Florida Businesses To Get Worker’s Comp Rate Cut
November 2, 2017
State Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has ordered a 9.8 percent decrease in the premiums businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance beginning next year.
He also ordered the National Council on Compensation Insurance to include in all future recommended rate filings a “quantitative analysis” of the impact that eliminating attorney-fee caps have had on the workers’ compensation system. NCCI is an organization that files recommended rates on behalf of insurance companies.
In a final order Tuesday, Altmaier rejected a recommended 9.6 percent rate reduction filed by NCCI and ordered it to file by Nov. 7 a slightly larger 9.8 percent reduction.
The Office of Insurance Regulation said a 2 percent profit and contingencies provision in the NCCI filing was “excessive” and ordered it lowered to 1.85 percent.
In a statement, NCCI said it’s in the process of reviewing its filing to comply with the order by Nov. 7.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system meant to protect workers and employers. It is supposed to provide workers who are injured on the job access to medical benefits they need to be made whole. Those who are injured for at least eight days also are entitled to indemnity benefits, or lost wages. In exchange for providing those benefits, employers generally cannot be sued in court for causing injuries.
Florida businesses paid nearly $3.8 billion in workers’ compensation premiums in 2016, up from about $2.8 billion in 2012. The costs for the mandatory coverage are the 33rd highest in the nation, according to NCCI.
Bill Herrle, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business-Florida, said small-business owners will benefit under Altmaier’s order.
“Any rate reduction is welcomed news,” Herrle said. “We have the confidence in the insurance commissioner that the rate reduction is merited.”
Altmaier’s near 10-percent reduction is more conservative than what the group Florida Workers’ Advocates proposed at a public hearing last month. Stephen Alexander, an actuary for the association, testified that rates should be reduced by an average 15.4 percent.
Nevertheless, the reduction in 2018 rates is in stark contrast to a 14.5 percent increase that was approved last year. That hike went into effect in December 2016 and was filed to reflect two Florida Supreme Court rulings as well as increases in the rates paid to health providers who treat injured workers.
The 2016 filing, NCCI said, was a “law only” filing, reflecting changes to the system. The 2017 filing was based on experiences for policy years 2014 and 2015 as they were valued at year-end 2016.
In Tuesday’s order, the Office of Insurance Regulation directed NCCI to include in its future recommended rate filings a detailed analysis of the impact of Castellanos v. Next Door Company, a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling that struck down caps on fees for attorneys who represent injured workers.
“The analysis may include alternative data sources and should examine changes to the Florida workers’ compensation market that are attributed to or observed as a result of the recent court decision,” the order said. “These changes include, but are not limited to, reopening of claims from older years, changes in reserves or payment patterns, changes to claim closures or settlement rates, changes to claim frequency and severities, increasing attorney involvement and fees paid to attorneys.”
Florida Workers’ Advocates President Mark Touby in a statement said he was pleased that Altmaier recognized deficiencies in the existing rate process.
“It is tremendously troubling that NCCI has admitted that last year’s 14.5 percent rate increase was not based on any relevant data, but was instead based on market projections. The fact that we are now facing a significant rate reduction raises the question of whether last year’s hasty rate increase was justified — or alternatively, whether it was an avenue to over-collect premiums from Florida businesses based upon NCCI’s myth that there was an unfunded liability. Either way, this process is in serious need of reform, and we are pleased that Commissioner Altmaier has recognized the deficiencies in the existing NCCI process,” the statement said.
NFIB’s Herrle is confident that NCCI”s analysis will show the elimination of the fee caps will increase attorney involvement in the system and, therefore, drive up rates.
“We’re OK waiting to get our I-told-you-so’s on that one,” he said. “We believe that unrestricted attorneys’ fees will eventually catch up with us.”
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Autopsy: Evers Died From Drowning, Heart Disease Contributed
November 1, 2017
An autopsy report has been released showing that former state Sen. Greg Evers drowned after crashing his pickup truck off a bridge and into a creek not far from his home on August 21, possibly as the result of a heart problem.
The autopsy, conducted by Dr. Cameron Snider of the First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office, lists the official cause of death as drowning, The autopsy report states that arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease contributed to Evers’ death.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside arteries and can lead to narrowing of the arteries over time, leading to a heart attack, stroke or death.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Evers ran off Griffith Mill Road near Baker sometime late in the day August 21. He apparently missed a curve and his vehicle was found submerged in Penny Creek after going through a guardrail.
