The Florida 2022 Legislative Session kicked off last week with Republicans strongly in the majority in both Chambers. Both Senate President Wilton Simpson (R) is and House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R) are in the last year of their two-year leadership positions. Simpson is expected to run for Agriculture Commissioner, a statewide elected Cabinet post, while Sprowls is expected to run for Hillsborough County Attorney.
There has been no action on PIP Repeal or Consumer Data Privacy yet but we anticipate that the House will move both bills. The insurance Omnibus bill that has died last session is moving quickly in both chambers. An extension of COVID-19 liability protections for healthcare facilities is moving as well.
Other hot button issues this session will include Redistricting, Abortion and Critical Race Theory.
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE
1. Loss Run Statements SB 156/HB 275
by Sen. Broxson and Rep. Fernandez-Barquin
The Senate version of the bill has made it to floor after passing through three committees and the House version pasted its first of three committee stops this week.
Loss run statements are reports produced by an insurer or consumer reporting agency containing the claims history of a policyholder with an authorized or unauthorized insurer. The bill:
· Reduces from the preceding 5 years to the preceding 3 years the claims history that must be included within a loss run statement.
· Requires that reports from group health insurers include premiums paid, the number of insureds on a monthly basis, and the dependent status.
· Requires that each insurer designate an individual or entity to receive written requests for loss run statements from insureds.
· Requires that the personal lines insurer provide the insured a loss run statement within 15 calendar days after receiving the insured’s written request subsequent to the insured providing the insurer with information on obtaining a loss run statement from a consumer reporting agency.
· Exempts life insurers from the requirements for loss run statements.
· Provides that, under a group health insurance policy, only the group policyholder may request and be provided a loss run statement.
The Senate version will be heading to the floor while the House version cleared the first of its three committee assignments this week.
Health
1. Health Care Cost Savings SB 252/HB 1325
by Sen. Brodeur and Rep. Fernandez-Barquin
The Senate version has cleared two committee stops, however, a hostile amendment was filed and adopted without notice in the second committee mandating that health insurers participate in the shoppable services program. We are working with all of our health insurance and business coalition partners to address this issue. The House version has been filed and has been referred to two committees and not yet heard.
The bill as filed expands the list of shoppable health services and requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to expand their list of shoppable health services offered under a shared savings incentives program created pursuant to Florida’s Patient Savings Act, to incorporate 500 items and services by reference to a table in the November 12, 2020 United States Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor Transparency in Coverage Final Rule.
2. Telehealth SB 312/HB 17
by Sen. Diaz and Rep. Fabricio
The Senate version is ready for the floor and the House bill will be heard in its last committee on January 24.
· Both bills tweak the prohibition against prescribing of only Schedule II controlled substances through telehealth except under those specific circumstances. In practice, this change will authorize a telehealth provider to issue a renewal prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule III, IV, or V of s. 893.03, F.S., through telehealth, within the scope of his or her practice, and in accordance with other state and federal laws.
· Additionally, the Senate bill removes a provision in the definition of “telehealth” that excludes audio-only telephone calls (note: the House bill does not contain this provision.)
3. Covid-19 Liability Protections Application Extension SB 7014/HB 7021
by Senate Judiciary and House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 7021 extends the sunset of Section 768.381, from March 29th, 2022 to June 1, 2023. The statute provides heightened civil liability protections to health care entities for claims brought by patients and residents related to:
· Diagnosis or treatment of, or failure to diagnose or treat, a person for COVID-19
· Provision of a novel or experimental COVID-19 treatment
· Transmission of COVID-19
· Delay or cancellation of a surgery or medical procedure, test, or appointment in certain situations
· An act or omission with respect to an emergency medical condition in certain situations
· Treatment of a patient with COVID-19 whose injuries were directly related to an exacerbation of preexisting conditions by COVID-19.
Current law requires a plaintiff to prove by the greater weight of the evidence that a defendant was grossly negligent or committed intentional misconduct in order to recover in a COVID-19-related medical claim.
HB 7021 has been introduced as an HHS committee bill and is awaiting a hearing in its final committee stop while the Senate measure SB 7014 passed the floor on January 19.
