Speaker Byrd Appoints
Select Committee on Workers Compensation
January 16, 2003

Working to find measures to improve the availability and affordability of workers’ compensation insurance, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd   appointed today the Select Committee on Workers’ Compensation.  The Committee will be chaired by Representative Dennis Ross.

“As I have talked with businesses across the state, I have heard one consistent message.  There is a problem with Florida ’s Worker’s Compensation System.  Florida Businesses are locked into a system that makes their worker’s comp insurance unaffordable, or they are unable to even get policies written,” said Byrd.  “That’s why today I am appointing the Select Committee on Worker’s Compensation”

 The following Representatives will make up the committee:

• Dennis Ross, Chair

• Don Brown, Vice Chair

• Nancy Detert

• Jim Kallinger

• Terry Fields

• Carl Domino

• Pat Patterson

• Baxter Troutman

• Bob Henriquez

Speaker Byrd has directed the committee members to address the following issues:

• Measures to improve availability and affordability of workers’ compensation insurance

• Measures to reduce fraud

• Measures to assure that benefits for injured workers are adequate and equitable

• Measures to streamline the administration of the system

“My goal is to make sure that we keep Florida working.  And to do that we have to find a solution to this issue” said Byrd.

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