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Proposed Florida bill to make daylight savings year-round

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s known as Sen. Marco Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act and, if passed, it would make daylight saving time year-round across the country.

The bill, which was introduced on Wednesday, would give everyone an extra hour of sunlight during the winter months, when daylight saving time traditionally ends.

Rubio released a statement in which he said that permanent daylight savings time would have many benefits.

STORY: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio files bill to make daylight saving time permanent

He says the move would help reduce car crashes by aligning with daylight hours and would benefit the economy.

But parent Avery Pilgrim says he worries the change would be dangerous for children.

“I don’t think, as a parent, to have kids at very tender years hanging out waiting for a bus, you know, in the dark,” said Pilgrim.

STORY: 2 Maine bills would rid state of daylight saving time

He said, if it’s dark outside, drivers may not see children walking to school.

“Some few years ago, right there on Normandy Boulevard, a little high school kid or middle school kid was wiped out trying to cross the street,” he said.

The U.S. adopted daylight saving time in 1966 and Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that don’t participate.

Action News Jax looked at a 2009 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

STORY: Daylight saving time: Here's how you can help your kids adjust

Applied Psychology, in which researchers found a 5.7 percent increase in workplace injuries the Monday after the country switches to daylight saving time.

Rubio’s office also says making daylight saving time permanent can help with seasonal depression and childhood obesity, and reduce the number of robberies.

Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend. Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday.

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