Wire Services
The Senate on Thursday will take up a high-profile bill that would help shield businesses and health-care providers from lawsuits related to COVID-19.
The proposal (SB 72), sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, was one of 14 bills included Monday on what is known as a special order calendar to go to the Senate floor.
Business groups and health-care providers have lobbied heavily for liability protections since early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House has passed a bill (HB 7) that would provide protections for non-health care businesses and is considering a separate bill (HB 7005) that would help shield health-care providers. The Senate originally had separate bills on the issues, but Brandes combined them last week.
Among other issues slated for the Senate floor Thursday are a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 204), also sponsored by Brandes, that would abolish the state Constitution Revision Commission.
One comment
Lawrence H Pierce
March 16, 2021 at 10:55 am
Senator Brandes has done significant damage in his move to eliminate the partial limited liability for nursing home and CCRC residents. Having originally supported the limited liability provision he now turns against a key protection provision for a class of senior residents who are vulnerable to pandemic risk. It is a major mistake to combine the Bills. This is nothing but a cop-out. Shame on you Senator Brandes.
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