SB 1140 – Relating to Attorney Fees and Costs
On Tuesday, April 2, SB 1140 by Senator Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast) was heard before the Senate Community Affairs Committee and was reported favorably with 5 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.
This bill authorizes the payment of attorney fees and costs to a party challenging the adoption or enforcement of a local government ordinance on preemption grounds if a court finds that the subject of the ordinance has been preempted by the Constitution or State law. However, a local government may avoid liability for attorney fees and costs if the challenged ordinance is repealed or withdrawn within 21 days of either (1) receiving written notice of the claim or (2) the filing of a motion for attorney fees, whichever is earlier.
SB 1140 will now move to the Senate Rules Committee.
AIF supports legislation that removes onerous regulations and creates a climate in which business can grow.
HB 1113 – Relating to Health Insurance Savings Program
On Wednesday, April 3, HB 1113 by Representative Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) was heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee and was reported favorably with 14 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.
This bill creates the Patient Savings Act, which allows health insurers to create a voluntary shared savings incentive program to encourage insured individuals to shop for high quality, lower cost health care services. The bill directs health insurers who choose to offer the program to develop a website outlining the range of shoppable health care services available to insureds. This website must provide insureds with an inventory of participating health care providers and an accounting of the shared savings incentives available for each shoppable service. When an insured obtains a shoppable health care service for less than the average price for the service, the bill requires the savings to be shared by the health insurer and the insured. An insured is entitled to a financial incentive that is no less than 25 percent of the savings that accrue to the insurer as a result of the insured’s participation.
HB 1113 will now move to the House floor.
AIF supports legislation that provides high quality healthcare at a lower cost to Floridians and businesses that operate in our state.
