Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen - November 2019 | Page 20

>> QUICK BITS Reduction in Workers’ Comp Rates on the Horizon FOUR BALLOT PROPOSALS TOP 300,000 SIGNATURES Florida is not yet experiencing the chilling employees.” The reduction came despite effects of recent Supreme Court cases that a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling in the NSF Staff will ultimately impact workers’ compensation case of Castellanos v. Next Door Company rates. This week, Florida Insurance which justices rejected caps Sprinting to submit enough petition signatures to in A proposal that would change restrictive a provision in the on get on the November 2020 ballot, backers of four state Constitution about the citizenship of voters Commissioner David Altmaier signed off on fees charged by attorneys who represent proposed constitutional amendments have topped had 303,675 valid signatures. To get on the reducing workers’ compensation insurance injured workers. Ultimately, when the 2020 effects 300,000 valid signatures reported to the state ballot, each of the proposals would need at least rates for Florida businesses beginning Jan. of the court case kick in, higher attorney Division of Elections. As of Tuesday, a proposed 766,200 valid signatures. Political committees Commissioner Altmaier signed a 1, 2020. fees will increase costs in the workers’ constitutional amendment that would gradually supporting the proposals submit petition final increase order Nov. 6, reducing rates system and of drive up rates. the state’s minimum average wage to $15 an hour compensation signatures to county supervisors elections, who had percent 372,879 valid signatures. It was followed by a verify the legitimacy of the signatures. Supervisors by 7.5 for new proposal that would revamp the state’s primary- then report the numbers of valid signatures to and renewed workers’ election system. That proposal had 355,805 valid the state. In addition to needing to meet the compensation policies. signatures reported to the Division of Elections. 766,200-signature threshold, the committees That The is a third-highest deeper rate cut total, 350,808 valid signatures, also will need approval from the Florida Supreme than was a 5.4 percent reduction reported for a proposal that would overhaul Court of the wording of their ballot proposals. initially and recommended deregulate the state’s electric-utility industry. earlier this summer by the National Council on • • • Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which makes rate filings for workers’ compensation insurers. In a prepared statement, Altmaier attributed the reduction to increased SHOW THAT “innovation in workplace NUCA SPIRIT! practices and continued Get your very own NUCA FL insulated emphasis on safety for tumbler or grab one for a gift today. To order your tumblers contact Tina at [email protected] or Alex at [email protected] ONLY $35 (includes shipping & handling). JULY/AUG 2019 • DITCHMEN 18 DITCHMEN • NOVEMBER 2019 13