Legislation Information

The Society for Human Resource Management Emerald Coast Chapter #459 wants to encourage all its members to think about how they can address the issues affecting their workplace and performance of job duties. On April 1, 2003, our Chapter began a quarterly contest involving the writing of letters to our elected officials on the issues affecting those dealing with human resources on a daily basis.

At the end of each quarter, June 30, September 30, and December 31, each individual chapter member writing a letter to elected officials is eligible for the drawing awarding a $50.00 gift certificate to the Santa Rosa Mall. Verification of letters submitted will be done through the National SHRM website and the winner will be announced at the July, October, and January general meetings.

To assist you in your letter writing efforts, we have listed below the websites for your reference. They included:

New Bill Grants Leave to Victims of Domestic Violence

On May 29, 2007, the Florida legislature sent H.B. 55, a bill that provides workplace leave to victims of domestic violence, to Governor Charlie Crist (R). The bill requires an employer to allow an employee to take leave up to 3 days of leave (in a 12 month period) from work to participate in activities resulting from an act of domestic violence. The law covers leave for specific activities, including:

Seeking a protective or injunctive order for protection;
Obtaining medical care or mental health counseling;
Obtaining services from a victim-services organization;
Making the employee's home secure from the perpetrator of the domestic violence or to seek new housing to escape the perpetrator;
Seeking legal assistance in relation to the act of domestic violence or to attend and prepare for court related proceedings arising from the act of domestic violence.

The bill also requires the employee to notify the employer of the leave and requires an employer to keep all information relating to the employee's leave confidential. Further, the employee is protected from an employer taking certain actions against the employee for exercising rights specified in the act and provides recourse for violations of the act. H.B. 55 passed both chambers unanimously and is expected to be signed by the Governor. Once signed, it will become effective July 1, 2007.

Guns at Work

Please take time to review the "Guns at Work" legislative update (see document below).

Guns At Work document