4. Farm Bureau Coops SB 1930/HB 1455
By Hooper/Truenow
SB 1930 would allow Membership Organization Health Coverage by creating the "Farm Bureau and Not-For-Profit Membership Health Coverage Act” and allowing such entities to offer new non-insurance health options to their members. The bill provides that health coverage provided by certain entities is not insurance but then authorizes risks under such coverage to be reinsured. A farm bureau, a not-for-profit membership organization, or an agricultural cooperative association providing such health coverage pursuant would be required to annually file a signed, certified actuarial statement of plan reserves with OIR.
HB 1455 takes a similar approach. Neither bill has been heard.
DENTAL
1. Dental Care Services SB 1444/HB 997
by Sen. Brodeur and Rep. Bell
Both the House and Senate version have yet to be heard in committee.
This bill expands the list of Medicaid services provided by a mobile dental unit to add homeless shelters and group homes for adults with disabilities. It also adds homeless shelters, schools, Early Head Start programs, and the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; for children’s dental services covered by Medicaid.
2. Dental Therapy SB 184
by Sen. Brandes
This bill has no House companion and seems unlikely to move.
The bill has all the same language as SB 1444 but adds the following; requiring the chair of the Board of Dentistry to appoint a Council on Dental Therapy within a specified timeframe, authorizes the board to require any person who applies to take the examination to practice dental therapy in this state to maintain medical malpractice insurance in a certain amount, requires the board to certify certain applicants for licensure as a dental therapist and requires the board to adopt certain rules relating to dental therapists
PROPERTY
1. Property Insurer Reimbursement SB 1058/HB 695
by Sen. Hutson and Rep. Stevenson
This bill is supported by OIR and passed its first two committees in both chambers in week 1.
The bill authorizes the State Board of Administration (SBA) to provide Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund) coverage to authorized insurers or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) for the policies of unsound insurers that Citizens or the authorized insurer assumes or otherwise provides coverage. The authorized insurer or Citizens may obtain Cat Fund coverage for such policies either through the authorized insurer’s or Citizens reimbursement contract with the Cat Fund, or by accepting an assignment of the unsound insurer’s contract with the Fund.
The bill defines “unsound insurer” to mean an insurer determined by the Office of Insurance Regulation to be in unsound condition as defined s. 624.80(2), F.S., or placed in receivership under ch. 631, F.S.
Under current law, these options for obtaining Cat Fund coverage are only available to Citizens and only apply to the policies of liquidated insurers.
by Rep. Giallombardo
The bill provides that premiums charged for surplus lines coverages for peril of flood are not subject to specified premium receipts tax. The bill has been referred to three house committees but has not yet been heard. There is no Senate companion measure.
3. Property and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation SB 1728/HB 1307
by Sen. Boyd and Rep. Gregory
· Increases the citizens policyholder surcharge to:
*15% of premium if citizens have fewer than 1 million policies.
*20% if the citizens have between 1-1.5 million policies.
· Requires the citizens Executive Director to meet minimum experience levels.
· Increases the threshold a policyholder has to refuse a “take-out” offer to 20% greater than the renewed premium for comparable coverage. This applies to both personal and commercial lines.
· Removes the eligibility for policyholder removed through an assumption agreement to remain in citizens.
· Allows qualified surplus lines insurers to “take-out” citizens policies. Policies with replacement cost above $700,000 and a premium offer of 15% or less will no longer be eligible for citizens coverage. For policies with a replacement cost less than $700,000 remains eligible if it receives an offer of coverage from a surplus lines insurer.
· Requires underwriting and claims files to be confidential by assuming carriers.
· Makes technical changes to the citizens clearinghouse statute.
Contained in Senate Version Only (House bill is limited to Citizens changes)
· Requires roofers to include specific language on advertising about the insurance deductible and fraud.
· Allows insurers to use roof surface reimbursement schedules and roof sublimits for personal lines.
*Policies with roof schedules can depreciate roofs only up to 4% unless more is actuarially justified.
*A roof reimbursement schedule can be included in the policy with a Notice of Change of Policy Terms.
*Policies with roof schedules or roof sublimits must provide full replacement coverage for roofs less than 10 years old, total losses, and roof losses due to hurricanes.
These bills have not yet been heard.
4. Domestic Surplus Lines Insurance SB 1402/HB 951
by Sen. Burgess and Rep. Gregory
The Senate version was heard on the Banking and Insurance agenda on January 18 while the House version has not yet been heard.
· Creates a definition of a “Domestic surplus lines insurer”
· If a domestic insurer possesses a surplus of $15 million, they may after board approval and approval of OIR, be made eligible as domestic surplus lines insurer.
