Florida lawmakers consider funding for new insurance fraud prosecutors
Mar 31, 2010
The 2010 state budget being debated in the Florida Legislature today, March 31, currently includes the following appropriations for insurance fraud prosecutors:
The House and Senate budgets include equal funding in the following areas:
- Program: State Attorneys – Fourth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Judicial Circuits
Two full-time equivalent positions with associated rate of $94,274 and $136,686 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund are provided for prosecution of insurance fraud.
- Program: State attorneys – Ninth and Eleventh Judicial Circuits
Two full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate of $94,000 and $136,000 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund are provided for prosecution of insurance fraud.
Additionally, two full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate of $94,274 and $136,686 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund are provided solely for prosecution of workers compensation insurance fraud. This transfer authority may not be used to fund attorneys and paralegals who prosecute crimes other than workers compensation insurance fraud.
To prosecute Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) fraud-related cases in Duval, Orange, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Broward counties, an additional appropriation of $9,385,507 has been placed in the Senate budget, while $9,169,913 was placed in the House version. This includes $1,251,257 in the Senate and $1,021,257 in the House specifically to fund attorneys and paralegals dedicated solely to the prosecution of PIP-related fraud cases. These funds may not be used for any purpose other than the funding of positions and activities that prosecute crimes of insurance fraud.
There is an additional appropriation of $9,385,507 in the Senate and $9,169,913 in the House for insurance fraud including $1,251,257 in the Senate and $1,021,257 in the House for the specific purpose of funding attorneys and paralegals dedicated solely to the prosecution of insurance PIP fraud cases in Duval, Orange, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Broward counties. These funds may not be used for any purpose other than the funding of positions and activities that prosecute crimes of insurance fraud.
The total Senate and House budget appropriations for insurance fraud are $17,119,813 and $16,569,173, respectively.
These items may be amended through the budgetary process. The Florida Senate passed its budget today, March 31. The House is expected to pass its budget tomorrow, April 1. Differences between the two budgets will be reconciled during the budget conference process.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.
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