Let me bring you up to date on the latest on workers’
compensation.
Last Wednesday, a Leon County Circuit Court judge threw out the Insurance Commissioner’s
rate filing, which was set to go into effect December 1, based on the assertion
that the rate increase was not decided in accordance with the Florida Sunshine
Law.
This week, the Office of Insurance Regulation appealed the ruling, placing a
stay on the rate increase. With the December 1 effective date back in play,
that means many small business owners will see their rates going up 14.5 percent starting
today.
That also means we need to approach the legislature and ask for a remedy. We
want to keep the rates as low as possible while still maintaining a stable,
viable market where injured workers can be made whole – the best way to
accomplish this is by limiting attorneys’ fees.
Next week, your lawmakers from the Florida House will be in Tallahassee for
committee week; the Senate returns the following week. As they take their seats
in Tallahassee, we need them to hear from you on workers’ comp. What will you
need to do to comply with the rates? How do increases in labor costs impact
your business?
Your stories are important, and we’ll be coming to you shortly asking you to
share them. Watch your inbox for your Workers’ Comp Alert from NFIB that will
give you the chance to link directly to your legislators.
Bill Herrle
NFIB/Florida Executive Director
[email protected]
