Florida TaxWatch Calls for Claim Bill Reforms
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s claim bill process–by which individuals can petition the legislature for payment of tort claims against government–is too arbitrary, too political and lacks equity and transparency, according to a report released today by Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institution and government watchdog headquartered in Tallahassee. The report shows that while there has not been a proliferation of claim bills filed or passed, awards have increased significantly. Last year, 11 claim bills were passed by the legislature, containing awards totaling $39.8 million. This included the first two awards exceeding $10 million in Florida’s history–$15.0 million and $10.75 million. A record $140 million was requested in 2011, and there are 25 claim bills filed for the 2013 legislative session, requesting more than $50 million in damages. Leading up to the current Session, the Florida House of Representatives created a Select Committee on Claim Bills to develop recommendations for reform. “As more high-cost settlements are approved, there is likely to be a growing call for ever-increasing awards,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO. “The size of these awards must be controlled in order to avoid each new award setting a precedent that leads to further escalation of the size of claims against the state and local governments and their taxpayers.” The Florida TaxWatch Report offers the following recommendations: * Create an expedited process for settled claim bills; * Cap non-economic damages; * Limit lobbying fees; * Make the actual amounts paid for medical expenses admissible at trial and in claim bill hearings and use actual compensation as estimates for future medical costs; * Explore requiring that the sponsor of a claims bill be from the jurisdiction where the incident took place or from where the claimant resides, with allowances made for localities with limited legislative representation; and * Allow local government to use periodic payments of judgments “Claims reform requires a delicate balance,” said Kurt Wenner, Vice President of Tax Research. “While every person with a legitimate case has a right for their claim to be heard and resolved in an expeditious manner, the taxpayer also has the right to assurances that their hard-earned tax dollars are not being spent capriciously and that settlements are not unnecessarily expensive. These Florida TaxWatch recommendations will help provide that much-needed balance.” Download the full Report [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001y-KPw9tdEXtIRQX9dJjkFBntDhXyOXD-HzGqDsRfNdtc9jnAy_kuwDQV5zbQ6sBias8nk6P-pioAcmh5YU6XWOAY8w9fMFkndPnvDsgAv5R2uLTR6iKkgqb4Mm6aOXm8onO84K9qLiKlwH_zPlCsexAW0yrubDDbQ5NePW-lCAREHLLJNb1OMA==] CONTACT: Chris Barry Communications Coordinator cbarry@floridataxwatch.org] 850.222.5052 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # # # It’s Research that Gets Results! Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute that over its 32-year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars. Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web at www.FloridaTaxWatch.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forward email news@capitalsoup.com&a=1112677552810″ >http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=8blm8oeab&m=1104305073211&ea=news@capitalsoup.com&a=1112677552810 This email was sent to news@capitalsoup.com by cbarry@floridataxwatch.org. Update Profile/Email Address http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001zyOLoEKlyAaXG428A8ZyqIpDvFHz69zn&t=001M5ogtowvg1QN9Pdb-gDyrA%3D%3D&llr=8blm8oeab Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM) http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001zyOLoEKlyAaXG428A8ZyqIpDvFHz69zn&t=001M5ogtowvg1QN9Pdb-gDyrA%3D%3D&llr=8blm8oeab Privacy Policy: http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp Online Marketing by Constant Contact(R) www.constantcontact.com Florida TaxWatch | 106 N. Bronough St. | Tallahassee | FL | 32301-7723
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