Desiccated Florida Bill Gets Through Committee

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee has approved a bare bones version of a workers' compensation reform bill that includes no changes in claimant benefits and attorneys fees and preserves most construction exemptions. The committee's action came after the insurance and business coalition pulled its support for a more ambitious bill after determining it would have raised rates. Sponsored by Senator Jack Latvala (R-Palm Harbor), CS/SB 2304 was to have been the main vehicle for comp reform in the Senate. As initially drafted, the bill would have doubled impairment benefits, modified atto...