This week in Tallahassee, the House Insurance and Banking Committee heard a workers’ compensation insurance bill that we hoped would tackle the 14.5% rate hike that most businesses in Florida are grappling with.
NFIB/Florida worked with Representative Jay Fant of Jacksonville to offer an amendment to the bill that would have attacked these costs head-on and would have put Florida in line with more than 30 other states by requiring the plaintiff to pay their own attorneys’ fees. It only seems reasonable that if an employee wants to sue their employer’s insurance company, they should pay for that attorney themselves. The current system that is driving rates through the roof requires business owners, through higher rates, to pay those attorneys’ fees.
Unfortunately, the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote.
While the bill did pass this committee, it still has a long way to go this session, and NFIB is already working with legislators to find a way to get these attorneys’ fees addressed as it moves forward.
Looking for an easy way to get more involved? Thank a Representative! Rep. Fant is a strong small business ally, his work to find a fix for our members is a testament to his dedication to the business community. Click here to send him an email and thank him for his commitment to controlling your workers’ comp costs.
