Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 1186 makes changes to the drug-free workplace programs in Chapters 112 and 440, F.S. Sen. Baxley (R), the bill sponsor, said the bill aligns Florida’s drug free workplace law with the federal drug free workplace law. The bill was approved by its first Senate committee of reference on…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 23, 2020, HB 437 unanimously passed its last committee without amendment. It will now be heard on the House floor when set by the Rules Committee. The bill allows, but not require, workers’ compensation carriers to use a licensed nurse registry to place authorized compensable…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 540, dealing with FIGA and FWCIGA, unanimously passed its second (of three) Senate committee on January 22, 2020. The bill was not amended. It is supported by FIGA and FWCIGA and is substantially similar to a bill that passed the House last year, but not the Senate. There…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 21, 2020, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill sponsored by its Chair, Sen. Simmons (R), to increase the salary of the Judges of Compensation Claims (JCCs). The bill was not amended and had no debate. It has two committees left. There is no House companion…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A bill (HB 329) primarily clarifying how FIGA and FWCIGA levy assessments against insurers passed its last House committee on January 16, 2020 without amendment. The bill will be heard next on the floor when it is calendared by the Rules Committee. The bill is supported by the guaranty…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel House and Senate committees approved bills on January 15, 2020 that allow, but not require, workers’ compensation carriers to use a licensed nurse registry to place authorized compensable attendant care services for injured workers. Under the bill, the use of a nurse registry for attendant care is an administrative…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 8, 2020, the Division of Workers’ Compensation (Division) held a rule hearing on proposed changes to the 13 reimbursement dispute administrative rules. The record of the hearing is open until January 15th for submission of written comments by interested parties. Any comments should be emailed to…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Workers’ compensation insurers would be allowed, but not required, to use a licensed nurse registry to place authorized compensable attendant care services for injured workers under a bill approved by the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee on December 11,2019. HB 437 was approved by the Subcommittee after a strike…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A bill (HB 329) primarily clarifying how FIGA and FWCIGA levy assessments against insurers passed its second House committee on December 11, 2019 without amendment. The bill has one committee left. The bill is supported by the guaranty associations and is substantially similar to a bill that…