· The domestic surplus lines insurer is subject to all financial and solvency requirements imposed upon domestic admitted insurers.
· Surplus lines insurance policies issued by a domestic surplus lines insurer are exempt from all requirements relating to insurance rating and rating plans; policy forms; premiums charged to insureds, policy cancellation; nonrenewal; and renewal.
· Policies issued by the domestic surplus lines insurer are subject to taxes assessed upon surplus lines policies, but exempt from other taxes levied upon domestic and foreign admitted insurers.
· Policies are not subject to part II, III or V of chapter 631
5. Pet Insurance: Veterinary Telehealth SB 448/HB 723
by Sen. Brodeur and Rep. Buchanan
The House version has passed its first of two committee stops with unanimous support. The Senate version is scheduled to be heard on January 24. Current law defines a “veterinarian/client/patient relationship” (VCPR) as one in which a veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making medical judgments about the health of an animal and its need for medical treatment. Veterinarians are permitted to prescribe drugs in the course of veterinary practice; however, the veterinarian must be either personally acquainted with the keeping and caring of the animal and have recently seen the animal, or have made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept before prescribing drugs in the course of practice.
The use of electronic communications to facilitate patient health care (telemedicine) is not addressed in the practice act and is not specifically prohibited or authorized in Florida. However, medical doctors may practice telemedicine in Florida and may establish a patient relationship with a patient evaluation via telemedicine under certain circumstances.
· Establishes a framework for the practice of veterinary telemedicine.
· Limits a veterinarian’s ability to prescribe controlled substances while practicing telemedicine to situations where:
*The veterinarian has previously performed an in-person physical examination or made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept; or
*The veterinarian is treating a terminal patient transferred to the veterinarian for hospice care by a veterinarian who previously performed an in-person physical examination of the patient and such veterinarian has reviewed the patient's medical records.
· Specifies that only Florida licensed veterinarians may practice veterinary telemedicine, and grants the Board jurisdiction over the practice of veterinary telemedicine.
· Allows an animal control authority under the “indirect supervision” of a veterinarian to administer rabies vaccinations.
AUTO
1. PIP REPEAL SB 150/HB 1525
by Sen. Burgess and Rep. Grall
The PIP repeal bills were filed in both chambers in week 1 after last year’s PIP repeal bill was vetoed by the Governor due, in part, to an OIR commissioned study received after Session ended that showed last year’s bill resulted in an overall price increase in premiums of 13.3% for all coverages. Neither bill has been heard.
HB 1525 was filed by Rep. Erin Grall (R) who is the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. SB 150 was filed by Sen. Danny Burgess (R), who is Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The House and Senate PIP repeal bills pretty much line up – except for bad faith. The Senate bill contains the same bad faith language that was in the PIP repeal bill that passed last year. The Senate continues to push this language which is problematic for many insurers. The bad faith language in the Senate bill only applies to failure to settle auto claims and is found at lines 1771-2092.
The House PIP repeal bill does not contain any bad faith reform which was the House starting position last year, though they eventually went to the Senate bad faith position in the final bill.
The biggest change in the PIP bills this year is on medical payments: The bill that passed last year automatically included $10,000 of med pay benefits unless a signed rejection was received (i.e., opt out).
This year, the House and Senate bills flip their med pay position and only require a mandatory offer of med pay (i.e., opt in). Opt in med pay has historically been opposed by the doctors, hospitals, and health insurers as a cost shift to them.
A summary of the high points of this year’s PIP repeal bill in the House and Senate follows:
· This is the same as the bill that passed last year.
· Requires opt-in med: med pay offer of $5k and $10k (can offer any med pay amount over $5k); $0 deductible for med pay ($500 max deductible) – contained in both House and Senate bills.
· This is basically the opposite of the bill that passed last year which has opt-out med pay.
· Contains a limited “no pay no play” provision which requires a mandatory $10k set-off for recovery by an uninsured driver – – contained in both House and Senate bills.
· This is the same as the bill that passed last year.
· Contains bad faith reform (though problematic for many insurers) – only in Senate bill.
2. Public Records of Crash Reports and Traffic Citations SB 1614/HB 1121
by Sen. Harrell and Rep. Brannan
The Senate version passed the Senate Transportation Committee on January 18. The House version has not yet been heard.
· Written reports of crashes will be exempt under s. 119.07(1).
