Friday, January 24, 2020, Tallahassee – State lawmakers spent the second week of their nine-week regular session focusing primarily on committee work on individual member bills together with hearing individual appropriation requests. On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Appropriations heard a presentation by the Governor’s staff detailing his budget recommendations for FY 2020-21. Developing a plan to fund state government is the only constitutionally mandated task legislators are charged with completing each year.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020, Tallahassee – Late yesterday afternoon the Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee voted 6-1 to approve Senate Bill 378 by Sen. Tom Lee (R-Tampa). The legislation proposes to repeal Florida’s four-decades-old no-fault auto insurance system, replacing it with a new at-fault system requiring drivers carry mandatory bodily injury and property damage coverage. Sen. Lee, who introduced similar bills during the last two sessions, also chairs this committee. His efforts in previous years both died on the calendar, lacking final consideration.
The FCA was the only health care and chiropractic group rising to speak in opposition to the proposal. FCA General Counsel Paul lambert provided testimony on one of our main points of concern: The lack of any provision in the bill that protects doctors from a patient’s or attorney’s failure to satisfy an outstanding balance per a letter of protection, upon the patient’s settlement or judgment in a personal injury claim or action.
Paul Lambert, FCA General Counsel testifies in opposition to the repeal of PIP/No-fault before the Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee.
Friday, January 17, 2020, Tallahassee – A Senate calendar released late yesterday indicates the Florida Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee next Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 21st, will consider a proposal aimed at repealing and replacing Florida’s current No-fault/PIP auto insurance program with a requirement motorists carry mandatory bodily injury coverage instead. The measure, SB 378 by Sen. Tom Lee (R-Brandon), is being heard in the same committee which Sen. Lee also happens to chair. Lee has introduced similar measures during past legislative sessions, none of which ultimately passed the full Senate.
Friday, January 16, 2020, Tallahassee – Tuesday marked the start of Florida’s annual 60-day lawmaking session amid the usual revelry of opening day dictated by tradition. Speeches, spouses, flowers and former legislators all filled the House chamber as the three branches of state government came together to listen to the Governor’s annual State-of-the-State address.
Here Comes the Sun: Senators and Reps found a
traditional opening day FCA sunflower placed
on their chamber desk, accompanied as usual by a poem penned by FCA Poet Laureate
Sandy Lambert.
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