FMEA Applauds Passage of Utility Worker Protection Legislation (SB 1386)

STATEMENT BY:
Amy Zubaly, Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association

"The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) applauds the Florida Legislature for passing Senate Bill 1386/House Bill 857, which installs further protections for utility workers by reclassifying and strengthening criminal penalties for those who knowingly commit assault or battery against a utility worker. 

Electric utility workers perform jobs that keep our businesses running and provide for our most basic needs. They are first responders who already work an inherently dangerous job. Utility workers are often asked to work in extreme conditions following severe weather events, such as hurricanes. This bill will help ensure utility workers are able to work unimpeded and in a safe environment, especially as they work on repairing and maintaining critical infrastructure in their daily jobs and in response to disasters and other events causing widespread power outages. 

We express our gratitude to the sponsors of these bills, Senator Clay Yarborough and Representative Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, for championing this effort to tighten penalties on those who would seek to threaten or harm our critical utility workers."