Santa Rosa fears higher insurance premiums [Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach]

March 28--MILTON -- Santa Rosa County commissioners don't just plan to write a letter opposing a state House bill that would significantly increase the cost of the county's liability insurance. They plan to hand-deliver it.

Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to have their staff write a letter of opposition to H. B. PC SCCB 13-01. If approved, it would increase the sovereign immunity cap on liability claims paid by city and county governments to an individual from the existing $200,000 to $1 million. The maximum incident claim, which is paid to multiple parties, would increase from $300,000 to $1.5 million.

Commissioners worry that if the bill is approved it would greatly increase the county's premiums for liability insurance. The county now pays about $172,000 a year.

"A five-fold increase would probably be another million dollars," County Administrator Hunter Walker said. "We would have to do some significant reductions to meet that."

Commissioner Jim Melvin already had planned to be in Tallahassee next week to meet with state Reps. Matt Gaetz and Doug Broxson and state Sen. Greg Evers. He now plans to hand-deliver the county's letter.

"I look forward to signing that, and we'll take that to Tallahassee next week," Commission Chairman Bob Cole said.

The Florida Association of Counties and the Small County Coalition of Florida also oppose the House bill.

H.B. PCB SCCB 13-01 would affect cities and counties in Florida but not state government.

It passed through the House Select Committee on Claims Bills on March 21.

A companion bill has not been submitted in the Senate, but one is in the works and could be filed as early as next week.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

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