· Expands who can receive the crash report to the Department of Health and any person or entity acting on behalf of a federal, state, or local governmental agency carrying out its functions.
· Creates stricter and clearer guidelines for holding a crash report.
· Exempts “driver information” on traffic citations from public records, creates a sunset of October 2, 2027.
*Date of birth
*Driver license number
*Address excluding the zip code
*Trailer tag number
The bill also provides legislative intent language that both traffic citation and crash report information should not reveal personal information.
3. Driver History Records SB 1202
by Sen. Brodeur
This bill has no House companion which makes it unlikely to pass, but we will be monitoring the text of this language to see if it pops up in a larger House bill. The bill excludes speeding tickets from a driver’s history to be released to a 3rd party. The bill has not yet been heard.
GENERAL INSURANCE
1. INSURANCE OMNIBUS SB 468/HB 503
by Sen. Perry and Rep. Gregory
HB 503 by Representative Gregory passed its first of two committee stops in the House and its second committee stop in the Senate. One amendment was filed and adopted this week on both House and Senate bills which removed a provision regarding service of process. This was planned and the service of process language will be addressed in the CFOs agency bill. The bill has several components to it including the following:
· Directs the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to provide reimbursement for a loss under collateral protection insurance (also known as lender-placed or force-placed insurance) when the coverage amount differs from the coverage amount under the lapsed policy if the homeowner received notice of the collateral protection insurance coverage amount, or the homeowner requested a different coverage amount from the collateral protection insurer.
· Provides that current requirements under the Workers’ Compensation Law for annual, physical onsite payroll audits of employers in the construction class will only apply when the estimated annual premium is $10,000 or more.
· Authorizes associations, trusts, and pools formed to provide self-insurance for public entities to use communications media technology to establish quorum and conduct public business.
· Provides that an all-lines adjuster who is appointed and employed by an insurer’s affiliate may serve as a company employee adjuster for the purpose of adjusting claims.
· Allows a residential property insurer’s rate filing to estimate projected hurricane losses by using a weighted or straight average of two or more models approved by the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology.
· Authorizes an insurer to file a personal lines residential property insurance rating plan that provides premium discounts, credits, and other rate differentials based on windstorm construction standards developed by an independent, not-for-profit, scientific research organization.
· Limits the requirement that an insurer provide a policyholder who has an automatic bank withdrawal agreement with the insurer with 15 days advance written notice of any increase in policy premiums. Instead, notice will only be required for premium increases that will result in an increase in the automatic withdrawal of more than $10 from the previous withdrawal amount.
· Provides Citizens Property Insurance Corporation with discretion to offer wind-only policies to condominium associations when 50 percent or more of their units are rented more than eight times per year for a period of less than 30 days.
· Eliminates a requirement that an insurer that provides electronic delivery of the insurance policy to a policyholder (or the person entitled to delivery) to also provide within the electronic transmission notice of the policyholder’s right to receive the policy via United States mail. The bill also eliminates a requirement that the insurer provide a paper copy of the policy to the insured upon his or her request.
· Allows a policyholder to select a hurricane deductible greater than 10 percent, reject windstorm coverage, or reject contents coverage under a residential property insurance policy by typing the existing exclusionary statement language, instead of handwriting it.
· Provides that s. 627.7152, F.S., governing assignment agreements, applies to instruments that assign or transfer post-loss benefits to a service provider that provides scopes of service or provides inspection services.
· Provides that the term “assignment agreement” does not include an instrument by which a licensed public adjuster is compensated for public adjuster services.
· Requires that an assignee provide the notice of intent to initiate litigation to the name and mailing address designated by the insurer in the policy forms if notice is sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or to the e-mail address designated by the insurer in the policy forms if notice is sent by electronic delivery.
· Requires that an automobile policy that does not provide coverage for bodily injury liability and property damage liability include notice accompanying the declarations page that the policy does not provide such coverages and does not comply with any financial responsibility laws. Such policies generally cover antique motor vehicles.
· Exempts licensed personal lines and general lines agents from salesperson licensing requirements otherwise required to solicit, negotiate, advertise, or sell motor vehicle service agreements, home warranty contracts, and service agreement contracts.
2. Information Submitted by Insurers/Public Record Exemption SB 7016
by Senate Banking and Insurance
The Senate version passed in the Senate on January 19. We expect a House committee bill in Insurance and Banking to filed with this exemption sometime in the next few weeks.
