Staff Reports
Proponents of a workers’ compensation fix would want the matter debated during next week’s special session of the Legislature.
The National Federation of Independent Business was the first to issue a public call to that end. Florida director Bill Herrle released a letter to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders, arguing, “Florida’s economic growth cannot wait until 2018.”
The House and Senate debated, but could not agree, on how to prevent repeat of the 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation premiums that began to hit employers in December.
As the regular session wound down, the chambers came within $20 of a compromise on the maximum allowable attorney fee payable in claims challenges — the House wanted a $180 fee cap; the Senate, $200.
“This was a significant concession from the business community that showed we were serious about fixing this issue,” Herrle wrote.
Instead, the workers’ comp package, HB 7085, died at sine die, and it appeared the business community would have to wait for the next regular session in 2018 to try again.
“We have a chance to fix the workers’ compensation system next week. We respectfully request that you include legislation similar to (the House proposal) to HB 7085 in the call for special session next week,” Herrle concluded.
