The Alliance of American Insurers reported its disappointment in the Florida Legislature’s failure to pass legislation workers’ compensation reform legislation by the end of its regular session May 2. The Alliance is a member of the Coalition of Business and Insurance Industry, which is attempting to reform Florida’s troubled workers compensation system.
“After a tremendous amount of effort to develop true reforms that will reduce the cost drivers in the system, we are disappointed in the Florida Senate’s inability to agree with the reform legislation passed by the House April 30,” said William Stander, government affairs representative for the Alliance’s Southeast Region. “We only hope that during the special session pledged by Gov. Jeb Bush (R), the Legislature lives up to its responsibilities to employers and employees, and not protect the interests of those who feed off the system.”
The House bill, HB 1837, would have resulted in substantial cost savings, Stander said, with the National Council of Compensation Insurance estimating cost decreases of more than 14 percent. The Florida Senate, though, amended the bill by weakening the attorneys’ fees section and creating a public subsidy for those employers who so far have managed to evade paying into the system. The House wisely refused to concur.
“This is the third year in a row in which reform advocates have been to the brink of success, only to have the trial lawyers foil our efforts to improve Florida’s economic environment. Continued intransigence on changes to the system’s cost drivers can only lead to disaster,” Stander said.
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