Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • December 2016 | Page 7
WORKERS’
COMPENSATION UPDATE
On Tuesday, December
13, the Senate Banking &
Insurance Committee held
an introductory meeting and
a public hearing on the issue
of workers compensation.
Chaired by Senator Anitere
Flores (R-Miami, the Keys)
Senators heard testimony
from all the stakehol ders,
including representatives
from the trial bar, the workers’
union, the Florida Chamber,
Associated Industries of
Florida, the insurance
carriers and the construction
industry. Speaking on
behalf of the Florida Home
Builders Association and the
National Utility Contractors
Association of Florida (NUCA
FL), lobbyist Kari Hebrank
addressed the Committee
relaying that reforming the
workers compensation
system to drive down costs
was a top legislative priority
and that the importance to
the construction industry
could not be understated
given that the industry was
just beginning to recover
from the economic tsunami
that crippled the building and
development community.
Hebrank also testified that the
financial impact of the 14.5%
increase was cumulative
for small, family-owned
businesses dealing with rising
workers compensation rates
and increased health care
premiums for employees.
Moreover, Hebrank reiterated
the importance to employers
of getting injured workers
back to work swiftly as the
industry faces a critical
workforce shortage (another
legislative priority). Lastly,
Hebrank told the Senators
NUCA of Florida stands
ready as a partner in finding
a workable solution to
reign in escalating workers
compensation costs. You
may view the Senate Banking
& Insurance hearing by
clicking here.
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DECEMBER 2016 • DITCHMEN
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