Evers was partially ejected though a broken windshield when the truck landed in the creek. Evers and the vehicle were found the following day.
A native of Milton, Evers, a Republican, served nine years in the Florida House before his election to the Senate in 2010. Evers left his Senate seat last year to make a bid for the U.S. House but lost the Republican primary to U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Related: Greg Evers Remembered As Champion For Florida, North Escambia
Pictured top. Sen. Greg Evers consoles a victim in the days following an EF-3 tornado in Century. Pictured inset: Evers removes debris out of the roadway on Front Street in Century. Pictured below: Evers signs a letter from the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation encouraging Gov. Rick Scott to release funding for Century tornado victims. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Kitchen Fire Causes Minor Damage
November 1, 2017
Fire caused minor damage in a Century home Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to a smoke alarm at a home on Hilltop Road and found smoke coming from the brick house. The fire was contained to the kitchen area and quickly extinguished.
The fire reportedly began when an unattended pot on the stove boiled dry and melted a plastic item of some sort that was being heated in the pot. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
November 1, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
· Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.)10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road- Eight Mile Creek Road, south of Nine Mile Road, will be reduced to one lane from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 as crews install drainage pipe. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct.31 through Thursday, Nov. 2 as crews perform construction activities:
· Alternating lane closures east and westbound I-10 and north and southbound U.S. 29.
· Intermittent closure of the U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp and the U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound ramp. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
· Intermittent closure of the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south ramp (Exit 10A). Traffic will be detoured to Exit 10B.
· Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 north ramp (Exit 10B).
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge-This week drivers will continue to encounter alternating east and westbound lane closures between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17) and on Scenic Highway near the I-10 interchange from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities. In addition, I-10 eastbound will be intermittently reduced to two lanes during the day as crews perform paving work.
· U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as follows:
· Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: The nightly eastbound traffic shift onto the westbound inside travel lane continue as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck.
· U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage operations.
· S.R. 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. continue as crews perform milling and paving operations, curb replacement, sidewalk repairs, and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Alternating lane closures continue Untreiner Avenue as crews perform jack and bore operations.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on Bayfront Parkway between 14th Avenue and the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. this week through Saturday, Nov. 4 as crews work on drainage improvements. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, westbound lane restrictions will be in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
· S.R. 292 (Pace Boulevard) Driveway Construction- Northbound traffic on Pace Boulevard can expect lane closures at Jordan Street from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 to 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 as crews perform activities associated with driveway construction.
· I-10 at W Nine Mile Road Utility Work Pacing Operations- Utility crews will perform work on the Navy Federal Reconductor project over I-10 at Nine Mile Road Thursday, Nov 2. Motorists may encounter minor delays from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 to 1 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 as law enforcement assist with two 15-minute traffic pacing operations.
Santa Rosa County
· I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) – Widening efforts on I-10 and reconstruction of the Avalon Boulevard overpass continues. Alternating I-10 lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday, Nov. 3. Drivers can also expect lane restrictions on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB Boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary will remain restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide through completion of the project in late 2018.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Halloween Events (With Gallery)
November 1, 2017
Thousands of people attended fall festivals and Halloween events across the North Escambia area Tuesday night.
One of the largest was the annual community-wide fall festival at Victory Assembly of God on Highway 29 near Molino. The event was designed to provide a safe activity for attendees from across the community. The festival featured a variety of games, a bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food and candy.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from the annual community-wide fall festival at Victory Assembly of God in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jennifer Luker Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year
November 1, 2017
Jennifer Luker has been named Teacher of the Year at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Luker is a 2001 graduate of Northview High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of West Florida in 2006 and started the first of her 12 years teaching. She taught at the elementary level for four years, obtaining her master’s degree in educational library media. She started teaching at Ernest Ward in 2010, where she has taught math, science, language arts and history.
Luker and her husband Jonathan have one son, Noah.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Football Playoff Point Standings Released
November 1, 2017
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released current projected football playoff point standings for local schools:
District 1-Class 6A
Escambia 37.88
Pine Forest 34.38
Tate 33.38
Washington 29.22
District 2-Class 6A
Navarre 37.50
Gulf Breeze 33.38
Milton 31.63
Pace 27.50
District 1- Class 5A
West Florida 39.75
Mosley 32.00
Arnold 29.44
Pensacola 28.38
Bay 27.78
Region 1-1A
Baker 40.22
Chipley 37.56
Holmes County 35.89
Vernon 34.38
Jay 33.67
Bozeman 32.13
Freeport 31.30
Graceville 27.75
Northview 26.11
Beginning this season, district play has been eliminated in Classes 1A-4A, with teams making the playoffs based on a points system. Classes 5A-8A retain districts, with the district champion receiving an automatic playoff bid.
