HOUSE AMENDMENT |
Bill No. HB 25A |
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CHAMBER ACTION |
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Representative Ambler offered the following: |
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Substitute Amendment for Amendment (953847) (with title |
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amendment) |
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Between lines 4900 and 4901, insert: |
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Section 33. Section 440.70, Florida Statutes, is created |
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to read: |
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440.70 Coverage from other insurance |
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policies.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, |
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so long as an employer provides both health insurance and long- |
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term disability insurance to its employees:
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(1) The employer shall not provide workers' compensation |
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insurance only for accidents occurring as the result of |
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negligence on the part of the employer. However, the tort |
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immunities that would otherwise apply to the employer under this |
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chapter if workers' compensation coverage were in force shall |
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equally apply if the employer provides the substitute coverage |
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as set forth in this section.
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(2) For the purposes of wage replacement benefits under an |
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employer-provided disability income policy, the employee shall |
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not be considered disabled to the extent that he or she can |
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return to work unless:
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(a) The employee has obtained a signed statement from a |
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health care professional, licensed under chapter 458, chapter |
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459, or chapter 460, stating the nature of the disability and |
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that, in his or her medical judgment, considering the |
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requirements of the employee’s job duties, the employee should |
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not return to work; and
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(b) The duration of such disability is at least 7 days or |
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longer.
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(3)(a) An employer may require the employee to submit to a |
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followup medical examination at least once every 15 days by |
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another health care professional licensed under chapter 458, |
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chapter 459, or chapter 460. The subsequent examining |
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professional may or may not be in the same medical specialty as |
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the initial professional who certified the employee’s disability |
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status.
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(b) An employer can require the employee to be seen by an |
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occupational disability physician or psychiatrist certified by |
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the Florida Board of Workers' Compensation or the American Board |
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of Disability Evaluating Physicians for a comprehensive |
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occupational disability assessment if the employee’s disability |
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has prevented a return to work for 60 or more consecutive days.
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(c) Medical examinations required by this section shall be |
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paid for by the employee’s health insurance provider, subject to |
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the terms of the employee’s health insurance policy, and any |
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copayment or deductible shall be paid for by the employer if the |
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employer is requesting the examination or by the employee if the |
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employee is requesting the examination.
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(4) Health-related benefits to which an employee is |
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entitled arising out of an accident or job-related illness under |
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this chapter shall be paid for by the employee’s health |
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insurance provider, subject to the terms of the employee’s |
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health insurance policy.
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(5) Permanent impairment benefits and temporary partial |
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disability benefits to which an employee is entitled arising out |
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of an accident under this chapter shall be paid for by the |
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employee’s disability income insurance provider, subject to the |
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terms of the employee’s long-term disability insurance policy.
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(6) Any benefits to which the employee is otherwise |
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entitled under this chapter that exceed the available coverage |
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of either the employee’s health insurance policy or long-term |
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disability policy shall be provided by the employer directly or |
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through a supplemental insurance policy.
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================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================= |
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Remove line 89, and insert: |
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Financial Services, if requested; creating s. 440.70, F.S.; |
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exempting employers who provide health insurance and long-term |
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disability insurance; providing for coverage of workers’ |
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compensation benefits from such insurance sources; providing |
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alternative requirements; requiring supplemental insurance |
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coverage for certain benefits under certain circumstances; |
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amending s. 627.162, |
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