perry. “The least I can do is work with my colleagues to ensure their overall safety and enact statewide legislation that will help them feel more secure as they fulfill their jobs. I want to personally thank each and every person that took time from their jobs and families to testify on behalf of this important legislation."

These bills will now advance through the legislative process in part due to the leadership of Hillsborough County Representatives Fentrice Driskell, Diane Hart and Adam Hattersley supporting uniform changes across the state by voting the bill forward at the February 4th Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee.

"These bus operators are examples of the hardworking transit operators in our communities. It is our duty as legislators to ensure that their safety is a priority and that we create and enact legislation that supports them and ensures they make it home to their families each and every day," said Rep. Beltran.

The bill was heard in the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Feb. 11.

The legislation proposes:

• By Jan. 1, 2021, every public transit provider operating regularly scheduled transit service for the general public shall post in at least one conspicuous place at the entrance of each public transit vehicle a yellow sign with black, bold type font no smaller than 48 point containing the following statement: "ATTENTION: ASSAULTING A TRANSIT WORKER IS A FELONY 28 PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON."
• By July 1, 2021, every public transit provider operating regularly scheduled transit service for the general public shall create and implement a risk reduction program.
• Each risk reduction program shall include conflict de-escalation training for transit operators.
• The risk reduction program may include the deployment of assault mitigation infrastructure and technology on public transit vehicles, including barriers to restrict the unwanted entry of individuals and objects into transit operator's workstations.
• Increase the current enhancement for assault against a uniformed public servant (transit workers, law enforcement and other first responders) to state: In the case of assault from a misdemeanor in the first degree to a felony of the third degree.