Continues the public records exemption for certain information submitted to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) related to an insurer’s anti-fraud plan or annual fraud report pursuant to s. 626.9891, F.S., by removing the October 2, 2022, repeal date.
Currently, s. 626.9891, F.S., provides that certain information submitted to DFS related to an insurer’s anti-fraud plan or annual fraud report is exempt from s. 119.07(1), F.S., and article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution.
Pursuant to the Open Government Sunset Review (OGSR), the public records exemption is scheduled to repeal October 2, 2022, unless reenacted by the Legislature. Since the bill continues the exemption and does not expand the scope of the public records exemption, the bill requires a majority vote of each chamber for passage.
3. DFS Fraud Prevention Package SB 1292/HB 749
by Sen. Gruters and Rep. Clemons
This is one of the two priority bills that Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has filed. The Senate version was heard in its first stop on January 18 while the House bill passed its first committee on January 19. Strike all amendments were adopted on both versions. The bill clarifies/tweaks a couple of difference areas.
· Negative Option Billing: provides that signing up for a service contract and cancelling a service contract shall be done in the same manner.
· Increases fines for unlicensed public adjuster practices during a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor.
· Increases fines for unauthorized transaction of insurance during a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor.
· Mirror fraud reporting requirements from the arson investigation statute (633.126) in the insurance fraud reporting statute (626.989) to enhance the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services investigation capabilities, while maintaining the current protections during an investigation.
· Clarifying investigations are confidential during arson fraud investigations.
· Provides the Department with authority to impose fines, should the insurer fail to comply with arson investigation reporting requirements.
· Reduce fraudulent warranty advertisements. The revisions should help a consumer to know they are being solicited for a warranty insurance product from a company approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, by a salesperson who is licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services. We are working to clean this section up and make sure no unintended consequences happen.
· Clarify the language in Section 775.15 (11) F.S from “and” to “or” to clarify that charges under 440.105 F.S. and 817.234 F.S. do not have be filed together for the five-year statute of limitation to apply.
· Mandatory restitution for insurers: further incentive for insurers to invest in fraud prevention, detection and other SIU activities.
TORT REFORM
1. Contingency Risk Multipliers SB 1910
by Sen. Gruters
No House companion has been filed and SB 1910 has not yet been heard.
In awarding attorney fees, a strong presumption is created that a lodestar fee is sufficient and reasonable. Such presumption may be rebutted only in a rare and exceptional circumstance with evidence that competent counsel could not be retained in a reasonable manner.
PRIVACY & CORPORATE ISSUES
1. CONSUMER DATA PRIVACY SB 1864/HB 9
by Sen. Bradley and Rep. McFarland
HB 9 by Representative McFarland has been referred to two committees - Commerce and Judiciary. The bill seeks to give consumers more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them. Additionally, the bill creates a private cause of action (House only) as a result of a business’ violation of the duty to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the information to protect personal information. This allows for civil action for any of the following:
· Damages in an amount not less than $100 and not greater than $750 per consumer per incident or actual damages, whichever is greater.
· Injunctive or declaratory relief, as the court deems proper.
The House will stand firm demanding a private cause of action in the bill or no bill will pass. The Senate does not want a private cause of action.
2. Mergers and Acquisitions Reporting SB 1112/HB 705
by Sen. Brodeur and Rep. Grall
These bills have been referred to three committees in the House and Senate but have not yet been heard.
Mergers and Acquisitions that trigger a Hart-Scott-Rodino filing with the Department of Justice must provide a notice to the state Attorney General when the notice is filed with the Federal Government.
OTHER (Non-insurance)
1. CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS SB 736/HB 583
by Sen. Hutson and Rep. Yarborough
Summary of the original bill as filed:
Requires the claimant to include more information in a notice of rejection. Specifically, the notice must state the reasons for rejecting the offer, identify any items that the claimant believes were omitted from the offer, and detail all reasons why the claimant believes that the offer is unreasonable.
· Discourages the claimant from rejecting a reasonable settlement offer by limiting the potential for an award of attorney fees.
· Requires the court in a civil action for a construction defect to appoint an engineer, contractor, building code inspector, or another expert to examine the alleged defect. The expert must then submit a written report which contains the expert’s findings to the court for its consideration and to the parties.
*The expert to be compensated by the parties, but the prevailing party is entitled to reimbursement by the non-prevailing party.
