Lawmaker Says Higher Comp Rates Here to Stay

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | 0

State Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, told a public radio station that reforming Florida’s workers’ compensation system might take more than one session.

Sen. Rob Bradley

The Senate is unwilling to cut benefits for injured workers, and higher rates — including a 14.5% rate hike enacted Dec. 1 to cover a pair of state Supreme Court decisions — are here to stay, Bradley told WUSF News.

“Our workers’ comp system is kind of middle of the pack when it comes to the rate levels, and they’ve been reduced significantly over the years,” he told the station.

After reforms were made in 2003, Florida’s rates dropped 60% before the latest increase.

Bradley said he is surprised that a Senate bill that would exempt the names of injured workers from public records didn’t make a larger splash.

SB 1008, which Bradley co-introduced Feb. 16 with Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, would keep confidential any personal identifying information on an injured or deceased worker contained in any notice or report filed with the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

The bill would make it more difficult for attorneys to solicit injured workers, Bradley said.