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Michael MolineApril 19, 2017

The Senate’s workers’ compensation package passed its final committee test Wednesday, as its sponsor expressed willingness to compromise with the House over conflicting language on attorney fees and medical payments. “I do think that we can land in a place where, when they score the final product, it will show more rate reduction than they’re […]

Michael MolineApril 19, 2017

The Florida House approved a workers’ compensation fix Tuesday intended to answer the Florida Supreme Court’s objections to the system by adding flexibility on attorney fees in benefits challenges, and by boosting benefits for injured workers. The measure, HB 7085, passed on a vote of 82-37, shortly before the Senate bill cleared the Rules Committee. […]

Guest AuthorApril 19, 2017

A lot of people talk about jobs. How to create them, how to save them, or how to move them. No matter what side of the “jobs argument” you are on, one thing is certain. There can be no job without a worker to perform that job. That worker is – normally – a human […]

Michael MolineApril 18, 2017

The House defeated a series of Democratic amendments to its version of a workers’ compensation fix Tuesday, with sponsor Danny Burgess promising the bill would “enhance the fairness and the balance of the workers’ compensation system in Florida.” Burgess, whose Insurance & Banking Subcommittee drafted the legislation, also predicted a decline in premiums, following the […]

Michael MolineApril 13, 2017

The Senate’s workers’ compensation bill moved out of the Appropriations Committee Thursday after picking up an amendment declaring two forms of cancer occupational hazards for Florida’s 40,000 firefighters. The amendment — sponsored by Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala and vice chairwoman Anitere Flores, and not by bill sponsor Rob Bradley — names multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s […]

Staff ReportsApril 10, 2017

Trial attorneys issued a denunciation Monday of the workers’ compensation reform package now headed for a House floor vote. HB 7085 is “a handout to the insurance industry and its big-business allies – one that does little to benefit injured workers or most employers,” the Florida Justice Association said in a written statement. “The plan wipes […]

Michael MolineApril 10, 2017

The workers’ compensation fix that emerged from the House Commerce Committee last week was the product of hours — and hours — of testimony, debate, and negotiations. The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee staged marathon hearings in which all the stakeholders — insurers, employers, attorneys, unions, and more — hashed out their differences. Then the Commerce […]

Michael MolineApril 6, 2017

The House workers’ compensation package survived hearings before the Commerce Committee Thursday, including business-friendly amendments that would leave injured workers paying their own attorney fees if they pursue meritless claims. One by one, the panel gave voice approval to three amendments offered by House Insurance & Banking chairman Danny Burgess, who has managed the underlying […]

Michael MolineApril 6, 2017

Associated Industries of Florida chief Tom Feeney had praise Thursday for amendments that would bring the House workers’ compensation reform bill closer to business interests’ ideal. “AIF today calls on members of the Florida House Commerce Committee to adopt the amendments to HB 7085 that will go a long way in rectifying our state’s wounded […]

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 7-1 Monday to approve legislation that would require workers’ compensation carriers to compete on price rather than propose premium levels through a common ratings agency, and that would allow workers to pay attorneys hourly rates if they take insurers to court. The ‘No” vote was by Sen. George Gainer, […]

Tag: workers compensation

Senate workers’ comp sponsor open to compromise as bill heads to floor

Florida House OKs legislation targeting soaring worker’s compensation premiums

Danny Burgess: It’s vital Florida workers get care they need

House workers’ compensation bill survives Democratic floor amendments

Senate workers’ compensation bill acquires firefighter cancer amendment

Florida Justice Association denounces House workers’ comp package

Danny Burgess: ‘Absolutely, the injured worker is a big concern here’

House worker’s compensation package emerges from Commerce Committee

AIF lauds proposed revisions to House’s workers’ compensation reform

Senate panel OKs workers’ comp bill opposed by insurance industry