SB 620- Relating to Disaster Preparedness Tax Exemption

On Tuesday, January 16th, SB 620, by Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) was heard by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax and passed by a vote of 6 yeas to 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this bill.

This bill establishes a 10-day (from June 1-10, 2018) sales tax exemption on certain items relating to disaster preparedness and protection. During the exemption period, the following items, will be exempt from state sales and use tax and county discretionary sales surtaxes: certain light sources, radios, tarps, “tie-down” kits, fuel tanks, batteries, first aid kits, cellular telephone chargers, food storage coolers, portable generators, storm shutter devices, carbon monoxide detectors, reusable ice, personal locater beacons, and emergency position-indicating radio beacons.

SB 620 will go on to the full Senate Committee on Appropriations for its next hearing.

AIF supports legislation that provides Florida’s families and business community with a 10-day disaster preparedness tax exemption encouraging them to protect their assets against potential destruction.

HB 469-Relating to Salvage of Pleasure Vessels

On Tuesday, January 16th, HB 469, by Representative Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa) was heard before the House Careers and Competition Subcommittee and passed. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

This legislation creates the “Florida Salvage of Pleasure Vessels Act” (act) to provide certain consumer protections for salvage work performed on pleasure vessels. More specifically it requires that salvors must provide a customer or potential customer with a written disclosure statement and salvage work estimate for services. If a salvor’s charges exceed the written estimate by more than 20 percent, the salvor is required to promptly notify the customer of the additional estimated charge and allow the customer to authorize, modify, or cancel the order for salvage.

HB 469 will move on to its next hearing in the House Government Accountability Committee.

AIF supports legislation that ensures price transparency and consumer protections.

SB 920-Relating to Deferred Presentment Transactions

On Tuesday, January 16th, SB 920, by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Orange Park) was heard by the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and passed by a vote of 9 yeas to 2 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

The bill authorizes deferred presentment installment transactions under Florida law. Deferred presentment transactions made pursuant to SB 920 would be exempt from the underwriting requirement of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule because such loans would be for a term longer than 30 days, and would not be a longer-term balloon payment loan because the bill requires installment payment to be as equal as practicable. Provisions of the CFPB rule relating to payment practices, lender reporting, and compliance will apply to deferred presentment installment transaction lenders that provide loans with a term longer than 45 days, with a cost of credit exceeding 36 percent per annum, and that have a leveraged payment mechanism.

SB 920 will go on to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism for its next hearing.

AIF supports legislation that creates a new framework that conforms with the federal guidelines while also retaining the choices Florida consumers need and deserve.

SB 990-Relating to Rural Communities

On Tuesday, January 16th, SB 990 by Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) was heard before the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism and passed unanimously by a vote of 8 yeas to 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

SB 990 creates the Florida Rural Community Jobs and Business Resiliency ACT (act). This act is designed to create jobs and help revitalize Florida’s rural communities. During the committee meeting an amendment offered by the bill sponsor was adopted. The amendment reduces the fiscal impact of the program to $0 for the first two years and $12 million annually for the subsequent five years of the program.  Under the amended legislation, the $60 Million in forgone state insurance premium tax revenue, would be pooled with $40 million in private sector Capital to provide $100 million of growth capital immediately for small businesses located in Florida’s rural communities.  The result will be small businesses in our hard-hit rural communities will have access to growth capital in the form of low interest loans and equity with flexible terms beyond what the marketplace can offer.

SB 990 will move on to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development for its next hearing.

AIF supports legislation which expands the economic development tools for Florida business especially within rural communities and Rural Areas of Opportunity and creates a mechanism for private Capital to be invested in small businesses.

HB 1033-Relating to Dockless Bicycle Sharing

On Tuesday, January 16th, HB 1033 by Representative Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa) was heard by the House Careers and Competition Subcommittee and passed. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

Bicycle sharing is a relatively new venture making its way across the country. Currently, the regulation of bicycle sharing companies is left up to local jurisdictions. HB 1033 creates a regulatory framework governing the operation of dockless bicycle sharing companies in the state and would preempt local governments regulatory authority of bicycle sharing companies by giving this authority to the state.

HB 1033 will go on to the House Commerce Committee to be heard.

AIF supports legislation that implements statewide policies that create price competition, promote consumer choice, enhance customer experience, create jobs and remove anti-competitive local regulations.

SB 280-Relating to Telehealth

On Tuesday, January 16th, SB 280 by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) was heard before the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and passed unanimously by a vote of 11 yeas to 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

SB 280 provides specific authorization for the provision of health care services through telehealth. Telehealth is the provision of health care services using telecommunication technologies, which allows licensed practitioners in one location to diagnose and treat patients at a different location. The bill will remove regulatory ambiguity regarding the provision of health care services using this technology because it is not currently addressed in Florida Statutes.

SB 280 will go on to the Senate Committee on Health Policy for its next hearing.

AIF supports legislation that permits an unfettered role for telehealth services that will allow our citizens access to better quality care at lower costs.

SB 396-Relating to Motor Vehicle Insurance Coverage for Windshield Glass

On Tuesday, January 16th, SB 396 by Senator Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) was heard before the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance, was amended and subsequently passed unanimously by a vote of 11 yeas to 0 nays.

This bill authorizes the requirement of inspection of damaged windshield for covered motor vehicle before windshield repair or replacement is authorized by insurer.  The amendments that were adopted impose a 24-hour timeframe in which the windshield must be inspected, stipulate that the inspection must be done by an adjuster employed by the insurer, and state that if the windshield is “demonstrably” damaged then an inspection may not be required.

SB 396 will go on to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism for its next hearing.

AIF spoke in opposition the two amendments as they would undermine the underlying intent of the bill. However, AIF ultimately supported the amended bill to move it to the next committee in the hopes of working with the sponsor to improve the product. AIF supports authorizing proper inspections as a mechanism to reduce unnecessary and abusive claims behavior.