Special Session C Update: Opening Day

With the Florida Legislature’s third Special Session of 2007 convening today, the Florida House of Representatives Insurance Committee met and discussed House Bills 13 C and 15 C, both sponsored by State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff and known as the Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) bills. 

The bills, which are linked, are next slated to be taken up by the House Jobs and Entrepreneurship Council.

Below is a brief summary of each (click on the bill title to access its text and other details):

House Bill 13 C

This bill revives and reenacts the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law; revises property damage coverage requirements; revises PIP medical benefits; provides benefits for services and care ordered by physician or provided by certain others; requires benefits for certain providers to be reserved for specified period; authorizes reimbursement limits schedule for PIP benefits; prohibits billing or collecting in excess of certain limits; deletes provisions specifying allowable amounts for certain tests and services; extends period for paying overdue claims following a demand letter; provides for penalties for failing to pay PIP claims; authorizes investigations and enforcement actions; requires certain related claims to be brought in one action; requires that electronic notices and communications be consistent with privacy & security laws; deauthorizes certain PIP policy deductibles; requires insurers continue to use certain forms and rates until specified date unless new ones approved; exempts a purchaser of policy without PIP coverage from PIP requirements for specified period; requires insurers to provide notice of coverage requirement or PIP endorsement.

The bill was voted favorably with amendments (11Y – 1N) by the Committee, with Representative Don Brown as the lone dissenter.

 

House Bill 15 C

This bill creates a public records exemption for certain information regarding personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance policies held by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; authorizes conditional release of confidential and exempt information to specified persons; provides for retroactive application of exemption; provides for future review and repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity; provides contingent effective date.

The bill was voted favorably (12Y – 0N) by the Committee.

 

To view the House Block Calendar for October 4, 2007, click here.

To view the Senate Block Calendar for October 4, 2007, click here.

 

Should you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.