Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House tort reform bill was significantly amended during its first committee hearing on March 6, 2019. The amended bill passed the bill by a vote of 10-5 along party lines. However, even some of the Republican committee members who voted for the bill expressed concerns about it, especially…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House moved their committee bill (PCB CJS 19-01) dealing with assignment of benefits out of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on March 6, 2019 with a vote of 13-2. The bill was presented by Rep. Rommel (R), the subcommittee chair, and was not amended. The bill applies…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counse The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee unanimously passed bills dealing with motorized scooters and autonomous vehicles during its meeting on March 6, 2019. Neither bill was amended in committee. HB 453 is the scooter bill and deals with local government regulation of them. The bill authorizes a county or…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Business groups are pitted against the trial bar on a bill about Florida’s dangerous instrumentality law. Part of the bill will shield companies that lease certain mobile equipment from liability for damages caused by the equipment if the lessee has insurance in the required amounts. The impetus for HB…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 759 and HB 761 revamping Florida’s trade secret protection laws passed its first committee on March 6, 2019 without amendment. The Senate companion bills (SB 1414 and SB 1416) are similar and have not yet been heard in committee. HB 759 repeals most of the public records exemptions…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2019Contact Info: Karen Kees, (850) 413-2515, press@floir.com Commissioner David Altmaier: AOB Reform Critical for Florida’s Future TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier issued the following statement following the passage of PCB CJS 19-01, regarding assignment of benefits (AOB), by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee: Commissioner Altmaier said:“AOB abuse has…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 431 makes numerous changes to Florida’s lien law relating to recovering, towing, or storing motor vehicles. There are two insurance related provisions in the bill. One provision allows an auto lienor or lienor’s agent to charge an administrative fee up to $250 against an insurer insuring the…
By: Greenberg Traurig The Senate Committee on Community Affairs met on March 5, 2019 to consider SB 426, Firefighters, by Senator Flores. The committee packet can be found here. SB 426, Firefighters, by Sen. Flores – PASSED Summary No summary of the bill given as Sen. Flores discussed the strike-all amendment first. Strike All Amendment…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House workers’ compensation bill surfaced on March 5, 2019. HB 1399 is sponsored by Rep. Byrd (R). After a quick review of the bill, it appears to address the following issues: More specificity for Petitions for Benefits (PFB) Good faith effort by claimant to resolve dispute before…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel During its meeting on March 5, 2019, the House Commerce Committee passed HB 387, a bill dealing with surplus lines. The bill was not amended. The bill: Continues to allow a per-policy fee charged by surplus lines agent but removes the $35 limit and requires fees to be…