FL H6509

Wood Treaters, LLC operated a wood treating facility at 2610 Fairfax Street in Jacksonville from 1980 to 2010, using chromated copper arsenate (a form of arsenic) to treat utility poles, pilings, timber, and plywood.

Department of Health must collaborate with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to develop data on arsenic exposure levels, duration, and frequency for all former employees at the Fairfax Street site.

$10 million is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to compensate eligible former employees at $100,000 per person for injuries and damages from arsenic exposure resulting from the negligence of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Health.

Attorney fees for claims under this act may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded, and this compensation is designated as the sole remedy for all present and future claims arising from this situation.

The act takes effect upon becoming law.