PIP reform

Much of this year’s Florida Legislative Session dealt with the issue of reforming the state’s personal injury protection or “PIP” auto insurance law.  Lawmakers wound up passing a reform measure, but Tom Flanigan reports there are already questions about whether it will work as advertised…

Florida drivers could see a drop of up to 25 percent off their personal injury protection, or PIP insurance, rates, following reforms enacted earlier this year. That’s according to a report released on Tuesday. But, insurance regulators are cautioning that other factors could reduce the expected savings.

A preliminary report shows Florida’s new auto insurance reform law will actually save policy holders some cash. But, those projected savings could still depend on factors outside the scope of the law.  

Florida Governor Rick Scott may have arrived in Tallahassee as an outsider but if his influence on the Florida Legislature is any indication, he has become a Capitol insider.  James Call reports, Scott pretty much got everything he wanted from the just concluded legislative session, his second as governor.

Governor Rick Scott got the legislation he wanted to reform Florida’s mandatory motor vehicle law. James Call reports supporters of the measure say it cracks down on fraud in personal injury protection cases and will lead to lower premiums for consumers.

Two of the more controversial issues facing this year’s Florida Legislative Session wound up on the agenda of the House Economic Affairs Committee Friday.  As Tom Flanigan reports, the committee sent the bills covering both matters to the house floor after much debate.

The second official day of Florida’s 2012 Legislative Session was a flurry of activity at the State Capitol.  Tom Flanigan reports lawmakers jumped right into issues, both heavy and not-so-heavy.

In his State of the State message on the session’s opening day, Governor Rick Scott told lawmakers he wanted something done about auto insurance fraud and what that’s costing policyholders.

“These costs are being driven up each and every day all around the state by scams that are ultimately paid for by Florida’s working families.”

Governor Rick Scott had a very short wish list for Florida lawmakers Tuesday.  Tom Flanigan reports the governor did have two top priorities he wants to see addressed above everything else.

The top priority is more money for public schools.  In his State of the State address, Scott insisted the legislature up public school funding by just over a billion dollars.  The governor’s other priority is putting an end to personal injury protection or “PIP” fraud.  He says that’s costing auto insurance policy holders an extra nine-hundred million dollars.