· Requires a claimant who accepts a settlement offer that includes a monetary payment for repairs to enter into a contract for repairs within 90 days.
· Requires a claimant to serve certain notices relating to construction defects on the mortgagee or assignee of the relevant real property within a specified timeframe under certain circumstances. (House version only)
· Current g law specifies a 4-year statute of limitations for a claimant to bring a construction defect action based on a patent or obvious defect and a 10-year statute of repose for a claimant to bring a construction defect action based on a latent or hidden defect.
· The bill divides improvements into four categories: (Senate version only)
*A category 1 improvement is an improvement to a detached single-family home, including a manufactured home, or a standalone building or structure, intended for use by a single business, occupant, or owner, not exceeding three stories in height;
*A category 2 improvement is an improvement to a single-family dwelling unit not exceeding three stories in height which is constructed in a series or group of attached units, or a commercial or nonresidential building not exceeding three stories in height;
*A category 3 improvement includes improvements to commercial or residential buildings or structures of four or more stories in height;
*A category 4 improvement is any improvement not included in any of the above categories.
· The bill does not change the timeframe for patent, however the bill make the following changes to latent or hidden defects: (Senate version only)
*5 years for a category 1 improvement;
*7 years for a category 2 improvement;
*10 years for a category 3 or 4 improvement.
· The bill provides a savings clause that enables a person to bring an action for a construction defect within 1 year after the effective date.
These bills are not likely to pass.
2. Agritourism SB 1186/HB 717
by Sen. Albritton and Rep. Tomkow
Each bill has passed the first of three committees.
Clarifies that an agriculture classification may not be denied because the building is being used to conduct agritourism activities. Buildings, structures, and facilities must be assessed under the general valuation statute 193.011 and not under the special agricultural lands classification 193.461.
3. Discharge and use of Firefighting Foam SB 1666/HB 1257
by Sen. Polsky and Rep. Casello
SB 1666 is on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee agenda on January 24. The House bill has not yet been heard.
Creates a new section of law defining “Class B firefighting foam”, “PFAS chemicals” and “Testing”.
Beginning January 1, 2023 restricts discharge of Class B fire fighting foam and PFAS to fire responses
The bill does not restrict the sale, manufacturing or distribution of Class B firefighting foam with intentionally added PFAS or prevent the use of other nonfluorinated foams.
4. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Task Force SB 7012/HB 1151
by Senate Environment and Natural Resources and Rep. Sirois
The Senate version has cleared its first committee stop and the House version has yet to be heard in committee.
Creates the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Task Force, to be known as the PFAS Task Force, within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop recommendations on:
· Enforceable regulatory standards for PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, and soil.
· A mechanism for the identification and cleanup of contaminated areas.
· How to address liability for contamination and financial responsibility for cleanup.
· Appropriate methods and technologies, considering cost, for cleanup and treatment of PFAS contamination.
· Funding sources and mechanisms for prioritizing the distribution of funds for cleanup and remediation of PFAS contamination.
· Methods to manage waste containing PFAS to prevent possible release or discharge into the environment that could cause contamination of drinking water, groundwater, and soil.
· Appropriate testing for and monitoring of PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, and soil to protect the public health and welfare.
· Methods to eliminate workplace exposure in the manufacturing industry.
The bill provides for the membership and operation of the task force. The bill requires the task force to convene no later than October 1, 2022, and to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, beginning October 1, 2023.
5. Individual Retirement Accounts SB 968/HB 649
by Sen. Polsky and Rep. Driskell
Both bills have three remaining committee stops.
The bill clarifies that any interest in an individual retirement account (IRA) or individual retirement annuity received in a transfer incident to divorce remains exempt from creditor claims after the transfer is complete. As the bill clarifies, but does not modify, existing law or practice, the bill is remedial in nature and applies retroactively to all transfers made incident to divorce.
6. Financial Literacy: High School Graduation Requirements in Personal Finance
SB 1054/HB 1115 by Sen. Hutson and Rep. Busatta Cabrera
These bills have not yet been heard.
Creates the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act (she was a former state representative and state senator)
· Starting in the 2022-2023 school year all incoming 9th graders must earn one half credit in personal financial literacy:
*The course must include types of bank accounts, balancing checkbooks, principles of money management, completing a loan application, computing federal income tax, and more money management disciplines.
Current law requires schools to offer the optional half-credit class during high school.
