House Bill 857 amends Florida Statutes to enhance protections for utility workers by including them under existing laws regarding assault and battery against specified personnel. The bill defines "utility worker" as individuals identifiable by visible patches or emblems from utility companies providing public services such as electricity, gas, water, and communications. It elevates the severity of charges for assault and battery against utility workers, increasing penalties from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor for assault, and from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony for battery. This aligns the legal protections for utility workers with those already afforded to law enforcement officers and emergency personnel.

In addition to the protections for utility workers, the bill revises the legal framework surrounding employment eligibility for individuals with certain criminal records, particularly those related to assault or battery against specified persons. It mandates that individuals with pending arrests or convictions for such offenses are ineligible for employment and requires a national criminal records check every five years. The bill also expands the definition of "specified persons" to include a broader range of individuals protected under the law. These changes aim to improve the safety of public service workers and ensure a more robust approach to handling violent crimes against them, with the act set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 857 Filed: 784.07, 901.15, 943.051, 985.11, 985.644