For Classes 1A-4A, no region or district play is required, with each school controlling its own schedule. Four teams from each region (16 total statewide) will make the playoffs based on the new points system.
District play for Class 5A-8A remains, with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs in each class. District champions will receive an automatic bid to the playoff and will receive a 1-4 seed based on the new points system. Four wild cards will be taken from each region based on points following the conclusion of Week 11.
For more information on the points system, click here for a informative pdf.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Facing 40 Years For Hammer Attack
November 1, 2017
An Escambia County man is facing up to 40 year in prison after attacking a female victim with a hammer.
Charles Clark was found guilty of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony battery, assault and criminal mischief.
The charges arose from a domestic incident that occurred on February 13. Clark waited outside the victim’s home for her to arrive. When the victim arrived, Clark attacked the victim by striking her with a hammer multiple times. Clark threatened and punched another victim on scene before fleeing the victim’s residence.
Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford remanded Clark on no bond and scheduled sentencing for December 20. Clark qualifies for sentencing as a habitual violent felony offender and is facing up to 40 years in prison.
Clerk Childers Returns $914K To Escambia County
November 1, 2017
Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers has returned $914,107.81 to the Escambia County Commission.
Under state law, her office is required to return excess revenue at the end of each fiscal year.
“The first is the savings of the finance budget, and the second is the effect of additional revenues generated in the official records function..the savings in the Finance department totals $429,042..the Official Records department has excess funds of $485,065 which is predominately the impact of an upward turn in the economy,” Childers said in letter to the board.
The commission will decide at a future date where the funds will be allocated.
Florida Looks At Fuel Reserves For Future Storms
November 1, 2017
Florida could be moving closer to stockpiling fuel for future hurricanes or other disasters.
Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed a proposal (SB 700) Tuesday that would establish a task force within the state Division of Emergency Management to come up with recommendations for a strategic fuel reserve.
The proposal, filed for the 2018 legislative session, doesn’t outline costs or how much fuel could be stored for a rainy day, but it would require the recommendations to be completed by April 30, 2019.
“It is our obligation to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of our citizens and guests who are in harm’s way leading up to a natural disaster,” Farmer said in a statement. “In the days prior to Hurricane Irma, it became readily apparent that our fuel supplies could simply not keep up with the demand for gasoline. This created a situation where many Floridians were unable to travel to safety, or to properly prepare for the storm.”
The measure was filed as the House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness has included among its charges the exploration of a centralized state gasoline reserve.
“Gas wasn’t readily accessible,” House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said Sept. 19, when creating the committee. “Having a committee that looks at why does a state, in the richest country in the world, the third largest (state), why don’t we have a significant gas reserve in the central part of the state so that’s not an issue moving forward for our citizens?”
Select Committee Chairwoman Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami, said last week she expects bills to come out in mid-December that could include fuel depots or distribution points.
“I think the onus is on the state to prepare for the worst-case scenarios,” Nunez said Thursday.
Florida strained to keep up with fuel demand as Hurricane Irma neared the state in early September.
As 6.5 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes, others scrambled for last-minute hurricane supplies. Motorists reported spending up to 12 hours on routes that typically are covered in six or seven hours.
The situation grew worse as ports, where fuel is delivered to the state, were closed due to storm winds.
Rushing fuel to South Florida before the storm, the Florida Highway Patrol served as escorts for tanker trucks.
A month later, when Hurricane Nate threatened the Gulf Coast, Gov. Rick Scott acknowledged that Florida was better prepared for Nate than Irma because there weren’t concerns about fuel shortages.
“With regard to Irma it was right after (Hurricane) Harvey, the refineries were shut down, so going into Irma we were low on fuel,” Scott said on Oct. 6. “We were worried that we wouldn’t have enough fuel to make sure everybody could evacuate.”
On Thursday, Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to determine how to increase fuel capacity during emergencies.
Scott gave the transportation agency until January to complete its findings.
“Increasing the availability of fuel for evacuations at Florida gas stations is a top priority,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida