June 3, 2009
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has announced today that, effective immediately, workers’ compensation rates will be rolled-back to the lower rate that had been in place as of January 1st of this year. Workers’ compensation rates were increased by 6.4 percent on February 26th of this year as a result of the Supreme Court of Florida ruling in the case of Emma Murray v. Mariner Health, Inc. Thanks to the leadership of AIF and the Workers’ Compensation Coalition of Business and Industry, legislation (HB 903) spearheaded by Rep. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) and Sen. Garrett Richter (R-Naples) was passed this session and recently signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist. This legislation clarifies legislative intent and ensures that Florida’s workers’ compensation system will continue to be self-executing and predictable for employers in Florida. The announcement from Commissioner McCarty effectively restores the 18.6 percent decrease in rates that took effect at this beginning of this year.
The savings from this rate rollback will be significant for AIF members and employers in Florida, especially at a time when businesses are struggling to make a profit and keep their employees. It also validates the long hours and resources spent passing legislation to address the Murray ruling.
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