Bill Text: FL S0618 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Gasoline Stations
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2013-05-03 - Died in Transportation [S0618 Detail]
Download: Florida-2013-S0618-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2013 CS for SB 618 By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Senator Ring 586-02622-13 2013618c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to gasoline stations; amending s. 3 526.141, F.S.; providing requirements for 4 accessibility for disabled persons at gasoline 5 stations; requiring the gasoline station to have a 6 telephone number that is operational and answered by 7 an attendant during the hours the gasoline station is 8 open; requiring certain signage at each self-service 9 gasoline pump; providing exceptions; providing for 10 size and content of the signs; requiring an attendant 11 to provide refueling assistance to a person with a 12 permit or license plate issued under specified 13 provisions; removing criminal penalties; requiring the 14 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to 15 enforce subsection (5); providing an effective date. 16 17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18 19 Section 1. Section 526.141, Florida Statutes, is amended to 20 read: 21 526.141Self-serviceGasoline stations; self-service; 22 attendants; regulations.— 23 (1) This section authorizes the establishment of self 24 service gasoline stations. 25 (2) A “self-service gasoline station” shall be that portion 26 of property where flammable and combustible liquids used as 27 motor fuels are stored and subsequently dispensed from fixed, 28 approved dispensing equipment into the fuel tanks of motor 29 vehicles by persons other than the service station attendant. 30 (3) All self-service gasoline stations shall have at least 31 one attendant on duty while the station is open to the public. 32 The attendant’s primary function shall be the proper 33 administration, supervision, observation, and control of the 34 dispensing of flammable and combustible liquids used as motor 35 fuels while such liquids are actually being dispensed. It shall 36 be the responsibility of the attendant to prevent the dispensing 37 of flammable and combustible liquids used as motor fuels into 38 portable containers unless such container bears a seal of 39 approval of a nationally recognized testing agency; to control 40 sources of ignition; and immediately to handle accidental spills 41 and fire extinguishers if needed. The attendant on duty shall be 42 mentally and physically capable of performing the functions and 43 assuming the responsibility prescribed in this subsection. 44 (4)(a) The “attendant control area” is that area reserved 45 for the placing of the attendant, which shall be not more than 46 100 feet from the dispensing area and shall contain the fire 47 extinguishment equipment and emergency controls. 48 (b) The “dispensing area” is that area where the pumps used 49 to dispense flammable and combustible liquids used as motor 50 fuels are located. The dispensing area shall at all times be in 51 clear view of the attendant, and the placing or allowing of any 52 obstruction to vision between the dispensing area and the 53 attendant control area shall be prohibited. The attendant shall 54 at all times be able to communicate with persons in the 55 dispensing area. Emergency controls shall be installed at a 56 location acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, but 57 controls shall not be more than 100 feet from dispensers. 58 Operating instructions and warning signs shall be conspicuously 59 posted in the dispensing area. 60 (5)(a) Everyfull-servicegasoline station offering self 61 serviceat a lesser costshall require an attendant employed by 62 the station to dispense gasolinefrom the self-service portion63of the stationto any motor vehicle properly displaying an 64 exemption parking permit as provided in s. 316.1958 or s. 65 320.0848 or a license plate issued pursuant to s. 320.084, s. 66 320.0842, s. 320.0843, or s. 320.0845 when the person to whom 67 such permit has been issued is the operator of the vehicle and 68 such service is requested. The station must have a telephone 69 number that is operational and answered by an attendant during 70 the hours the gasoline station is open to the public which a 71 person can call to request assistance. If a request is made when 72 a second attendant is not present, the gasoline station is not 73 required to provide assistance, however, the attendant on duty 74 must inform the person why assistance is not currently 75 available.Such stations shall prominently display a decal no76larger than 8 square inches on the front of all self-service77pumps clearly stating the requirements of this subsection and78the penalties applicable to violations of this subsection. The79Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall enforce80this requirement.81 (b) Every gasoline station shall prominently display on the 82 front of each self-service gasoline pump a sign, decal, or 83 sticker of at least 15 square inches printed on a blue 84 background that clearly states: 85 1. The telephone number for the gasoline station. 86 2. The international symbol of accessibility (ISA). 87 3. Wording such as “Call for Assistance” or “Assistance 88 Available upon Request.” 89 4. The hours that two attendants will be available to 90 provide assistance at the gasoline station. 91 5. The requirements of this subsection and the penalties 92 applicable to violations of this subsection. 93(b) Violation of paragraph (a) is a misdemeanor of the94second degree, punishable as provided in s.775.082or s.95775.083.96 (6) All self-service equipment used to dispense gasoline 97 shall be approved by a nationally recognized testing agency for 98 its intended use. 99 (7) The Chief Financial Officer, under her or his powers, 100 duties, and functions as State Fire Marshal, shall adopt rules 101 for the administration and enforcement of this section, except 102 for subsection (5) which shall be administered and enforced by 103 the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 104 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.