SB 248 – Medical Negligence

On Monday, January 22, SB 248 by Senator Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee and was reported favorably with 8 yeas and 2 nays. AIF stood in support of a strike-all amendment to the bill. The strike-all amendment was adopted.

SB 248 creates certain conditions in which a parent or child of a deceased relative can recover damages if medical malpractice was the cause of death for the victim. The strike-all amendment to SB 248 also creates a cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, to attempt to address Florida’s high medical malpractice premiums and physician recruitment & retention.

SB 248 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that protects businesses from inflated or “nuclear” verdicts that, in many circumstances, far exceed the economic repercussions to the victim. Limiting noneconomic damages will promote critical access for those seeking medical care.

 

SB 1276 – Litigation Financing

On Monday, January 22, SB 1276 by Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa) was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee and was reported favorably with 10 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

SB 1276 repeals the practice known as litigation financing. Third party litigation financing is an issue that stems from out of state firms funding and controlling litigation in Florida. Firms operating like Wall Street venture capitalists find plaintiffs and buy a percentage of a lawsuit. As a co-plaintiff on the case, litigation financiers are able to negotiate the best outcome for their interest, not the plaintiff. In addition to causing widespread and frivolous lawsuits, this practice can cause litigation to be drawn out for years, costing businesses and Floridians billions.

SB 1276 will now go to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that ends the practice of litigation financing in Florida. Big money firms profit from suing Florida’s businesses, costing billions in nuclear verdicts and massive settlements.

SB 742 – Public Works Projects

On Monday, January 22, SB 742 by Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) was heard by the Senate Community Affairs Committee and was reported favorable with 6 yeas and 2 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

SB 742 ensures that public works projects that use local funds may not require contractors pay specific wage rates or provide locally mandated employment benefits. This provision already applies to projects that use state dollars. Some local governments are currently requiring the use of prevailing wage rates in their public works contracts. These requirements can dramatically impact project costs and impact an employer’s flexibility in employment decisions. AIF believes that the state minimum wage requirement and the free market are sufficient to ensure proper wage levels.

SB 742 will now go to the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that keeps businesses competing through free market access to public programs.

SB 676 – Food Delivery Platforms

On Monday, January 22, SB 676 by Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) was heard by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and was reported favorably with 5 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

SB 676 preempts the regulation of food delivery platforms to the State and provides regulatory safeguards for the business relationship between a Food Delivery Platform and a Food Service Establishment. Among the provisions, the bill prohibits a food delivery platform from taking and arranging for the delivery or pickup of orders from a food service establishment without the express consent of that food service establishment. The bill also allows for some guidelines for a restaurant or establishment to be removed from a Food Delivery Platform and creates a channel for better communication between the food service establishment and the consumer themselves.

SB 676 will now go to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government for consideration.

AIF supports streamlining regulations and creating a level regulatory platform that allows businesses to compete fairly.