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Millions of disabled Floridians will either benefit or be hurt by legislation that seeks to standardize how gas stations assist handicapped drivers. While the legislation sets a statewide standard, it would also wipe out some local ordinances that go further.

J.R. Harding is a quadriplegic, he’s been unable to buy gas for all but six months of the last 24 years. That’s when Leon County adopted an ordinance to require gas stations to install buttons so attendants can help the handicapped.

“And I know they can help me during those days when the manager and the owner said so,” said Harding.

Other counties have adopted similar requirements. That’s sparking a fierce debate at the state Capitol. The fight’s really over whether or not counties that already have an ordinance get to keep it or if the state law makes the local ordinances obsolete.”

“Our convenient store owners would prefer not to be required to have these call buttons,” said Melissa Joyner Ramba of the Florida Retail Federation.

Sponsor Mark Danish (R-Hillsborough) says the bill’s patterned after a two-year-old law in Hillsborough County.

“It’s been working very successfully,” said Danish.

It requires a sticker on gas pumps, telling motorists how to call inside.

“The County people,” said Danish, “they have enforcement rules, and they said they haven’t really had to do it.”

The state’s Retail Federation calls it common sense.

“Should you have a sticker or should you have an expensive call button installed?” said John Fleming of the Florida Retail Federation. “And I think we heard today that there are many issues with the call buttons.”

But J.R. Harding says it makes no sense at all.

“I’m not able to drive and call and pull my phone out and do it because of the dexterity problems I have,” said Harding.

The fierceness of the debate caught many by surprise… sparking calls for compromise that would leave both sides happy.