Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida November 2018 | Page 13

Damage Prevention Enforcement
Legislation Proposed
On November 17th, NUCA of Florida Members Bill Lee (Utility Service Co. ) and Mike Woodall (JWI,
Inc.) along with Rob Wilson, Wilson & Associates, participated in the Sunshine 811 Legislative
Committee meeting and subsequent Board of Directors meeting to discuss their legislative
initiative.
The proposed legislation would create a 9-member review panel, of which 3 would be
excavators/utility contractors, to determine penalties for “bad actors” who violate the
damage prevention statutes. Penalties imposed by the panel could mandate training,
education or fines ranging from $1000 up to $50,000 depending on severity of violation
and repeat offender status. NUCA of Florida has some concerns with the current proposal
and is working with Sunshine 811 and the other stakeholders to craft an acceptable bill.
NOVEMBER 2018 • DITCHMEN
11